Hockey Hugs: Zdeno Chara, single dad; Good morning, Swiss bliss; Patrick loves Marian
Hockey Hugs is a feature that celebrates the best in hugging from around the sport of hockey, because who doesn't love a good hug now and then? Have you seen a particularly good hug photo lately? Send it to puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or Tweet it to @HarrisonMooney.
Welcome once again to hockey hugs, the Puck Daddy feature that's all about the love.
We're into the second round of the playoffs, and it's a double-edged sword. On the one hand, the hugs just keep getting more and more meaningful the further into the postseason you go. On the other hand, the variety is beginning to dwindle.
Fortunately, many of the teams remaining have characters you can't help but chuckle at. The San Jose Sharks, for instance, have the Wookiee Brent Burns. What's he howling? Why, he's swearing a life-debt to Marc-Edouard Vlasic, just like Chewbacca!
Meanwhile, the Boston Bruins are led by, basically, the Iron Giant in a spoked B, so they're going to produce a lot of great big-guy-little-guy shots. Case in point, this photo, where Brad Marchand looks less like a teammate and more like a troll that rides around on his back.
Coming up: more hugs, unsurprisingly. We've been doing this awhile now. You know how it works.
No. 5, Chicago Blackhawks
Patricks Sharp and Kane enact their plan to get under Jimmy Howard's skin by smiling menacingly at him from afar.
"Kaner, he's looking. Creepy smiles. Just like we practiced."
"Rawr!"
"What, no roaring. What are you doing?"
"Meow!"
"That's worse!"
No. 4, Team Switzerland
The Swiss may not have won gold, but they did produce the best hug at the World Championships. In this photo, Julian Walker stares blissfully and deeply into a teammate's eyes, and tells him the thing he's been wanting to tell him for so long.
"I've never liked you."
No. 3, Boston Bruins
Zdeno Chara and Patrice Bergeron celebrate their overtime winner versus the Toronto Maple Leafs, and take a moment to rub it in a little.
"Knock knock, Patrice!"
"Who's there, Big Z?!"
"Kessel!"
"Kessel who!?"
"Kessel's go get the golf clubs!!!!!
"Ahahahaha! You're so bad, Big Z!"
No. 2, Chicago Blackhawks
Marian Hossa receives a hug from Patrick Sharp, and takes a moment to gloat to all the women in Chicago.
"Oh wooooow what a hug from Patrick Sharp! This Patrick Sharp fellow's quite something! Sorry, ladies!"
"Marian, knock it off."
"What's that, Patrick? Marian is best? How kind of you to say! Sorry, ladies!"
No. 1, Boston Bruins
Coming this fall to NBC: It's "Marchie and Z", the tale of Zdeno, a man trying to juggle being the captain of the Boston Bruins and a single dad to a mischievous little son Marchie. In this episode, Marchie somehow gets into a uniform and -- oh no! -- gets out onto the ice!
"Daddy, Marchie wanna play! Marchie wanna help!"
"Marchie, no! How did you get out here? I thought Mr. Jacobs was watching you!
"He was, but then he got into a fight with a baby."
*canned laughter*
