Mike Richards

Philadelphia captain Mike Richards was a junior star with the Kitchener Rangers in the OHL. (Getty Images)

Mark Malinowski
2010-02-21 09:20:00

Status: Philadelphia Flyers center and Team Canada Olympian

Ht: 5-foot-11 Wt: 195 pounds

DOB: Feb. 11, 1985 In: Kenora, Ont.

First Hockey Memory: "Just skating on the outdoor rinks at home. Learning to skate with my dad holding me up or pushing the chairs for balance on the outdoor rink."

Hockey Inspirations: "Wayne Gretzky. My parents were influential on my hockey career."

Hobbies/Leisure Activities: "I like to golf, play tennis, fish a bit."

Nicknames: "Usually just the basics like Rich, Richie, Rick. Abbreviations of my last name, I guess."

Musical Tastes: "Tragically Hip."

Favorite Movie: "Primal Fear."

Last Book Read: "I can't recall. I don't read too many books."

Favorite TV Shows: "Californication."

First Job: "Paperboy."

First Car: "Ford Escape."

Current Car: "BMW 250i."

Favorite Meal: "Pasta, chicken."

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: "Cake batter."

Pre-Game Feeling: "Relaxed. Very relaxed. Don't really go through too much before the game. Everything's done during warmup."

Greatest Sports Moment: "Probably winning the Memorial Cup."

Most Painful Moment: "Probably when I tore my groin."

Favorite Uniforms: "Our orange one, or...I'll just say our orange one."

Last Vacation: "Vegas in the summer – June."

Funny Hockey Memory: "Ah, I went out on the ice a few times with my skate-guards still on in the American League a few times."

Embarrassing Hockey Memory: "I don't know, nothing too embarrassing. I don't get embarrassed very easily."

Closest Hockey Friend: "Jeff Carter."

Funniest Players Encountered: "Scott Hartnell. (What is it about him?) I don't know (smiles). It's something new every day."

Toughest Competitor: "Sidney Crosby."

Last Halloween Costume: "Batman."

Favorite Sport Outside Hockey: "Football."

Most Memorable Goal: "My first goal, first NHL game. It was against Kevin Weekes. (Slapshot?) Yeah, slapshot."

Favorite Player To Watch: "Pavel Datsyuk."

Personality Qualities Most Admired: "Loyalty."

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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