Florida loves hockey... or at least this Florida girl does

There seems to be a strange coincidence of Florida teams winning a major hockey trophy and *poof* league goes away (for at least a year)... Yeah, we're the Bermuda Triangle of hockey. But we do love our hockey down here in the sunshine. And, lucky enough for me, I hopefully won't have to worry about losing my job because of hockey because I want to work in it. :)

Without any further, seemingly crazy, introductions, here is a little more info about me:

1. Where you're from, what you do - basic things.
I'm a 20-year-old college student originally from Orlando, Florida. I am a student at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Florida, majoring in Broadcast (or Print Journalism... it's a toss up right now) and minoring in History and Classical Civilizations. After I graduate, I hope to work in sports media, most likely in hockey broadcasting or sports journalism. I'm also a huge football fan and will watch pretty much any sport if its on TV and I can sit still long enough.
2. Your team and why you like them.
I am a fan of the Lightning. I loved Khabibulin (with a name like that, how can anyone not like him?), and when he left I was very sad but I continued to watch the Lightning and saw my first NHL game live this season, when the Lightning played the Thrashers. The Lightning have a way of playing a full 60 minutes (or least the last five minutes of the sixty), even when they're down. I love to watch them come back in the last few seconds, and then win it in overtime. And now they have a new goalie who has filled the hole left by Khabibulin.
3. Your least favourite team and why?
My least favorite team is probably the Edmonton Oilers. I wouldn't mind them so much if they didn't have Roloson. If they shipped him back to Minnesota, I may reconsider this.
4. Your favourite player of all time & now?
My favorite player all-time is Miikka Kiprusoff. I haven't seen too many old time players, so I'm limited. But I love Kipper's devotion to position and technique -- he may not always make the flashy Sportscenter save but he is almost always in position to make the save. I'm a big fan of goalies in general. My favorite players now are Vinny Prospal and Johan Holmqvist. Vinny's (again) not the flashiest player, but when he is playing well, he is a very good player and he is a very good linemate. And he tends to be overlooked a lot because he plays with St. Louis and Lecavalier. Holmqvist has saved the day and replaced Denis as the main goaltender to give Tampa a chance at making the playoffs this season and possibly going far.
5. If you had to punch one hockey player or member of the NHL organisation, who and why?
I would punch Bertuzzi. As long as he couldn't punch back. And Patrick Roy. I'm not a fan of his off-ice escapades.
6. What you'll be looking forward in this group blog.
I think is this a fun idea, seeing as hockey is such a male-dominated sport, at least according to the media. While women have broken into football fairly well, hockey is still almost a forbidden territory for women to work in or to even be interested in (for something other than the men).
7. What you don't like in general?
Orlando traffic/Tampa traffic on any day, but especially game day (when you can see the St. Pete Times Forum, you just. can't. get. there.). Political Science classes. Being completely unorganized and messy. Tuna fish.
8. What role do female fans play in keeping the game alive?
Just a few years ago, female fans were presumed to be the girlfriends who were dragged to a hockey game because her boyfriend/husband's buddies couldn't make it. Or their boyfriend/husband was playing. But now, the view has changed and people are seeing that females can understand the finer points in hockey -- not just following the puck around but understanding that the goalie should have looked in front of him to see the guy waiting for the puck instead of waiting for the guy behind the net to make a move. Having acknowledged that females do exist -- not just puckbunnies -- they have begun to get rid of the stereotypes and opened the game up to more fans.
9. What role do female fans play in picking heroes for the community?
In most sports (especially football), people tend to follow the best player, regardless of whether he beats his wife or has been arrested multiple times for drugs and/or DUIs, etc. However, a lot of females take offense to things like that, and try to pick role models who use their celebrity status for more than getting into the right clubs or getting out of jail. And if they can teach their kids these values, then their kids role models, who may or may not be sports players, will have similar ideals.
10. Hockey just isn't the same without... body checking!
11. If you were on a deserted island, which player would you pick to stay with you?
Martin St. Louis. He always seems to enjoy every goal and every game, and he's so excitable.
12. Crosby, Ovechkin or Phaneuf (hey he tried!)?
Phaneuf. I'm a big fan of defensemen and goalies. :)
13. The player you'd like to take for a grand night out/a movie/a boring event?
for a grand night out -- Miikka Kiprusoff. He looked pretty good in a suit at the All-Star game ;) and he's my favorite player.
for a movie -- Vinny Prospal. He's my other favorite player, and he seemed so sad when he was in a slump, I would want to take him out to cheer him up.
for a boring event -- Martin St. Louis. He's so excitable, he would keep anyone entertained.
14. If you could make your own team, regardless of whatever players, what would it be called and where will it be/how would it be like?
I would make a team in Orlando, so I could actually see hockey other than minor leagues and Tampa. I would then proceed to make sure they didn't have to pay rent wherever they played so we won't lose them like our minor league team(s).

Yep, so that's pretty much me in a nutshell...