Greetings from Minnesota!

The powers that be at HLOG have hono(u)red me with an invitaion to join the party, so I'm here to represent (or mis-represent, depending on how you want to look at it) Minnesota. Special thanks to Sherry for extending the welcome wagon!
I promise, I'll have a blog going soon, nevermind that I've been saying that for the last year or so...

1. Where you're from, what you do - basic things.
I'm from a suburb of Minneapolis, MN. I attend University in Salem, OR where I study environmental science and someday I hope to go to grad school. I also row for the Willamette Crew Team.

2. Your team and why you like them.
My team is the Minnesota Wild. When the Minnesota North Stars left, my heart broke into tiny pieces. To fill that void I became a fan of the Jets and later the Oilers. I was beyond excited when it was announced that Minnesota was going to get a team again.

3. Your least favourite team and why?
Either the Flames or the Ducks. I love a good B of A game, but the Wild struggle against them something awful. The Ducks are the only team that has ever kicked my team out of the playoffs. That leaves me somewhat (read: REALLY) bitter.

4. Your favourite player of all time & now?
All-time: Joe Sakic
Now: Mark Parrish and Wes Walz

5. If you had to punch one hockey player or member of the NHL organisation, who and why? Chris Chelios or FCP. I clearly don't like the name Chris.

6 What you'll be looking forward in this group blog.
I'm not really sure what to expect since I've never blogged before, but I do know that I like new things, challenges, team sports, group projects, and I like learning about other teams from fans of those teams.

7. What you don't like in general?
I don't like wearing socks (unless I'm playing a sport or running), and I am TERRIFIED of tornados. Other than that, I'm cool with most things.

8. What role do female fans play in keeping the game alive?
I feel that all fans play a role in keeping the game alive, but women bring the loyalty element, and they bring their friends. Bringing friends to the game increases the fanbase, and will hopefully even out the male to female ratio eventually. I'm always trying to help make it cool for a chick to be a sports fan. Guys think it's awesome when women get involved in sports. Women also have the great distinction that they get to raise the future of hockey. They drive kids to practice at 5 AM, they wash dirty sweaters, they provide support and encouragement( at least in my family). In Minnesota, it is a prestigious and honoured thing to raise future hockey players.

9. What role do female fans play in picking heroes for the community?
Women see the athletes, but they also see the athletes as people. They see when they give back to the community, are nice to kids, stop and chat with people, but they also see when they leave teenaged girls pregnant, blow people off, and act like spoiled little bitches. They seem to gravitate towards and support the ones that give back and are nice guys, and thus they teach/tell their kids, friends, relatives, and everyone else to be a fan of these people too. My mom had no problem with my worshipping Sakic as a kid.

10. Hockey just isn't the same without...
Cheerful Wayne Gretzky. Coach Gretzky makes me sad and scares me at the>> same time. I remember him as being really nice and smiley. I don't think coaching is his true calling in life.

11. If you were on a deserted island, which player would you pick to stay with you?
Brendan Shanahan because he's funny, intelligent, and probably resourceful. If worse comes to worse, I will be entertained the whole time.

12. Crosby, Ovechkin or Phaneuf (hey he tried!)? I don't like Ovechkin, I'm sick of hearing about Crosby, and Phaneuf plays for the Flames. I have to go with Phaneuf, though, because he's more bad-ass than the other two. Besides, I've already cheated and I have a crush on one of the Flames players.

13. The player you'd like to take for a grand night out/a movie/a boring event?
Grand Night Out: Someone who looks good in a tux and is charming or Scott Niedermayer. He cleans up nicely, he's nerdy, and he's into the environment without being a total hippie. Movie: Mikko Koivu is such a handsome man, and he's tall, Scandinavian, and seems like a total sweetheart! How can I resist?
Boring Event: Mark Parrish, he is funny and sarcastic, he likes to make fun of people, and he's a Twins fan.

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?
Team Domination (normally I'd go with Team Awesome, but Sherry stole that out from under me), and they would play in Winnipeg. That way we'd be worshipped even if we sucked. Kind of like a cooler version of the Leafs. No sissy defencemen, and no bad skaters.