SportSquee's Featured Fangirl: Hockeygirl

SportSquee's latest featured fangirl is none other than hockeygirl, who runs the excellent blog, double d(ion), so named for the NHL's current patron saint of ass-kicking, one Mr. Dion Phaneuf. She is also a regular contributor to a sassy collective women's blog called hlog, where she represents Flames fans of the fairer sex. Hockeygirl comes to us from the Great White North, where she lives in a tiny town you may have heard of called Toronto, setting of the quality teen soap DeGrassi: the Next Generation. If you've never been there, you can see it by watching any movie made in the last decade that's supposed to take place in Manhattan. Anyhoo, hockeygirl is living in a minority situation in the T-dot, as a Calgary Flames fan in Leaf country. I'm not saying she's packing or anything, but if she asked me, I would advise it. Leafs fans are nuts. Hockeygirl is my new hero because while she's not doodling "Dion hearts hockeygirl" on her Finder Binder, she is busy educating tiny children. The closest I've come to educating today's youth was when I flashed the third grade class trip from Red Hook Elementary earlier this week, as they were heading into see Radio City's Christmas Spectacular across the street. They certainly looked like they learned something. You can read all about the tremendously cool Dionoholic and Flamesologist here and here. And please visit her for the latest info on the Flames and the Phaneuf. Remember, Dion is one of SportSquee's most powerful heartthrobs. Able to melt one's French cuts with a single glare. I'm ever-thankful to hockeygirl for keeping him at the forefront of the blogosphere. So as reward, she has been beckoned to take a special, hockey'd up version of the infamous SportSquee Quiz. Godspeed, hockeygirl. Let's hope this doesn't completely Phanuef you.


Who were your earliest fangirl influences?
My mom. She was a crazy hockey fangirl when she was in her late teens and early twenties. She would tell stories of watching the Edmonton Oil Kings back in 1968/69 and it sounded awesome.

To what athlete did you award your first Squee(!)?
Wayne Gretzky. I think it was legitimately a squee since I was two. In my teen years, Jose Theodore was the recipient of many a squee. Then Matt Walker (St. Louis Blues, #28) when he played junior hockey with the Kootenay Ice. Now Dion Phaneuf (Calgary Flames, #3). Yowza! The boy is sizzling.

Who was your longest and most intense crush and how did you prove your devotion?
Longest and most intense would have to be the current one on Dion. I watched him play junior hockey with the Red Deer Rebels and he was on the Canadian World Junior team. I remember watching the draft in 2003 in a random hotel room and may have squee-ed out loud. My devotion is proven by my blog, it is named after him.

Were your parents alarmed?
I don't think they know. My husband pretty much ignores me although he did call me from the highway to tell me about two giant billboards with Dion's ad for Under Armour on them... You know the one...

Who has the best-looking team in the NHL?
And by best-looking do you mean squee rating? Um, I'd have to go with the Senators, if only for the combination of Spezza and Heatley. I think I may have said something about a sandwich here.
Oh, do you mean standings wise? Does it matter? Ha ha, just kidding. I think Buffalo is kicking ass and taking names.
(Editor's note: Dany Heatley is mine. Watch yourself)

Who has the weakest-looking team in the NHL?
Appearances: Leafs
Standings: Leafs
I just don't like them and hope they do poorly.

Who are the top ten hottest NHL players?
Wow. Hmm... Okay.

1. Dion Phaneuf (SQUEE!), Calgary
2. Matthew Lombardi, Calgary
3. Dany Heatley, Ottawa (Editor's note: Seriously. Watch it.)
4. Joffrey Lupul, Edmonton
5. Ilya Kovalchuk, Atlanta
6. Rick Nash, Columbus
7. Andrej Meszaros, Ottawa
8. Rick DiPietro, NYI (Editor's note: Right on.)
9. Jason Spezza, Ottawa (Editor's note: Hell yeah.)
10. Matt Walker, St. Louis (for old times)

Who are the top ten least-crushworthy NHL players?

1. Mike Peca and his stupid teeth, Toronto
2. Rod Brind'amour, Carolina
3. Derian Hatcher, Philadelphia
4. Todd Bertuzzi, Florida
5. Manny Maholtra, St. Louis
6. Michal Handzus, Chicago
7. Brent Sopel, LA
8. Mike Ricci, Phoenix
9. Mats Sundin, Toronto
10. Ed Belfour, Florida

What is the hottest position in the NHL? Give evidence, name names.
I'd have to go with defense. Those lurking, hulking boys get me every time. My obvious choice is Dion Phaneuf who really embodies everything I need from a hockey game. So far this year he is +4 with 3-6-9 and 22 PIM, 43 shots. Last season he played 94 games with 23-35-58, +5, 93 PIM. Sigh, he's the best!

Is Lance Armstrong having an affair with Matthew McConaughey?
No. Maybe. Who cares as long as McConaughey stays cooky and hot.

Name the hottest athletes in the following sports:
Football: What's football?
Baseball: David Ortiz (he's all man).
Basketball: Huh?
Hockey: Really? Can't you detect a theme here? I'll let you guess.
Soccer: Becks, hands down.
Winter Olympics: The Canadian Hockey team
Summer Olympics: Adam van Koeverden

Who is more amazing: Clinton Portis, Johnny Weir, Chad Johnson, or Wayne Rooney?
Um, I going to have to go with Chad Johnson only because he was on the cover of Sports Illustrated last week and I read the story. I don't know anything about the other guys. My life revolves around hockey.

Who is your pick for up-and-coming hottie in professional sports?
Leland Irving. The Calgary Flames first round pick in the 2006 NHL Draft. There is an interesting story here and some video here.

What I most want to say about the State of the Squee today is:
Squeeing is important but so is not talking out your ass. I think that as women we bring a different perspective to watching hockey. You can read more about it on hlog {Hockey's Ladies of Greatness}. It's an environment where we discuss the game and it's players in many ways with some squees. My final answer is, if this doesn't make you squee I don't know how to help you. (Editor's note: Girl, I am so squeeing.)