Paul Mara

Status: Montreal Canadiens defenseman

HT: 6-foot-4 Wt: 207 pounds

DOB: Sept. 7, 1979 In: Ridgewood, N.J.

First Hockey Memory: "I'd have to say is skating on the ice my first time (age 5) at Avon Old Farms in Connecticut where I lived, where my feet were just freezing cold and my toes were frozen. It was pretty painful, but I guess I came back for a second time."

Hockey Inspirations: "Growing up in Boston and living in Connecticut for a little bit – Brian Leetch and Ray Bourque were the two guys I watched the most growing up."

Nicknames: "Reggie. When I was young, I was a street hockey goalie and Reggie Lemelin was the goaltender for the Bruins. My brother and my dad just started calling me Reggie. And it stuck for a long time."

Hobbies/Leisure Activities: "I love the ocean, so I love boating. Fishing. Stuff like that on the water. I really love to spend time on the water."



Favorite Movies: "Young Guns I, Young Guns II, come to mind first."

Favorite TV Shows: "Sopranos and maybe Grey's Anatomy No. 2."

Musical Tastes: "I'm all over the map for musical tastes. Bruce Springsteen, country, Toby Keith and Alan Jackson."

First Job: "Was selling newspapers – The Boston Globe – at the corner store in Cape Cod, in North Falmouth (age 11)."

First Car: "Jeep Wrangler (dark green)."

Favorite Meal: "I'd have to go with steak, filet mignon."

Favorite Breakfast Cereal: "Raisin Bran."

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: "Chocolate."

Greatest Sports Moment: "Probably my first NHL game, down in Florida (with Tampa Bay). Real excited, 19 years old. First game – I got my first goal and my first assist. And my dad was there. It was just a great night."

Most Painful Moment: "Taking a wrist shot off the jaw and breaking my jaw. Had it wired shut for six weeks. (Who shot it?) Chris Simon."

Worst Injury: "That broken jaw."

Closest NHL Friends: "Ossi Vaananen, defenseman."

Funniest Player Encountered: "Mike Ricci."

Toughest Competitor: "Probably Mark Messier."

Favorite Uniforms: "The Original Six teams – Montreal, Rangers and Detroit, probably."

Funny Hockey Memory: "Oh, there's a lot of things that make me laugh in this game. Don't know if I can say them, though, in an interview."

Favorite Athletes To Watch: "Love baseball. Huge baseball fan. Love watching the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry. Just catch all the baseball games I can. (NHL?) Crosby, Ovechkin, Chris Pronger, Niklas Lidstrom – being a defenseman, love to watch those guys. (Tennis?) Roger Federer and Andy Roddick. (Golf?) Tiger Woods of course. (NASCAR?) Tony Stewart."

Favorite Vacation Spots: "Puerto Rico, I think. Or Vegas. Caribbean."

Last Halloween Costume: "I think I dressed up as a Cheshire cat."

Personality Qualities Most Admired: "Honesty. People who are honest with each other, that's all I can ask for."

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