Getting To Know: Michael Raffl

Status: Philadelphia Flyers left winger

Ht: 6-0 Wt: 195 pounds

DOB: December 1, 1988 In: Villach, Austria

First Hockey Memory: "Tough one, I don't even remember how I started playing so [smiles], probably watching my dad (Peter) play."

Hockey Inspirations: "My dad and my brother (Thomas)."

First Famous Player You Met Or Encountered: "What is famous? Like NHL-wise? (In your country, whatever.) I grew up around the arena so I always know all the players from hanging around there. Gino Cavallini. He used to be like a big import back at home. I loved watching him. I was young, he was by far the best player in the league. And was really a huge guy, (he played) with a small stick with a big curve. I kinda liked his style."

Greatest Sports Moment(s): "Playing in the NHL."

Most Painful Moment: "Every single injury I ever had I think is painful for itself. In different kinds of ways, so..."

Most Memorable Goal: "First NHL goal I think. Against Ottawa, in Ottawa. Just followed up on a kinda weird rebound, and I put it in. I don't know how it just bounced, kinda bounced in somehow."

Fiercest Competitors Encountered: "Claude Giroux maybe. Most competitive guy I've ever seen."

Favorite NHL Uniforms: "The Flyers [chuckles]. (Number two?) I don't know... my hometown team Villach, it's blue and white."

Favorite Rinks To Play In: "I love to play here at the Wells Fargo Center. And back home. I wish I can go back to play for my hometown team sometime. Or it will be when I'm done here, I'm pretty sure I'm going to go back there."

Embarrassing Hockey Memory: "Yeah, I actually missed an open net here, home ice. Bounced and I missed the open net. Thought it was gonna be an easy goal. Chipped it there, got slashed a little bit, and the goalie jumped out from behind the net - saved it. So it was kinda of a highlight everywhere. I was, like, the guy who missed it. So it was kind of embarrassing (vs Nashville)."

Strangest Game: "No, not that I remember... Nothing weird happened to me, man [smiles]."

Current Car: "Audi S7. (Color?) All black, black rims, black windows [smiles]."

Last Book Read: "Michael Jordan biography."

Last Vacation: "Italy."

Funny Hockey Memory: "Oh, every day there's something out there that makes me smile. But I can't think of a good one to tell you. If I think of one I will tell you."

Why Do You Love Playing Hockey: "Because it's the best sport in the world. It's got everything - it's got physicality, it's exciting, it's catching you when you watch it, it's tough. It's got everything."

Favorite Sport Outside Hockey: "Tennis."

Funniest Players Encountered: "From this team now? Or ever? (Both.) I love having fun so ... I think it's Jakub Voracek and Ryan White and Zac Rinaldo."

People Qualities Most Admired: "Just sense of humor and being willing to help all the time. I don't know the word in English."

Three Athletes You Like To Watch & Follow: "Roger Federer, Tiger Woods and Jake Voracek - and maybe we should pick an Austrian [smiles]... Dominic Thiem (top 20 ATP tennis player)."

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