Tim Erixon

Status: Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman.

Ht: 6-foot-3 Wt: 205 pounds

DOB: February 14, 1991 In: Port Chester, New York

First Hockey Memory: "I remember I started playing when I was six. Played 3-on-3 in the one end. That's pretty much what I remember from my first game."

Nicknames: "Now it's mostly just Tim. I have some Swedish nicknames, but you wouldn't understand that. Now it's Tim or Timmy, nothing special."

Hockey Inspirations: "Like idol? Lidstrom is like the inspiration for all Swedish defensemen. I watched the Rangers a lot when I was growing up and Brian Leetch was always a favorite too. I watched a lot of NHL. So mostly those two guys. Of course my dad (former Ranger forward Jan Erixon)."

Last Book Read: "Lance Armstrong."

Favorite Movies: "Tough one...it's different from time to time. I like comedy a lot. I like Will Ferrell."

Current Car: "Right now I don't have a car. I have, like, they call it a lease car back in Sweden, that we get from the team for a good price and we drive around with the team logo on the side. That's the only car I ever had. It's called a Skoda."

First Job: "I never had a job, just hockey player."

Greatest Sports Moment: "Being drafted is a nice moment (23rd overall by Calgary in 2009). And winning the Ivan Hlinka tournament. It's hard to say. I have too many silver medals instead of gold. Of course it was a nice experience to play in the world championship, but you can't really pick that to say because we only got second place. But it was a nice experience. Probably getting drafted I'd say was the best."

Most Painful Moment: "When we lost in the world championship (2011). We lost the final in the Swedish Elite League too. So a tough month there. (smiles)"

Favorite Uniforms: "Rangers."

Favorite Arena: "I only played in a few. Of course my hometown is always nice. Nice atmosphere. There's not that many people there, it's not that big, but it's a nice atmosphere, a lot of singing. Good atmosphere."

Closest NHL Friends: "Mats Zuccarello."

Funniest Player Encountered: "Zuccarello is a clown so I'll say him."

Toughest Competitors Encountered: "You mean physical or tough to play against? (Playing against.) Well, Jagr's a good player. Strong. And I got to play Forsberg one game in Sweden. Of course, he's a good player. Those two."

Favorite Sport Outside Hockey: "I'm from Europe so, soccer. And also like cycling too."

Favorite Players To Watch: "I like to watch, like I said, Lidstrom of course. It's always fun to watch Crosby play hockey."

Last Vacation: "I went away for a week in Spain, Mallorca."

Strangest Game: "I played a game when we won 36-0. That was a long time ago. I don't even think we played on the whole ice. And we didn't play 60 minutes, probably like 40 or something. That was a long time ago."

Embarrassing Hockey Memory: "Tough question, really making me think here. I don't know about embarrassing. Just the final...it's a little embarrassing that I haven't won a final in a long time. I think I have like four or five final losses straight, in a row. So that's probably a little embarrassing."

Personality Qualities Most Admired: "Outgoing and loyal. And positive people."

Mark 'Scoop' Malinowski's second book "Marcelo Rios: The Man We Barely Knew" is available on www.amazon.com. Malinowski is the creator of two websites: www.thebiofile.com and www.tennis-prose.com