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Backchecking With ... Claude Giroux

Dec 10, 2009 – 12:00 PM
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Christopher Botta

Christopher Botta %BloggerTitle%

We get to know NHL players with some quick questions. Today's subject: Flyers forward Claude Giroux, the highly-skilled second-year right wing who's a big part of Philadelphia's present and future.

What is your first hockey memory?

Winning the championship game in the Pee Wee provincial tournament in Burlington, Ontario as a 10-year-old. My town -- Hearst, Ontario -- is very small, so winning that tournament was a big surprise for a lot of people and an incredible thing for the town.

What's your favorite thing about playing in the NHL?

My first preseason game in the NHL was against New Jersey. The Devils started Martin Brodeur, which blew me away. He was one of my favorite players growing up. Playing with so many great players and playing against the best in the world like Brodeur ... that was always the dream for me. We kid around about this, but I really am living the dream.

What's the toughest aspect of life in the NHL?

Last season I suffered a concussion and I was out for a month. I had headaches. There were a few days when I just felt lost. That was horrible. I would not wish it on anybody.

Do you have any game-day rituals?

If I have a good game, I'll wear the same suit, shirt and tie to the next game. I'll have everything cleaned, don't worry. I'm very superstitious.

If you could hit one opponent with a clean, hard check, who would it be?

Georges Laraque. It's not like I don't respect him or anything. I do. It's just that he's a real big guy who plays hard and I'm not the biggest guy. If I could get him with a good hit, I think that would be fun.

If you could be one of your teammates, who would it be?

Simon Gagne. Sick hair.
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