Billy Muckalt 17

I love this guy! Billy was a rookie for the Canucks last season, and he impressed everybody. Even though he trailed off in the second half, he showed he was great offensive skills and he's going to be a nother big part of the future. He also made highlight reels across the country for hitting Wayne Gretzky in a game against the Rangers, a gutsy move on his part. My little story about him and Matt Cooke is: This happened at the Skills Competition, so if you went, you would know about it! To backtrack a bit, at the begining of last season, the Canucks had a casino night, and Mark Messier made Bill sing the Michigan fight song, because he went to the University of Michigan. So, at the Skills Competition, John Shorthouse, who was hosting it, asked Bill Muckalt to sing for everyone. "In the holiday spirit, why don't you sing us a Christmas carol? How about Jingle Bells?" (everybody laughs) So Billy said, "Only if my assistant Matt Cooke helps me out." So they sang us Jingle Bells (people laughed and booed), and sounded pretty bad too. Well, anyway, I think Billy is really popular with the fans because he's really funny and I thought he was really nice too.

Team: New York Islanders
Position: Right Wing
Shoots: Right
Height: 6'0
Weight: 195 lbs.
Birthdate: 74-7-15
Birthplace: Surrey, B.C. (don't kill me if I'm wrong because I've heard that he's born in about five different places, I'm just following the media guide)
Drafted: Vancouver's 9th choice, 221st overall, in 1994
Junior Teams: Merritt Centenials, Kelowna(BCHL), U of Michigan Wolverines (CCHA)
Nickname: Spider...lol
Notes:

• BCHL First Team All-Star (1994)
• Accpeted a scholarship to the University of Michigan (1994-95)

• From the August 1999 issue of Vancouver Lifestyles:
• Best of the Star Wars Films: The latest one.
• Worst thing about pro sports: Media scrutiny.
• How would you have voted as a juror in the O.J. Simpson Trial? Guilty.
• Who's Cooler? Austin Powers or Dr. Evil? Dr. Evil. "Mini-Me, stop humping the laser."
• Worst thing about Canada: The racial problem and the taxes.
• Best thing about Canada: The wilderness, the people, and the flag.
• Dumbest thing you ever did: Played goalie as a kid one game and took a puck in the private parts. haven't goal since - and never will.
• Proudest moment of your life: Gradutaing from the University of Michigan with a degree in Kinesiology Sports Management and Communication. Also playing in the NHL with the Canucks.
• The weirdest question you've ever been asked: What's my most embarrassing moment!
• What's your most embarrassing moment? During my rookie inititaion in junior hockey, I had to run to the 7-11 and back in the nude.
• Don Cherry - Genius or jerk? Genius. He speaks his mind and doesn't sugar-coat anything.
• Any tatoos? Hoopefully I will get one of the Stanley Cup someday, but onlu when I hoist it over my head.
• Favourite local radio station: 99.3 The Fox
• Biggest loud mouth in the local media: Bill Courage, he's the man! Love him.
• Which person in history would you spend a day with? My grandfather.
• Name one thing you wish you could change about your appearance: Three inches taller and another 20 pounds to combat massive NHL defencemen.
• The greatest achievement in your life: Winning two national championships at the University of Michigan (1996-1998)
• Hottest babe in movies: Cameron Diaz or Felicity Shagwell from Austin Powers.
• Have you ever sung at a karaoke bar? I wouldn't call it singing.
• Will we see a professional sports championship in Vancouver within the next 5 years? I certainly hope so.

I'm going to leave you with this (From MyBC.com) Needless to say, he's an interesting guy: Golf gauntlet thrown: Canuck sophomore Bill Muckalt was visibly incensed when Vancouver sports broadcaster Don Taylor walked into the media room. Muckalt was still upset that Taylor announced on TV of how he had defeated Muckalt in a round of golf at Capilano last year. Said Muckalt, in the midst of an interview, yelling in Taylor's direction: "I'd just like to say that Don 'Dr. Hook' Taylor is out there slagging me. And I'll tell you what, I'm busier than a one-legged man in a butt-kicking contest. Holy cow. If anybody wants to put some money on this game this week in Kamloops -- Don -- let's get it on."