Getting To Know: Matt Read

In this week's Getting To Know, Mark Malinowski catches up with current Philadelphia Flyers forward Matt Read.

Status: Philadelphia Flyers right wing.

Ht: 5-10 Wt: 185

DOB: June 14, 1986 In: Ilderton, Ontario

First Hockey Memory: "I remember seeing pictures of playing hockey in the basement or out in the street, when you're two or three playing with your brother. I have a picture on my cellphone from that and it's something I'd say is my earliest time of playing hockey."

Hockey Inspirations: "Growing up in Canada, hockey is culture there I guess. And my older brother Mark was a good hockey player. I looked up to him a lot and wanted to be like him. He inspired me to get better. I got to play with him a couple of years in my teens which was pretty cool."

Nicknames: "’Reader’ or ‘Reado.’"

First Famous Hockey Player You Met Or Encountered: "I was about six or seven at our hockey school, with my brother, and I met Joe Sakic."

Greatest Sports Moment: "Probably scoring your first goal, NHL goal. A dream come true just to be on the ice, but to score a goal. It was on Marty Brodeur, who is a Hall of Fame goalie, so it's obviously pretty special."

Most Painful Moment: "I got tripped on a breakaway and the post separated my legs a little bit...which hurt a little bit [smiles]. In Florida."

Favorite NHL Uniforms: "Tough question. L.A. wears a third jersey, like gold and purple. I like that one."

Most Memorable Goal: "Probably my first goal again. Like I said, it was against Marty Brodeur so it was obviously special scoring first on him. It makes it even a little bit more special."

Embarrassing Hockey Memory: "In college I got tripped so I had a penalty shot and stickhandled a couple of times, then at about the top of the circle, threw the puck into the corner and didn't even give myself a shot [smiles]."

Strangest Game: "Three years ago we were down 6-1, we came back and we were up 7-6. Then I think we lost in overtime to Tampa."

Funny Hockey Memory: "When Scott Hartnell did like the Hulk Hogan when we were in Pittsburgh two years ago. You don't see a hockey player doing that too often."

Current Car: "GMC Sierra Denali truck (black)."

Funniest Player(s) Encountered: "Hartnell is probably one of the funniest ones. He's one of those guys that's always easing the tension in the room when things are tight. And always makes a good joke for us."

Why Do You Love Playing Hockey: "I love everything about it. Competitiveness. It's a way of life for me. It's something I've done my whole life and I don't see life without hockey. The most important thing in my life. I wake up and eat and everything for hockey. So it's everything."

Favorite Sport Outside Hockey: "Golf."

People/Personality Qualities Most Admired: "Honesty. Respect. And trustworthiness."