Mike Rupp

Mike Rupp has one goal and 38 penalty minutes in 14 games this season. (Photo by Scott Levy/NHLI via Getty Images)

Mark Malinowski
2012-01-01 09:31:00

Status: New York Rangers left wing/center.

Ht: 6-foot-5 Wt: 243 pounds

DOB: Jan. 13, 1980 In: Cleveland

First Hockey Memory: "I remember the morning, waking up and putting the hockey equipment on - it was airing out in the living room. Those Saturday mornings had to put the gear on on the couch, drive to practice with all my equipment except my skates on. I remember doing that a lot."

Nicknames: "Rupper, Moose, Sasquatch."

Hockey Inspirations: "I was a big Gretzky fan."

Last Book Read: "Lone Survivor."

First Job: "Produce clerk."

First Car: "Chevy Lumina."

Current Car: "Ford F-250."

Favorite Movies: "Talladega Nights, Glory."

Greatest Sports Moment: "Game 7, Stanley Cup final (2003 with N.J., scored the Cup-clinching goal)."

Most Painful Moment: "Couple Game 7 losses."

Favorite Uniforms: "Hmmm....Blackhawks."

Favorite Arena: "Montreal."

Closest Hockey Friends: "I don't know if I could put a finger on one. A lot of good teammates over the years."

Funniest Players Encountered: "Mike Mottau. Just everything that comes out of his mouth, with a dry sense of humor, but it's hilarious."

Toughest Competitors Encountered: "Scotty Stevens."

Most Memorable Goal: "Game 7."

Embarrassing Hockey Memory: "Coming out on the ice, I had my stick sideway and went through the door. For warmups. We all came running out. And I got stuck, and we all ran into each other. (Where?) Pittsburgh."

Favorite Sport Outside Hockey: "All sports, but I'm a big basketball fan."

Funny Hockey Memory: "I remember we were having a real serious meeting. And it was one of those, kinda going around the room and all the players were saying what their jobs are. The GM (Lou Lamoriello) was in the room, we were saying what your job is, what you bring to the table. Mike Mottau just like, it doesn't sound funny but in the moment it was. He just said, like, what he does, ‘Keeps it simple, moves the puck, good first pass’ and he's like, ‘Let all the lightweights know that I got my tie-down ready and I'm ready to go.’ Made everyone laugh."

Last Vacation: "The Outer Banks, North Carolina."

Favorite Player(s) To Watch: "My favorite player ever to watch is Pavel Bure. No one is quite like that."

Personality Qualities Most Admired: "Honesty, accountability, passion."

Mark 'Scoop' Malinowski's second book "Marcelo Rios: The Man We Barely Knew" is available on www.amazon.com. Malinowski is the creator of two websites: www.thebiofile.com and www.tennis-prose.com