the heavily favored Bruins, which had the best winning percentage in NHL history during the regular season. In this season, Mantha had career highs in goals, assists and points, finishing second among league defencemen to King Clancy of the Senators in goals, and third behind Clancy and Bruin Eddie Shore in points. The first season-ending All-Star Team was named in 1930–31, and Mantha was named Second Team All-Star on defence for both that year and the next, for his prowess as a defensive defenceman. Goaltender George Hainsworth would take over as team captain for Mantha in 1933, a post Mantha would regain the following season. Following an incident in the 1934 season where Mantha successfully substituted for the suspended Newsy Lalonde as coach for the Habs in two matches -- and beginning to fade as a player, no longer being a starter by the 1934 playoffs -- he was named the full-time player-coach for the 1935–36 NHL season. After a dismal season, with Montreal missing the playoffs for the first time in a decade and finishing in last place, the Canadiens fired him as a coach, and then released him as a player before the start of the 1937 season. In a game against the New York Rangers on January 28, 1937, Boston superstar Eddie Shore sustained a back injury that proved to be season ending. In consequence, the Bruins signed Mantha as a replacement. It took some time for him to get into game shape, and ultimately he played only four games for Boston. Spurred on by cracking a bone in his elbow, Mantha admitted he could no longer play at a competitive level, and retired. Retirement After retirement as a player, Mantha worked as a linesman and referee for both the American Hockey League and the NHL. However, he found the continual travel required of an on-ice official grueling, and transitioned to coaching for Montreal-area junior league teams. He coached the Montreal Concordias, Laval Nationales (1943–1945), Verdun Maple Leafs (1945–1947), St. Jerome Eagles (1947–1948, 1951–1952), and Verdun Lasalle (1950–1951) before leaving organized hockey for good. During this time, Mantha was instrumental in steering future Hall of Famer Bernie Geoffrion to the Concordias, which at the time were under the control of the Canadiens, after seeing the then-14 year old Geoffrion score five goals in a match. Mantha was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1960, and