Hey all. As promised in last week’s mailbag, I’m going to answer some serious hockey questions this week. I’ve also invited Aron Slipacoff, chickaDEE editor and hockey fanatic, to help me out.

Let’s rock and roll:

Q: Hey Craig! Are you interested in hockey at all? If so, who do you think will win the Stanley Cup?
— Elle

CB: I must confess: I’m not the biggest hockey fan in the world. But this time of year I get fired up for the NHL playoffs just like anyone else. I joined a playoff pool with Aron and some other friends and picked the Detroit Red Wings. However, as the playoffs go on, I like the Pittsburgh Penguins to win more and more. They’ve got the two best offensive players left (Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin), and their goalie Marc-Andre Fleury is pretty amazing. Here is a funny story I read about him and the science of goalie pads (what?).

AS: Am I interested in hockey? That’s putting it mildly. For me, hockey’s a lifestyle. I play it, watch it, talk it — heck — I even ref it! Many of my friends are the same way. But not all of them. Like Craig, for instance. Craig’s always talking about basketball. And if he’s not talking about it, then he’s playing it. It’s his game, I guess. But guess what? Earlier this year, I made a deal with him. I would join his basketball pool if he would join my hockey pool. And so he did! It’s his first ever, so wish him luck.

Q: Who is your fave hockey player and what is your fave hockey team?
— Allison

CB: Wow. That’s a hard one for me. I hear a lot of good things about this “Gretzky” fellow. He’s going to be amazing! (Just kidding.) I was born and raised in British Columbia, so my allegiances lie with the Vancouver Canucks. Too bad they didn’t even make the playoffs! My favourite player is… Alexander Ovechkin? I like what I see of him on the highlight reels. A lot:

AS: Wow is right! I also love Ovechkin and Vancouver is MY favourite team! Good choices, Craig. The difference is I like Vancouver because of the Sedin twins, not because I was born in B.C. The Sedins are like machines. But not just any machines. They’re like twin robots with a wireless brain connection, programmed to be cool and play hockey like all-stars. Where can I buy robots like that? Ha! I can’t! And that’s why everyone should be a Vancouver fan, because you can’t get the Sedin twins anywhere else. One and only, baby. Er, two and only.

Q: Did you ever play on a minor league hockey team when you were a kid?
— Madison

CB: Um, not exactly. I took figure skating for a year when I was 10. I also played street hockey in front of my house. Does that count? Mainly I played soccer, football, softball (AKA “fast pitch”), and — surprise! — basketball. Did I mention I’m a big basketball fan? (Note: to those of you who’ve been paying serious attention, my Tuesday night basketball team lost in the finals to a juggernaut of a recreational squad called The Disabled List. Man, they were on fire!)

AS: Tweet! Two minutes for such a good question. Minor hockey is the best! Okay, all minor league sports are awesome, but I mostly played minor hockey. I’ll always remember my first year. I was 10. My coach sent me on the ice and said, “Go lead this team like I know you can!” Wow. That was such a powerful moment for me. He made me feel so proud. I bet Craig knows this feeling. His basketball teammates and his ultimate frisbee team are always giving him huge props for how good he is! Cool, eh? Cool like hockey!

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Once again, thanks for all the questions, guys! And thanks to Aron for being such a good “sport!” Next week we’ll be back to normal, random questions, so send me whatever ideas, comments, queries you’ve got saved up. Talk to you then.

Craig, owlblog@owlkids.com

This entry was posted on Friday, May 2nd, 2008 at 12:21 pm in Mailbag.