Petr Prucha

Petr Prucha was dealt to the Coyotes at the trade deadline. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Mark Malinowski
2009-03-15 12:05:00

Status: Phoenix Coyotes right winger (interview was done prior to trade from the Rangers).

HT: 6-ft-0  WT: 175 pounds

DOB: Sept. 14, 1982  In: Chrudim, Czech Republic

Hockey Inspirations: "It used to be Pavel Bure, when he used to play he was amazing. I remember I saw his performance in the Olympic Games when he scored five goals. It was unbelievable what he did there, so, it was him."

First Hockey Memory: "I remember when I was playing on the rink where there was no roof. It was like my first experience where you go through pre-school hockey or something like that, I don't know how you guys call it…No roof. It wasn't even a building, it was only the rink (age 5)."

Hobbies/Leisure Activities: "For sure I like playing other sports like tennis, soccer or whatever's good for getting in shape during the summer. So, stuff like that. I like to travel."

Nicknames: "Nothing special. Just 'Pruchs.' "

Favorite Movie: "Old School."

Last Book Read: "Twilight."

Favorite TV Show: "Friends."

Musical Tastes: "I like U2."

First Job: "Cleaning windshields of cars in a gas station."

First Car: "Skoda (red)."

Current Car: "Mercedes (silver)."

Favorite Uniforms: "Rangers."

Pre-game Feeling: "Just clearing my head totally. Don't think about anything, just be focused."

Favorite Meal: "Dumplings with strawberries."

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: "Vanilla with chocolate sauce."

Greatest Sports Moment: "That's lots of things. I would start with winning the championship in Czech. Then winning the world championship (2005). And my first game for the New York Rangers (2005); my first NHL goal. Stuff like that."

Most Painful Moment: "Every time you lose it's painful. So all losses I ever had (laughs)."

Closest Hockey Friend(s): "My whole team."

Funniest Player Encountered: "'Gomer' (Scott Gomez)."

Toughest Competitors: "'Orrsie' (Colton Orr)."

Funny Hockey Memory: "I tell you, when I was back in the Czech Republic in the league I had a breakaway, well it wasn't a breakaway, but I was waiting for a pass from behind. And I had turned back and the goalie came in front of me and laid down and I tried to jump over him and I couldn't make it so he hit me in the legs and I made a whole flip. So it was pretty funny, because I wasn't injured…If I would have got injured I wouldn't laugh about it. It was awesome."

Favorite Players To Watch: "(Pavel) Datsyuk. I like Marian Hossa, too. (Nikolai) Zherdev, too, is pretty nice to watch on the ice. I like those guys who can handle the puck really well."

Last Vacation: "Miami."

Strangest Game: "I remember, well, I didn't play that game, but I remember that game we were up 5-0 and we lost in overtime (to Montreal). It was pretty hard to even watch it. It was a strange game because it never happened in my life. Other than that, when we lost the game in Buffalo in the playoffs. Last seconds, we were up 1-0 and they tied the game with seven seconds left and we lost in OT. Very painful.”

People Qualities Most Admired: "Be fair to people. Be honest. Be funny. Don't make a big deal about if somebody is making fun of you. Just be cool all the time."

Click HERE to read more "Getting to Know" features.

Mark "Scoop" Malinowski's first book "Heavyweight Armageddon: The Lewis-Tyson Championship Battle" is available at amazon.com. For more features from the world of sports, check out thebiofile.com.