Paul Mara

Paul Mara signed a one-year deal with Montreal as a UFA this off-season. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images)

Mark Malinowski
2009-10-11 08:28:00

Status: Montreal Canadiens defenseman
 
HT: 6-foot-4  Wt: 207 pounds
 
DOB: Sept. 7, 1979 In: Ridgewood, N.J.
 
First Hockey Memory: "I'd have to say is skating on the ice my first time (age 5) at Avon Old Farms in Connecticut where I lived, where my feet were just freezing cold and my toes were frozen. It was pretty painful, but I guess I came back for a second time."
 
Hockey Inspirations: "Growing up in Boston and living in Connecticut for a little bit – Brian Leetch and Ray Bourque were the two guys I watched the most growing up."
 
Nicknames: "Reggie. When I was young, I was a street hockey goalie and Reggie Lemelin was the goaltender for the Bruins. My brother and my dad just started calling me Reggie. And it stuck for a long time."
 
Hobbies/Leisure Activities: "I love the ocean, so I love boating. Fishing. Stuff like that on the water. I really love to spend time on the water."
 
Favorite Movies: "Young Guns I, Young Guns II, come to mind first."
 
Favorite TV Shows: "Sopranos and maybe Grey's Anatomy No. 2."
 
Musical Tastes: "I'm all over the map for musical tastes. Bruce Springsteen, country, Toby Keith and Alan Jackson."
 
First Job: "Was selling newspapers – The Boston Globe – at the corner store in Cape Cod, in North Falmouth (age 11)."
 
First Car: "Jeep Wrangler (dark green)."
 
Favorite Meal: "I'd have to go with steak, filet mignon."
 
Favorite Breakfast Cereal: "Raisin Bran."
 
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor:  "Chocolate."
 
Greatest Sports Moment: "Probably my first NHL game, down in Florida (with Tampa Bay). Real excited, 19 years old. First game – I got my first goal and my first assist. And my dad was there. It was just a great night."
 
Most Painful Moment: "Taking a wrist shot off the jaw and breaking my jaw. Had it wired shut for six weeks. (Who shot it?) Chris Simon."
 
Worst Injury: "That broken jaw."
 
Closest NHL Friends: "Ossi Vaananen, defenseman."
 
Funniest Player Encountered: "Mike Ricci."
 
Toughest Competitor: "Probably Mark Messier."
 
Favorite Uniforms: "The Original Six teams – Montreal, Rangers and Detroit, probably."
 
Funny Hockey Memory:  "Oh, there's a lot of things that make me laugh in this game. Don't know if I can say them, though, in an interview."
 
Favorite Athletes To Watch: "Love baseball. Huge baseball fan. Love watching the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry. Just catch all the baseball games I can. (NHL?) Crosby, Ovechkin, Chris Pronger, Niklas Lidstrom – being a defenseman, love to watch those guys. (Tennis?) Roger Federer and Andy Roddick. (Golf?) Tiger Woods of course. (NASCAR?) Tony Stewart."
 
Favorite Vacation Spots: "Puerto Rico, I think. Or Vegas. Caribbean."
 
Last Halloween Costume: "I think I dressed up as a Cheshire cat."

Personality Qualities Most Admired: "Honesty. People who are honest with each other, that's all I can ask for."

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Mark 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.