#12 - Rob's Klinkhammer Is His ... You Know What

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This is the twelfth post of Deke Dangle RPF Anon, a community for all your ice hockey anon meme needs.

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Comments

Re: Hockey/Fandom Questions

[(Anonymous)]

na

I would say they *want* a rep for being hard hitting tough guys, but mostly they just dive a lot.

Re: Fic Recs

[(Anonymous)]

http://archiveofourown.org/works/380987 - move me or move right through me by Lake (beyond_belief) Ryan Nugent-Hopkins/Andrew Shaw soulbond fic

It was my first fave in the fandom and so was super formative in my preferences for rare pairs, guys on opposing teams, and soulbonds

As a heads up, it does feature Pat Kane as a pretty minor character.

Re: Hockey/Fandom Questions

[(Anonymous)]

That's...is that really an insult/a comeback? It's a bit weak.

30-in-30: Pittsburgh Penguins

[(Anonymous)]

ITT

Re: 30-in-30: Pittsburgh Penguins

[(Anonymous)]

• Two things about Nick Bonino:

He has a cute dog (see http://hockeyplayerswithpets.com/tagged/Nick-Bonino / https://twitter.com/NickBonino/media). This is how he got her:

“I really wanted a dog,” recalled the Connecticut native. “I got an itch. And when that happens, I’m pretty relentless. My wife thought it might not be right at the time, so I decided to give the cold shoulder for a couple of days. Then, we decided to go look and we found a great place.

“There were five or six puppies, but only two were left that you could buy,” he continued. “One was very calm and there was Kali…she was crazy, jumping around, nipping. I just remember thinking that was the cutest puppy I’ve ever seen. I turned to Lauren and said, ‘This is it.’ She rolled her eyes. We went out, ate some lunch and then went back and got her. Lauren absolutely loves her.”
http://www.nhlpa.com/news/the-penguins-new-pet

He doesn't joke about his hair.

I go into the dressing room post-game to tweet out player quotes from @VanCanucks and after a win I like to include a photo of the player I’m quoting. Radim Vrbata first, then Nick Bonino, Ryan Miller third and coach Willie Desjardins to round it out.

All was fine and dandy until I got onto the media bus headed for the airport when my phone starting blowing up.

Uh oh, read one text.

LOL – YOU IN DEEP S*#T!, laughed another.

A wide-eyed emoji stared at me in a third.

[...]

I refreshed my feed to see a tweet from Nick Bonino (@NickBonino), which read: “@VanCanucks thanks to my own teams Twitter account for that pic of my sick flow. Not sure what I did to piss off whoever runs it right now!”

The tweet was in response to another, that I sent: “We came in and played two of our worst periods of the year. Miller was why we won” - @NickBonino #Canucks” with a photo of the forward.

Bonino was clearly not happy with my photography skills, or lack thereof, but did he tweet his response tongue-in-cheek?

No chance.
http://www.fortnucks.com/post/102022341368/bones

Staying with Bonino, post-game Sunday, right before he spoke to the media, he made sure to put on a hat. It seems I will never live down my poor photography skills. “Okay, I’m ready now guys, I’ve got my hat,” Bonino laughed, looking me in the eyes and into my soul. One day we’ll look back at this and laugh, right Bones? Riiiight?!?
http://www.fortnucks.com/post/102296328473/roadwarriors

• Two things about Eric Fehr:

He wrote an anti-bullying children's book. This is how his Caps teammates found out:

Andre Burakovsky, 19 years old, entered the locker room last. He looked at the book, confused, then smiled as the realization dawned.

“Fehrsie?” he said from across the room. “Are you serious? Why are you writing a book?”

“So you can learn some life lessons,” Fehr replied. “You’re young enough. This probably applies to you.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capitals-insider/wp/2014/10/04/eric-fehr-wrote-an-anti-bullying-childrens-book-called-the-bulliest-dozer/

He doesn't like "Fehrsie".

“The only guy that calls me F-16 is Whip. I don’t know why. It’s not a real nickname. Petey [Justin Peters] would call me Frank. That’s my most known nickname. Some guys will call me Fehrsie, but usually it’s Frank. I don’t want Fehrsie. I’ve made it know I don’t want Fehrsie. Come up with anything else. My whole life people have called me Fehrsie. It’s just not creative enough.”
http://www.russianmachineneverbreaks.com/2015/05/13/eric-fehr-reveals-the-secret-nicknames-of-the-capitals-locker-room/

(And check out his twitter Q&A: http://www.russianmachineneverbreaks.com/2014/10/08/askfehr-eric-fehr-takes-over-capitals-twitter-account-names-lemieux-fav-player-reveals-tom-wilsons-nickname/)

• Beau Bennett

→ nicknamed “Sunshine” after the Remember the Titans character from the same state

→ He was named after the "Bo Knows" Nike commercial campaign.

→ All the laid-back California kid does before a game is listen to music (he’s always got his headphones on), and he says that’s more so to wake him up from his pre-game nap than anything.

→ [on playing the piano:] “My parents told me that if I wanted to play hockey I had to play an instrument for five years,” Bennett told us before. “I made it 8 to 13. I can still play some songs from back then and learn some songs if I need to. I learned enough while I was doing it.”

→ And what kind of car does he drive, you ask? A Jeep Grand Cherokee here in Pittsburgh. But back home, he drives a 1998 white Acura Legend nicknamed the ‘Ac Attack.’

→ [on Bortuzzo:] “People see us together all the time, it’d be weird if we didn’t live together,” Bennett joked. "We’re just going on man dates.” [primer: http://emilyisobsessed.tumblr.com/post/112627332174/beau-bennettrobert-bortuzzo-masterpost-im/mobile]

→ Mexican food is Bennett's favorite.

→ “I’m big into movies, I bought like 150 movies over the past year just to watch on the plane and whatnot,” Bennett said. He plows through his collection on road trips. “I don’t watch them at home but on the plane all I do is watch movies. I just try to get ones I’ve never seen. Half the ones I own, I’ve never seen.”

“He’s got a huge binder, which as a friend, you appreciate,” said Bortuzzo. “We’re also at the movie theater a couple times a week.”

→ Bennett also plays video games during his free time. He bought an X-Box the other day and is currently playing Call of Duty: Black Ops II. Him and Bortuzzo also have a Nintendo 64 for their house, where they plan on playing a lot of Mario Kart. [Pokemon too: https://www.reddit.com/r/pokemon/comments/20usmf/meta_penguins_beau_bennett_plays_pokemon_blue_on/cg6x3b4]

→ Bennett tweeted last year that "it's true I own two sets of clothes, hoodie & flannel, just livin the simple life. Summertime I only wear boardshorts #hobeaulife." His wardrobe may not be that extreme, but it's close. We used to only ever see him wear the same gray striped hoodie in interviews and around the rink before he got to Pittsburgh. "I came here with very sparse living, to be honest. And it’s all Lululemon. There’s nothing other than that. 412 and Lululemon are my only two spots.”
http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=686214

→ Before this interview with 21-year-old Pittsburgh Penguins winger Beau Bennett kicks off, James Neal has some things he would like to say about his new linemate and locker-room neighbor. A glint of big-brother trollishness flickers in his eyes. He’s clearly delighted that we’re here to talk to Bennett.

All right, James. Describe Beau Bennett to someone who doesn’t care about hockey, like my grandmother.
Neal: We call him Drizzy because he listens to a lot of [hip-hop artist] Drake. His musical taste is … I dunno. He put his iPod on before the game the other day, and we had to skip a few songs. He’s pretty chill. He’s the California Kid. Got some sick hands.

→ So that means none of California’s famous In-N-Out burgers?
Oh, I would crush In-N-Out. Frequently. Because I have a lot of friends who aren’t in hockey. You can’t not go if they’re going. It’s delicious. People outside of California don’t understand. It’s not just a fast-food burger. It’s a quality meal.

→ My dad and mom never followed hockey. But when Gretzky came to LA, people started throwing their kids into roller hockey. My older brother started when he was 5, so I’d throw the skates on. Nothing too serious. But then after a few years, I fell in love with it. I didn’t switch over to ice until I was 15.

→ The Flyers: your thoughts?
I’ve never been in a rivalry like that, where it’s just … We just hate them. It’s weird. I didn’t grow up hating the Flyers, but once I was drafted here and knew the culture, I just … I can’t stand them. I mean, it’s fun. I just come out of the games a little more bruised than usual.

→ I got pretty lucky. When I first got called up, I drove to Pittsburgh with Billy Guerin. He was on his way here anyway. I mean, it’s not exactly a fun drive, especially when you’re by yourself, so it was good to ride with Billy. He’s a beauty. With most people, five hours would seem like a lot of talking, but Billy loves to tell stories. That’s a fun car ride.

→ In the distance, James Neal can be heard shouting from the other room. “Drizzy … Drizzy!”
http://www.pittsburghmagazine.com/Pittsburgh-Magazine/November-2013/15-Questions-with-Beau-Bennett/

→ [on his siblings:] All four of us play hockey.

→ Q. Do you have a brother who is playing Junior hockey?
BEAU BENNETT: Yeah, he played in the same league as me. He was playing one of our rivals in Trail. It's a four-hour drive. Definitely fun to play him every time. I wish him the best of luck next season. I know he's going to get where he wants to go. He's working in the gym this off-season, and I want him to get that scholarship.
http://www.asapsports.com/show_interview.php?id=64490

→ In fact, [Bobby] Ryan used to babysit Bennett when the latter was nine years old.

→ Bennett is from Gardena, Calif. Like Etem, he's an interesting story. They both like to surf - go figure -- and while Etem draws, Bennett's artistic pursuit is playing the piano. He first started "skating" when his dad Kirk built a concrete pad (in-line) "rink" in their backyard, which was made big enough by Mr. Bennett buying the lot next door.
http://www2.tsn.ca/draftcentre/story/?id=325285

His friendship with Neal was cute. From twitter:

@BeauBennett78: @jneal_18 Do you miss me? Lick your elbow for no, breathe for yes
@jneal_18: @BeauBennett78 how could I not. I've been holding my breath for 2 minutes now. #howmanyppltriedtolickthereelbow

@BeauBennett19: #NealForCanada

@jneal_18: All of these rumors couldn't be further from the truth. I love being a Pittsburgh Penguin. I hope to remain a Penguin and win as a Penguin.
@BeauBennett19: @jneal_18 they're confused, you asked to trade to a different stall because my gear smells so bad

@jneal_18: Washed my hair today.
@BeauBennett19: @jneal_18 same
@Melanie_Collins: @jneal_18 @BeauBennett19 #proud

@BeauBennett19: @jneal_18 I miss you

Also from twitter:

@BeauBennett78: Is it bad that the second I wake up in the morning, I can't wait to nap?

@BeauBennett19: I never know what I am reading because at the end of every page, I realize I was just thinking about what I want for my next meal

@Despres747: Started from the bottom now we here #drizzzy @BeauBennett78 ....

More here: http://realannawebb.tumblr.com/post/90418609736/sht-beau-bennett-posts-on-twitter/mobile

Re: 30-in-30: Pittsburgh Penguins

[(Anonymous)]

• Olli Maatta

This article about Olli and his brother Antti is a must-read.

→ It worked out that Antti had been selected by his institute, the Jyväskylä Educational Consortium, to do an internship abroad. And with Olli being sidelined for the rest of the season following November shoulder surgery, it made sense for Antti to do one with the Penguins so that he could take care of his university requirement while getting to spend time with his brother.

→ Antti has been staying with Olli in his downtown Pittsburgh apartment, and so far, it’s gone smoothly – except for one thing.

“He’s telling me that I should be a bit cleaner,” Antti grinned.

→ There are three boys in the Maatta family. Olli, who’s the youngest at 20, and Antti, who’s in the middle at 22, have an older brother, Eero, who’s 25.

→ And as it turned out, Olli isn’t the only athlete in the family as Antti actually plays for the Finnish men’s water polo team. He’s taking a break from competition for right now, but plans to be back with them next season.

→ “Actually, the story is that when I came here, Olli looked at me and said 'oh my God, you’re fat again.' I was like 'what?!' He goes, 'yeah, you have to do my diet.' He’s eating this super diet. So I basically ate salad and meat for like five weeks (laughs).”

→ For their first stop, Antti plans to take Viivi to Il Pizzaiolo in Market Square, which is Olli’s favorite restaurant.
http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=761871

his diet (translated by Google Translate)

- I eat meat and vegetables, but not at all in processed form. Paleolithic diet does not favor the meat of animals reared for example, antibiotics. Fat, for example, natural fish omega-3 fatty acids and olive and coconut oil, I use in abundance, but on the other dairy products, cereals or sugar, not at all.

Määttä was inspired by the Stone Age cave people's diet a year ago under the guidance of his older brother.

- Now it has already become a kind of lifestyle. I have noticed that this food is good for me, 20-year-old Finnish hockey enthused.
http://www.ksml.fi/urheilu/kiekko/olli-maatan-salainen-ase-luolamiesten-ruokavalio/1985426

being the mentee

→ When Maatta returned to his junior team – the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League – in the fall of 2012, Reirden continued to work with him, building on the foundation he had established that summer.

Reirden spent as much time with Maatta as possible during the NHL lockout that lasted through January 2013, driving to as many of the young defenseman’s games as he could and visiting him in London to give him pointers and work with him.

→ Reirden has been helping Maatta with habits and details off the ice as well. The teenager is essentially on his own for the first time here in Pittsburgh, with his family across the Atlantic Ocean in Finland and his billets back in London. So having a mentor like Reirden to be there for him with anything he might need means the world to the young Finn.

“I remember my first day coming in here, he really kind of took me under his wing,” Maatta said. “He was a guy I could actually talk to if I had some problems off the ice. For example, getting an apartment. Just the normal stuff. He would tell me where I would get the help, so I’ve really got to thank him a lot for the stuff he’s done for me. He’s helped a lot.”
http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=713929

→ During his first three months in Pittsburgh, Olli Maatta lived by himself in a hotel room. His parents were thousands of miles away in Jyvaskyla, Finland, his mother teaching kindergarten and his father working as a construction engineer, and Maatta was trying his best not to be bored.

→ “Everybody knows him, for sure, back home,” Maatta said.

Maatta and Jokinen never had met before Maatta arrived at the Penguins training camp in the fall. But Jokinen immediately reached out and pulled in his fresh-faced fellow countryman, going out of his way to mentor Maatta on life in the NHL. Certainly, Jokinen was not going to let Maatta spend too much time holed up in that sterile hotel room.

“He’s been kind of a father figure,” Maatta said. “He took me out for dinners, drove me around a little bit, told me about things here. I didn’t really know any of the guys, and he was just making me feel like I belong here.”

Jokinen showed Maatta places where younger people often frequented. They dined in Shadyside at Umi, a highly-rated Japanese restaurant; and at Il Pizzaiolo, a pizza spot downtown.

→ “He’s a really humble person,” Maatta said. “Every day, he wants to get better. Everybody likes him here. I did not know him at all, and him just taking an unknown guy and teaching him and helping him, that shows how good of a person he is.”
http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/olympics/2014/02/11/Penguins-teammates-join-forces-for-Finland-in-Sochi-Olympics/stories/201402110039

being the mentor

→ Olli Maatta said Penguins fans often mistake him for fellow Fin Kasperi Kapanen.

“Going down to the hotel lobby, you get, ‘Weren't you already here?' ” Maatta said. “I think, ‘Um, I don't think I was.' ”

Take anything more than a quick glance at either one, and it isn't a total stretch. Both have blond hair. They smile a lot. They're personable.

And, as Maatta said, “I guess we look a little foreign to you guys.”

→ “I think he already knows more than I do about this,” Maatta said. “He's really mature and knows what it takes to be an NHL player because he's been around the NHL for a long time.

“I don't know if I've taught him anything.”

There is one thing Maatta will admit to.

He said he's been playing the part of tour guide, driving Kapanen around Pittsburgh, to the movies and out to dinner. Maatta admits he's a sucker for a good steak. Kapanen prefers pasta.

“There are so many good steak places around here,” Maatta said. “He's not big on steak. He actually complains when I want to go to a steak place. He likes pasta.”
http://triblive.com/sports/penguins/6844233-74/kapanen-maatta-penguins

Former Knight Olli Maatta, the Pittsburgh Penguins blue-liner, took out the new Olli — fellow Finnish defender Juolevi — for supper at the Keg to welcome him and impart some of his well-earned wisdom.
http://www.lfpress.com/2015/09/01/london-knights-set-sights-high

the Olympics, Aleksander Barkov

→ So how old do the Finns think Maatta really is?

“Old?” Timonen came back with a grin. “I said look at him. He looks like he's 12.”

“I'd say 14,” Salo offered.

“Looks to me like 15,” goaltender Tuukka Rask replied to the same question I threw by a bunch of the Finns, almost as if they had rehearsed the routine. Possibly at Maatta's expense.

“Yeah, I've been getting a lot of that since I've been here,” the kid said, fairly blushing. “But you know, these guys have been great. They've really taken me and Aleksander Barkov under their wing, talked to us a lot. It's been … wow, what an experience already.”

Barkov's only 18, but he's being forced to center the first line because of injuries to Mikko Koivu and Valtteri Filppula. He and Maatta are being asked to do far more than most teens in this tournament that's loaded with 151 NHL players. And because of that, Finland coach Erkka Westerlund shrewdly has the two rooming together, buying them a little reprieve from all the gosh-wow of sharing the white and blue with Teemu Selanne and others they grew up idolizing.

→ “I watched Sami play when I was a child,” Maatta said, and he meant it. Salo is 20 years his elder. “I can't tell you what that's like being out there with him. Really, I can't.”

Funny, but Salo had a far easier time with the reverse. And his assessment of Maatta might have been as strong as any I've heard.

“There's poise, there's talent and … I don't see the ceiling. I really don't. He's special,” Salo said. “And you know, it's good for Finnish hockey. It's good for all of us. We've been waiting for someone like him to arrive for a while.”

→ Favorite moment so far?

“Oh, the bikes, for sure,” he said.

The Finns are riding bikes in and around the Olympic Village, thanks to bright blue rentals flown here by the national federation. The entire hockey team, Selanne included, rode them to the game and back Thursday under 61 degree, sunny skies.

Maatta has attended events with Barkov, but he has mingled with the vets, too. He wants to show he “isn't intimidated” while also deferring.
http://triblive.com/sports/dejankovacevic/dejancolumns/5565552-74/states-united-maatta

Aleksander Barkov has boomerang humor.

“He’s funny,” said Penguins defenseman and fellow Finn Olli Maatta. “He can say something that gets you thinking for a while, and, then when you get it, you’re, like, ‘Oh, you got me.’”
http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/penguins/2014/01/21/Penguins-notebook-Two-Finns-merit-praise-attention/stories/201401210043

Teemu Selanne

→ It's safe to say that Penguins rookie defenseman Olli Maatta made quite an impression on Selanne.

“He played against the best in the Olympics, and he was so calm,” Selanne said. “He didn't look like a first-year player.”

→ “His hockey sense and his positioning is amazing,” Selanne said. “The whole package is there. He is fun to watch.”

→ “Off the ice,” Selanne said, “his preparation is truly professional. Great kid. It was a pleasure getting to know him.”
http://triblive.com/sports/penguins/5703316-74/penguins-selanne-sharks

Selanne spent some time talking with Maatta in Sochi. He found Maatta to be quiet and respectful, rarely speaking when surrounded by veterans unless he was asked a question.

“But, in a smaller group, he gets in a good conversation,” Selanne said. “He throws some funny lines here and there. You can see how much respect he has for older players.

“But what a great kid. Unbelievable. I met his mom there, too. He comes from a good, solid family. You can see that.”
http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/penguins/2014/03/08/Penguins-notebook-NHL-veteran-has-high-praise-for-young-Penguins-defenseman/stories/201403080051

Said Maatta: “For me, Teemu Selanne was someone I had only seen on TV. To come here, to be a teammate with him in his last Games, to see what he's like … it's just unbelievable.”
http://triblive.com/sports/olympics/moreolympics/5644158-74/jokinen-finland-goal

Scott Harrington, being a prankster, his work ethic

→ As London Knights head coach Dale Hunter blew his whistle to signify the end of a long, intense practice earlier this month, players scattered all over the ice doing their own thing. But two players – Scott Harrington and Olli Maatta – came together and continued working.

Harrington lined up on one side of the blue line, Maatta on the other to work on their puck management skills inside the offensive zone. One defenseman would saucer a cross-ice pass to the other, who would corral it before sending the puck back across the ice. They did this for some time before getting off the ice to do a post-practice workout, side-by-side, in the Knights weight room.

This partnering up together, something they do often, illustrates how Knights captain Harrington and assistant captain Maatta have the utmost respect for each other as players.

→ Not only is their on-ice relationship excellent, they have a great friendship off of it as well.

→ Maatta moved in with a billet family while working on mastering the English language, schooling and things we normally wouldn’t think about, like how to bank with a different currency.

Maatta was also getting used to new teammates, coaches, hockey operations staff and a different style of play.

→ Overall, it was a lot to handle for the young Maatta. But Harrington – who has been with the Knights since 2009 – did what he could to help Maatta, who reached out to him for advice about how to handle the stress and pressures of his draft year, adjust as smoothly as possible.
http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=643698

→ “He was one of the reasons why my adjustment to London was so easy,” Maatta said. “He helped me a lot, helped me with getting used to the game there and the life there.”

→ The two had become so close, they would kid about eventually playing together later after juniors.

“We were making jokes about it last year, actually. And now it happened, so it’s kind of funny,” Maatta said. “We talked about it, how it would be fun to play with him. He actually has told me a lot about the combine and the draft itself. He’s been a big help for me.”
http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=635731

→ Playing mini sticks is a way for the youthful players to unwind and have some fun after a demanding on-ice practice session that lasted for over an hour.

The hollering and cheering from the intense game spilled out of the locker room and into the weight room a few steps away, where sweat dripped down the faces of Scott Harrington and Olli Maatta. The two defensemen laughed at the mini sticks banter as they pushed themselves through a strenuous workout.

→ The players also voted for their assistant captains. And it’s no surprise that they selected Maatta to wear an “A” on his jersey.

→ “Two or three months in he was fine,” Hunter said. “(His English) was good, but wasn’t great. He took two or three months and got better every game and at the end of the year he was an outstanding player. … By the end of the year he was one of the top D in the league. That’s a credit to him and his work ethic on and off the ice.”

Harrington and Maatta have many similarities both on and off the ice. But they also have some differences, particularly their personalities. While their Knights teammates joke that Harrington is “Mr. Serious,” they voted Maatta as one of the team’s top pranksters.

When he isn’t punking his teammates, Maatta is serenading them. The Jyvaskyla-native is a fan of all genres of music, and is also a fan of unleashing his vocal chords onto anyone in his vicinity.

Even when he first arrived in Canada and had minimal grasp of the English language, Maatta didn’t shy away from belting out the lyrics to Beyonce’s “Best I Ever Had” around his new teammates. Maatta listens to an eclectic array of styles, from country to top-40 hits to Finnish death metal. But his new favorite is Shakira and Pitbull’s “Get It Started” – which he also enjoys singing.

And just in case you needed another reminder of how young Maatta truly is, just watch his face light up as he talks about receiving his driver’s license in Finland this past summer.

But make no mistake, for all his fun and youthful antics, no one will outwork Maatta on the ice or in the weight room. In fact, his work ethic was so high when he first arrived in London that the coaches had to have him scale it back so that he wouldn’t burn himself out.

"He came (to North America) and we had to tell him to slow down working out,” Hunter recalled. “He worked too hard. He was getting tired for the (weekend) games. He didn’t know that part. He thought, more work and more results. But when it’s a long season, you have to pick (your spots). In that he’s gotten better.”
http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=642842

Re: 30-in-30: Pittsburgh Penguins

[(Anonymous)]

Q: Pittsburgh defenseman Olli Maatta announced last week that he has a tumor on his thyroid that will require surgery. You and Maatta played junior hockey together for two years with the London Knights. What was your reaction when you heard the news?
[Harrington]: It’s scary. Olli is one of my better friends. I had no idea. I guess he had known for a couple weeks and had kind of been keeping it to himself, which is pretty classic Olli. He’s not one to tell people anything like that or use it as an excuse. I don’t think he wanted any attention. I think that because he was having surgery, it was important to tell the media why he was going to miss some time. I talked to him yesterday. He hasn’t changed. He’s still calm and cool and completely business about the whole thing. I guess it’s good they caught it when they did. I’m sure if everything goes well, he’ll be back in no time.

Q: Were you guys more friendly or more competitive with each other when you were teammates?
[Harrington]: I think both. When Olli came in, he had a lot to learn about living in North America and stuff like that. The other guys tried to help him out. He’s such a great kid. Everyone became close friends with him quickly. When we got drafted by Pittsburgh, it was great. We would push each other in practice, but it was just to better each other’s games. He’s obviously been successful and done really well and it’s great to see.
http://citizensvoice.com/sports/penguins-2-minutes-with-scott-harrington-1.1781249

Playing with Maatta, mostly in even-strength situations, was a bonus, Harrington said, even though the pair weren’t everyday defence partners with the Knights.

“We’re really comfortable out there with each other,” he said.

“It was funny when I saw our names together on the team sheet. I didn’t expect we’d be playing together, but then you never know. It made it a lot easier; it’s really important to build chemistry and that usually takes time.”
http://www.lfpress.com/2013/09/05/former-knights-captain-returns-as-part-of-pens-rookie-team

favorite movie/tv show/video game, food

Maatta credits former teammates and fellow draft prospects Samu Markkula (No. 61 ranked European skater) and Topi Nattinen (No. 115-ranked European skater) as having a big influence on his career - “We talked about hockey all the time and had a competition about everything.”

Maatta started playing hockey in 2000 after he complained to his parents that all of the other kids were allowed to play hockey – “They didn’t have any other choice but to buy hockey equipment.”

NHL player: Nicklas Lidstrom
Shootout move: Pavel Datsyuk’s
Goal celebration: “Teemu Selanne shooting his glove”
Video game: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Movie: Shawshank Redemption
TV show: The Mentalist
Actor: Kiefer Sutherland
Website: dropyourgloves.com
Book: English dictionary
Home-cooked meal: Mushroom soup
Activity away from the rink: Playing PS3
http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=633905

1. Whom are the NHL defencemen that you watch closely for tips?
"The defenceman I watch a lot of is [Detroit Red Wings captain] Nicklas Lidstrom, of course. He makes the game look so easy. He's a big one for me. Kimmo Timonen from Philadelphia is another, the Finnish defenceman."

4. Aside from family and friends, what do you miss most about home?
"Sauna. It's a Finnish tradition and I really love going there. I've been a few times in Canada but it's nothing like in Finland."
https://sports.yahoo.com/juniorhockey/blog/buzzing_the_net/post/draft-tracker-5-questions-with-olli-maatta-london-knights?urn=juniorhockey,wp7641

What’s your favorite candy?
MAATTA: I like licorice a lot and Swedish berries are good. I'm not a chocolate kind of guy.

Overall, what’s your favorite part about Halloween?
MAATTA: I tried carving a pumpkin. That was pretty fun. I love pumpkin foods and pumpkin treats. Those are really good.
http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=689367

“He was actually a chubby kid. He loved food and candies. Sometimes he’s a scatterbrain, comes in late and keeps forgetting his stuff. But seriously - I’ve got nothing bad to say about him. You can always talk to him about anything. He’s the hardest working person I know.”
http://pittsburghpengwins.tumblr.com/post/93058133143/mikkokoivus-he-was-actually-a-chubby-kid-he

Olli’s a terrible driver apparently. Kappi also says Olli has bad road rage in the video.
http://so-hockey-eh.tumblr.com/post/100241788709/ollis-a-terrible-driver-apparently-kappi-also

→ The native of Finland also grew up playing soccer and didn’t fully commit to organized hockey — which he admits is his first love — until he was 14. Two years later, he was the youngest player ever to suit up for Finland in the World Junior Championships. Another two years passed, and Maatta was leading Ontario Hockey League rookie defensemen in scoring — and was selected 22nd overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2012 NHL draft.

→ As a teenager, what was it that made you decide to go with hockey rather than soccer?
I [felt] I had a better chance to make it pro playing hockey, and … I just felt like it was closer to my heart. But I’m still a big soccer guy as well. I love watching soccer. I like Aston Villa, but they haven’t been that good — for years.

→ Trying not to overload?
Exactly. I use Skype with my brothers and friends daily, and at least once a week with my mom and dad. We’re lucky to have Skype these days; I can’t imagine back in the days when they didn’t have anything like that — having to write letters.

Or video games — I read somewhere you’re a big “Call of Duty” fan …
I still need to get the new one. I haven’t actually brought anything over with me, but I want to get the new [PlayStation 4] . . . I’ve pretty much just been watching movies, so I might be a little rusty at first.
http://www.pittsburghmagazine.com/Pittsburgh-Magazine/January-2014/Olli-Maata-Is-Sticking-Around/

Following the Penguins' 5-0 shutout of the Sabres at Consol Energy Center Nov. 1, Maatta's final game before he had surgery, he was outside the visiting locker room chatting with Sabres defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen, a fellow Finn. They spoke in English and while Maatta's health was discussed, a bulk of the conversation focused on where Ristolainen got a pair of gray and black stripped dress pants he was wearing.
http://blogs.post-gazette.com/sports/2013-06-20-18-51-15/empty-netters/42932-penguins-at-canadiens-11-18-14

London, missing Finland, his family

In the middle of the night last August in Lake Placid, N.Y., Olli Maatta piled his hockey gear and a couple suitcases into the back of a Honda Pilot.

This is how the impressive London Knights defenceman's junior hockey career started -- a long way from Finland and facing an eight-hour drive to London, Ont., with Dale Hunter, the president and then-head coach of the OHL team, and assistant GM Misha Donskov, two men he barely knew.

"It was a little awkward at the start," the 17-year-old from Maatta said, "but it got better as we went. We talked about hockey. It was a long trip. I was excited to get to London and get started (in the Canadian Hockey League)."
http://www.lfpress.com/sports/hockey/2012/05/17/19771271.html

→ "I had heard a lot of good things about the game in Canada; it’s so much different. I also heard everything good about London, so why not?," Maatta said, adding that the transition has been eased by a solid command of the English language and the efforts of his teammates.

"My language skills are pretty good, so it hasn’t been too hard," Maatta explained. "I knew we’d have a good team, but I had no idea they’d be so good about taking me with them and teaching some things. They’ve made it very easy to adjust."

→ But despite how comfortable he is in his new home, he does miss his native Finland — especially his family. Fortunately, the Maatta clan recently made the trip to Canada and had the opportunity to watch their son in action and learn about his new Canadian surroundings.

"I Skype with them three times a week," he said, admitting that Internet chat paled in comparison to the experience of having his family in town. "For me I really felt like I was back home — it’s the first time I’ve been able to speak Finnish in a while.

"They had a great time — they really liked the rink, they liked the team, and they loved the city, so it was good for them."

While it was the first time that the Maattas saw their son play for the Knights in person, it’s certainly not the first time they’ve watched him live. In fact, his mother is a regular viewer of the live Internet feeds of any Knights games.

"It’s late when she watches — around 2 a.m., so she’s tired," he added, laughing.

And although there’s no Finnish presence in London to speak of — no restaurants or large community — he did recently experience a surprising reminder of home when an older Finnish woman brought a traditional dessert to a fan event. "It was some kind of sweet bread dessert. I was so happy," he said, beaming.

London is known as the Forest City and features a river running through its heart. Maatta said he sees some similarities to his home town. "We have a lot of trees in Finland, so it’s similar," Maatta said. "I miss the water a little bit. We have about 50 lakes in the city that I live in — they’re not that big, though. I miss that."
http://www.hockeysfuture.com/articles/13385/2012_prospects_olli_maatta_finding_transition_to_north_america_smooth/

→ The Finns have a lovely word in their language that encapsulates the desired qualities of will, determination and perseverance.

"It's called 'sisu', " said London Knights rookie defenceman Olli Maatta. "It means a lot of things. It means never giving up."

→ Maatta's brother Antti, two years his senior, plays on Finland's men's water polo team. Now those guys are in animal shape.

"I tried it, we would all swim (growing up), but I couldn't do it. It was too tough. After a minute, I couldn't breathe," said 17-year-old Olli.

→ One of Maatta's favourite activities back home is visiting his cottage and relaxing in a sauna. He does not, in mid-winter, bolt from the hot room and dive into the snow.

"That's crazy," he said.
http://www.lfpress.com/sports/knights/2011/09/29/18759741.html

→ Crosby has taken note of Maatta's maturity and training regimen – pumping iron every day and one of the last players off the ice at practice. That's saying something when the best and most driven player in the game has nice things to say about your work ethic.

→ In his spare time, he still follows the Knights on his computer. He was happy Chris Tierney was named captain recently and he is on the emotional roller coaster ride this year with his old mates.

“There are ups and downs, but I'm sure they'll find a way,” he said. “They always do. They really have skill there and a couple of good d-man so I'm confident in them getting the job done. Being in London was the best two years of my life. I really can't thank the organization enough. It was a chance to experience something new and get away from home. I've got a lot of new friends there, lifetime friends, and I'm sure I'll be back there after this season to see everyone.”
http://www.lfpress.com/2014/02/05/former-london-knight-olli-maatta-nervous-about-olympic-debut-in-sochi

his maturity/motivation

“He comes in and he’s obviously a confident kid with the way he plays, but the confidence comes from his work ethic and how he prepares,” Orpik said. “For a kid his age, I've never seen a kid work as hard as this kid off the ice. And it comes with zero ego, which is refreshing.”
http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=688367

→ “I marvel at Olli Maatta,” Tocchet said. “I've been involved in hockey a long time. He's already one of my favorites.”

→ Tocchet is one of the few people who have known for weeks about the condition — Sidney Crosby and the rest of the Penguins' coaching staff also knew — and he commended the job general manager Jim Rutherford and the team's physician, Dharmesh Vyas, did of communicating to the team and public.

→ “Just unflappable,” Tocchet said. “His demeanor at that press conference was the same thing we've seen in the room. Just a special kid.”
http://triblive.com/sports/penguins/7041908-74/tocchet-lemieux-maatta

“The one thing that comes to my mind when we talk about Olli is maturity,” Letang said. “For a guy his age, the way he acts on and off the ice, with that situation, just proves to everybody that he’s a true professional and really mature for his age.”
http://blog.triblive.com/chipped-ice/2014/10/29/mackey-letang-feels-for-maatta/

“He’s very very focused and wants to be a pro,” says Misha Donskov, the Knights’ assistant general manager and assistant coach. “He’s one of the hardest working guys we have and has made a seamless transition here.”

Despite the spotlight of being a potential first-round NHL draft pick, learning a new culture and game and playing in front of 9,000 fans a night in London, Donskov says Maatta has shown “maturity beyond his years.”
http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2012/02/26/nhl_prospect_london_knights_dman_olli_maatta_mature_beyond_his_years.html

"Olli is incredibly motivated. I've never seen anyone like him, actually. When he's in the gym, he's working and when he's on the ice, no one's distracting him or taking him away from what he's there for."
http://www.lfpress.com/2015/09/06/mitch-stewart-of-londons-total-package-hockey-is-trainer-to-nhl-stars

[Crosby:] "He is very quiet. I don't think that's just because he's [19] and in the NHL. I think he's just probably quiet in general. What he's done has shown a pretty mature game for how old he is. It's been fun to see him get better with each game and get more comfortable."
http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/2013/10/25/Maatta-19-not-going-anywhere/stories/201310250061

[Crosby:] “Playing in the Olympics and going through the things he’s gone through, I think he’s just gotten better and better. He’s constantly improved in whatever situation he’s been in.”

That extends to interviews. Maatta, whose English is strong, makes a point of standing when approached by reporters in the locker room and offers thorough, thoughtful comments.
http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/penguins/2014/04/03/Penguins-defenseman-getting-rookie-of-year-buzz/stories/201404020183

→ “You don't see many 19-year-old defensemen jump into a play like that,” Guerin said. “Olli's mature for his age. He's not overly emotional. He's very guarded.

“And he's built like a man.”

→ “I don't know if it's a style thing or what … but he's a real confident kid, and that goes a long way,” Bortuzzo said.
http://triblive.com/sports/penguins/4912358-74/maatta-penguins-nhl

Re: Hockey/Fandom Questions

[(Anonymous)]

I know you guys are big fans of verbal abuse, but a phrase that means, "Your view is skewed by your investment in the team," sums up what I meant to say just fine.

Re: 30-in-30: Pittsburgh Penguins

[(Anonymous)]

Olli Maatta is into paleo?! IDK if I'm willing to integrate this into my worldview.

(Bless you, nonnie, for you hardcore Olli dedication. I haven't even read all of this yet - some of it will have to wait for later. But Olli <333)

Re: Patrick Kane

[(Anonymous)]

not sure if i'm replying to the right thread but I second this, someone told me they were getting hate for simply wanting to archive old things and not actively being pro kane...

Re: Hockey/Fandom Questions

[(Anonymous)]

na

Looking at major penalties, they were 15th in PIM last year with 10 boarding calls, 27 fights, 5 misconducts, 2 game misconducts, 2 instigators.

The leader in PIM was Pittsburgh with 9 boardings (league leader Toronto, 13), 33 fights (league leader CBJ, 44), 18 misconducts (league leader), 4 game misconducts (league leader Montreal, 5), 0 instigators (league leader Winnipeg, 4).

If you go to minor penalties, they fall to 19th. Hooking 41(leader Detroit, 65), Tripping 43 (leader Winnipeg, 69), Roughing 32 (leader Winnipeg, 72), Holding 28 (leader Arizona, 45), Interference 23 (leader Detroit, 49), Slashing 21 (leader Winnipeg 39), High Stick 23 (leader Dallas 36), Crosschecking 10 (leader Pittsburgh, 20), Holding Stick 2 (league leader Calgary, 9), Goalie Interference 11 (tied with Pittsburgh for leader). Winnipeg had the most minor penalties overall.

Obviously these stats rely on refs and are not perfect, but it's pretty hard to believe that Boston is objectively the dirtiest team in the league based on penalty minutes.They seem to be in the middle of the pack. /not a Bruins fan

Re: Hockey/Fandom Questions

[(Anonymous)]

NA

I have no opinions on the Bruins but that list is fascinating. WTF, Winnipeg? I had no idea.

Re: 30-in-30: Pittsburgh Penguins

[(Anonymous)]

Maatta with road rage is pretty funny.

Re: Hockey/Fandom Questions

[(Anonymous)]

NA

This is interesting. Can you do something similar with suspension instances and days?

Re: Hockey/Fandom Questions

[(Anonymous)]

ayrt

Not unless someone put it on a chart somewhere! All I did was look at a chart. :)

Re: Characterization help

[(Anonymous)]

I don't know much but will throw out there the little I do know.

There seemed to be a brief fad for Lucic/Miller hate sex or bad breakup after the thing where Ryan Miller called him a piece of shit. No idea how good the characterization was but it was A Thing.

I also know he was close friends with Johnny Boychuk and was SUPER upset about that trade.

Re: Hockey/Fandom Questions

[(Anonymous)]

27 total suspensions

Flyers: 1 (8 games)
Bruins: 1 (2 games)
Wild: 2 (4 games)
CBJ: 2 (6 games)
Jets: 3 (7 games)
Leafs: 1 (4 games)
Hawks: 2 (8 games)
Isles: 1 (1 game)
Sens: 1 (3 games)
Panthers: 1 (4 games)
Stars: 3 (7 games)
Oilers: 2 (5 games)
Sharks: 2 (6 games)
Penguins: 1 (2 games)
Preds: 1 (4 games)
Kings: 1 (2 games)
Canucks: 1 (3 games)
Rangers: 1 (5 games)

Re: Hockey/Fandom Questions

[(Anonymous)]

However the Flyers one was Rinaldo, who is now a Bruin, so let's see. As a Bruins fan, I am really, really hoping he spends most of the season in the press box and not on the ice, as I despise him, and it's not even like he's a good hockey player. We have much better potential in the minors.

Re: Hockey/Fandom Questions

[(Anonymous)]

ayrt

It was pretty interesting to see how things split out with the different teams. And there were some top 10 teams that didn't lead in any specific categories, as well as some middle of the pack teams that led or were close to leading a specific category.

Winnipeg was #2 behind Pittsburgh in majors and Pittsburgh was #2 behind Winnipeg in minors. I had no idea about the Jets either.

Re: Hockey/Fandom Questions

[(Anonymous)]

ayrt

Ok. Disregarding Voynov's indefinite suspension and the 20-game suspensions handed out for substance use violations, Jets and Stars are tied for most suspensions with three each. If you count up games it's a tie between Hawks and Flyers with 8 each.

Re: Hockey/Fandom Questions

[(Anonymous)]

The Preds one was Volchenkov--has he signed anywhere?

Re: Hockey/Fandom Questions

[(Anonymous)]

They've re-signed him, it seems? http://predlines.com/2015/05/26/predators-anton-volchenkov-have-discussed-new-deal/

Re: Hockey/Fandom Questions

[(Anonymous)]

SA

Or at least they're looking into re-signing him

Re: Hockey/Fandom Questions

[(Anonymous)]

No, they signed Jackman to fill the role of veteran to patrol the blue line while Jones is galavanting.

I could have sworn Volchenkov signed with someone, maybe just a PTO but google is failing me.

Re: Hockey/Fandom Questions

[(Anonymous)]

this endlessly frustrates me. put Jones with Ellis or Ekholm. the other team would never have the puck.