NHL Players And Their Unknown Off Ice Hobbies

With just over a month to go until the start of the 2015-16 NHL, ice hockey fans have already begun gearing themselves up for the 99th season which promises more fireworks than ever before. Joel Quenneville’s Chicago Blackhawks will be the team to beat after winning the sixth Stanley Cup in the franchise’s history, with fans and head coaches hoping that their star players return to the ice fit and ready for another gruelling season of NHL action. Training camps are set to begin across America and Canada on September 17th, and with franchises always looking to add talent to their roster, there could be a new wave of NHL stars making all the headlines this year.

We would naturally assume that every professional ice hockey player has their own fitness regime during the summer to keep them in top condition, but they are also entitled to time alone with their family or enjoying their favourite hobbies. They, like you and me, are everyday normal human beings who are entitled to enjoy their lives away from the sport, but some of their personal interests may take you by surprise.

Wayne Simmonds

Card games have been commonplace in the world of ice hockey for many years, dating all the way back to the NHL’s Original Six era when teams would travel throughout the night by train. Games, such as poker, are valued as a form of leisure and entertainment for the players to bond on the bus during road trips, but this can also extend into the casinos where NHL stars can blow off steam and enjoy a night away from the sport. Philadelphia Flyers star Wayne Simmonds is among those who have a penchant for playing poker like those of you who log onto Lucky Nugget Casino if his appearance at the NHL Charity Shootout in 2010 is anything to go by; he played alongside current and former players, along with a trio of established poker professionals, who were all at the Rio Hotel raising money for their chosen charities.

Matt Cooke

We all know some ice hockey players prefer the physical side of the sport and get involved in their fair share of fights, but you would be surprised to hear that NHL veteran Matt Cooke has a completely different side to him off the ice. The Belleville-born left winger, who is currently a free agent after being bought out by the Minnesota Wild, has a real passion for antiques. Cooke is like many of you who enjoy collecting pieces that catch the eye, but he also enables himself to take his mind off ice hockey by tinkering with them and restoring them to the best condition possible.

Dion Phaneuf

Dion Phaneuf, born and raised in Edmonton, has built up a fine reputation in the NHL over the years due to his offensive prowess and handing out massive hits against his opponents. The Toronto Maple Leafs captain leads by example in more ways than one, with the defenseman also showing his eye for detail away from the rink at the woodwork table. Phaneuf values woodwork as therapeutic and a way for him to feel relaxed away from the sport, with his craftsmanship coming to the fore both on and off the ice.