Chris Nilan

Chris Nilan had 225 points and 3,043 penalty minutes in 688 career NHL games. (Photo by Denis Brodeur/NHLI via Getty Images)

Mark Malinowski
2011-03-06 10:15:00

Status: NHL right winger from 1980-1992 for Montreal, New York Rangers and Boston. Played for USA in 1987 Canada Cup. Was selected by Montreal 231st overall in 1978 NHL Amateur Draft. One of only nine players to accumulate more than 3,000 career PIM. Scored 110 career NHL goals.

Ht: 6-foot Wt: 205 pounds

DOB: Feb. 9, 1958 In: Boston

First Hockey Memory: "Skating on a puddle with my dad (Henry), the first time I ever skated."

Hockey Inspiration: "Bobby Orr."

Nickname: Knuckles.

Last Book Read: "Decision Points. George W. Bush Memoir."

Favorite Movies: "Patton and The Fighter."

Musical Tastes: "Beatles, The Who, James Taylor, Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes."

First Job: "Paper boy."

First Car: "1971 Montego MX. Oooh, it was badass."

Current Car: "Cadillac STS."

Greatest Sports Moment: "Stanley Cup 1986 with Montreal."

Most Painful Moment: "Getting traded from Montreal (to New York in 1988)."

Favorite Uniforms: "Montreal reds, then Blackhawks reds."

Favorite Arenas To Play: "Montreal Forum and Boston Garden."

Most Memorable Goal: "Penalty shot at the Forum - scored."

Closest NHL Friend: "Jimmy Vesey."

Funniest Players Encountered: "Steve Leach and Ron Greschner - ‘Schner’ that is."

Toughest Competitors Encountered: "Terry O'Reilly and Clark Gillies."

Funny Hockey Memory: "Putting fish under John Vanbiesbrouck’s car seat...pay back."

Embarrassing Hockey Memory: "Losing the puck on a breakaway."

Favorite Players To Watch: "Gretzky and Lemieux...not Claude."

Favorite Sport Outside Hockey: "Golf."

People/Personality Qualities Most Admired: "George Bush. Backbone. Balls. And resilience."

Mark 'Scoop' Malinowski is the author of "Heavyweight Armageddon: The Tyson-Lewis Championship Battle" and creator of two websites: www.thebiofile.com  and www.tennis-prose.com.