Zdeno Chara

Zdeno Chara has 18 goals and 48 points for the Bruins this season and could get Norris consideration as the NHL's top defenseman. (Photo by Graig Abel/NHLI via Getty Images)

Mark Malinowski
2009-04-12 14:28:00

Status: Boston Bruins defenseman

HT: 6-foot-9 WT: 251 pounds

DOB: March 18, 1977 In: Trencin, Slovakia

Hockey Inspirations: "Oooh, that's a tough one. I always looked up to my parents; they were my closest friends. And the whole family. So basically I was looking up to them. But when I started to play sports it was obviously Michael Jordan and Wayne Gretzky."

Early Hockey Memory: "Well, probably the strongest is my first NHL game. It was on Nov. 19 (1997 with the Islanders) against Detroit. We won 3-1."

Leisure Activities/Interests: "Wrestling, cycling, hockey."

Nickname: "Big Z."

Favorite Movie: "The Shawshank Redemption. What was the other one...Dances with Wolves."

Favorite TV Show: "Nope."

Musical Tastes: "I listen to anything."

First Job: "I was washing cars at a car wash (age 17)."

First Car: "Jeep Cherokee. It was green."

Current Car: "Lexus."

Favorite Uniforms: "Bruins."

Pre-game Feeling: "Focusing on the game, basically."

Favorite Meal: "Probably pasta, steak."

Favorite Breakfast Food: "Fruit, oatmeal, eggs."

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: "I don't eat ice cream."

Greatest Sports Moment: "Haven't reached it yet."

Most Painful Moment: "Any time I get hurt."

Closest Hockey Friend(s): "Peter Bondra."

Funniest Player Encountered: "It's tough to pick one...Shane Hnidy."

Toughest Competitors: "Same thing, it's tough to pick one. Obviously Joe Thornton, Jaromir Jagr and I would say Alexei Kovalev."

Favorite Players To Watch: "Nicklas Lidstrom."

Last Vacation: "Rome."

Most Memorable Goal: "The last one."

People Qualities Most Admired: "People I can trust. Honesty."

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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.