Status: New York Rangers center
Ht: 6-foot-4 Wt: 200 pounds
DOB: May 24, 1988 In: Yaroslavl, Russia
Hockey Inspirations: "To play in NHL."
First Hockey Memory: "First time I go to hockey. My coach in the school take a ball and say, ‘play basketball.’ And we play basketball. I score a couple of baskets in basketball. After, he gave me paper (saying) to go to hockey at a time. I go to hockey and get on the skates with the pads. And go skate around. And after I start playing - in six months we had our first game. I played on the second line (age 9)."
Nicknames: "They call me ‘Arty.’ (Enver) Lisin called me Grandpa because I have a lot of experience."
Hobbies/Leisure Activities: "Go on the street and walk around. Go in the museum, educational stuff. I like walking around in good parks. See nature, nice views, nice trees, can breathe fresh air. Read book. Summer time, go fishing."
Favorite Movies: "It was Indiana Jones Raiders of the Lost Ark."
Last Book Read: "Russian book."
Musical Tastes: "I like all kinds, pop, rock, hip-hop."
Childhood Dream: "Hockey player. (Raises one finger to correct himself) NHL hockey player."
Pre-game Feeling: "I'm trying to release all thoughts in my head and concentrate on the game only. Like, little bit relaxed. But strong in the mind at the same time."
Favorite Meal: "Pre-game meal - mashed potatoes, steak, little bit of vegetables. Ranch sauce ('Ranch dressing’, corrects teammate Brian Boyle who was seated nearby). Ranch dressing. Thank you man (to Boyle)."
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: "Vanilla."
Greatest Sports Moment: "Getting to the NHL."
Most Painful Moment: "(Laughs) After first NHL game, sent me back to Hartford."
Favorite Uniforms: "Rangers."
Closest NHL Friends: "Semyon Varlamov. Alex Vasyunov in New Jersey."
Funniest Player Encountered: "Evgeny Grachev."
Toughest Competitors Encountered: "New Jersey. Trap team."
Most Memorable Goal(s): "I have two. In a pre-season game against Boston and last one in the season against New Jersey. I like those two goals."
Strangest Game: "Yeah, sometimes in a game, bad game, you know, nothing you can do. The puck jumping around, bounce away. It happens. It's a tough game."
Favorite Sport Outside Hockey: "Soccer. England soccer."
Last Vacation: "San Francisco."
Favorite Players To Watch: "I like to turn on TV and watch some games. A player I like to watch - Kovalchuk, Malkin, Datsyuk."
Personality Qualities Most Admired: "Friendly, friendship, smart, funny."
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.