Five Favorites: A gift from Jack Eichel to his son is on Kyle Okposo's list
A self-proclaimed 'golf nut,' Okposo went old school with his favorite hockey movie choice
With the regular season about to end, we thought it was a good time to drop another edition of THN Florida’s Five Favorites series.
As a quick reminder, or if you’re new to THN Florida, here’s what the Five Favorites series is all about:
With the idea in mind of getting to know the Florida Panthers a little more off the ice, we’re going around the locker room and asking different Panthers players a list of questions about their favorite things.
So far this season, we’ve sat down with Aaron Ekblad, Evan Rodrigues, Nick Cousins, Anton Lundell and Anthony Stolarz.
This time we caught up with one of the newest Panthers players, veteran forward Kyle Okposo.
Okposo is playing in his 17th NHL season, joining Florida at the Trade Deadline and hoping to make a run at a first Stanley Cup.
We sat down with Okposo after a recent Panthers practice at the Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale and discussed some of his favorite things.
Favorite pre-NHL memory: I will say going on a plane for the first time when I was eight years old. We went to Disney World. It was awesome, I just loved it. I remember that feeling of Christmas morning, opening up the paper tickets. It was a phenomenal experience.
Favorite hockey movie: Youngblood. It's a great story. It's the old days, its junior hockey, and, it's earning it. I know that a lot of that's out of the game now, but it's just the old school. You're going to juniors and it's going to be tough, and you have to earn your place. The final scene is just great.
Favorite pregame song/music: I’ve got the same four songs I listen to before every game. (what are they?) I’ll tell you the last one I listened to is “The Boxer” by Simon and Garfunkel. It gets me going. I’ve listened to it all the way back to when I was at Shattuck (St. Mary’s School), then I took a break for a little bit, but I remember driving in the car with my dad, and that was the last song I listened to before every game.
Favorite non-hockey hobby: Golf. I just love it. I’m a huge golf nut, golf junkie. Oh my God, I love it. (what’s your handicap) Right now I’m about a 6.8. I can’t play to that every time, I haven’t swung in a while. I think after retirement it might go down a few ticks.
Favorite piece of memorabilia: My favorite piece of memorabilia is a stick that Jack Eichel gave my son is right in the beginning of COVID. So he was born April 11 and when he turned five, Jack gave him a signed stick of his from the All-Star Game, and I just thought that was such a nice moment. He came over, and that was when you couldn't go around anybody, so he dropped it off. I'll say that's my favorite piece of memorabilia because of my son.
BONUS FAVORITE
Favorite arena to play in: Madison Square Garden. I think MSG, Bell Centre and Xcel Energy Center. The atmosphere at MSG, you’re in New York and the fans are rabid. I played for the Islanders for a long time, and I have those memories…it’s just a phenomenal place to play.
Thank you to Kyle Okposo for taking some time and giving us a chance to get to know a little bit more about him away from the rink.
Stay tuned for new Five Favorites stories coming during the playoffs!
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