(Ed. Note: Our series "5 Reasons I Love Hockey" features puckheads from all walks of life revealing five things that either made them a fan or that keep them watching hockey. It will run every weekend. Have a suggestion for a "5 Reasons" guest blogger? Hit us on email. Enjoy!)

Alix Wright blogged on the entertaining The Humming Giraffe before joining Canucks Hockey Blog earlier this year, bringing with her the Vancouver Canucks fan passion and offbeat humor that's characterized her writing. Like, for example, her recent take on hockey jerseys:

Oh, I joke around about having a Canucks harem, but they're like the guy you casually date, ya know? And the guy that you buy the sweater of, he's the guy you commit to date long term. It's more than a comfortable thing to wear. It's the logo on the front declaring your endless love and loyalty to your favourite team and the name on the back that says "This is my favourite player above all others. He plays well defensively and knows how to throw a mean left hook. He's scrappy and plays hard every night and gives me butterflies."

Indeed. Here's Alix Wright with her Five Reasons I Love Hockey:

1. Nicknames

They make me laugh and make the game more fun. That feeling of community that a fan base gets from a shared nick name for a beloved player is really cool. I rarely use my favourite players' full names when talking about them with friends or writing about them in game recaps on my blog. Nicknames make superstar players seem more accessible.

There's "mermaid" for Rick Rypien(notes) because he stretched on the ice like a mermaid at training camp. "Happy Meals" for Kyle Wellwood(notes) ... well, because he's pleasantly plump compared to the traditional NHL player. "Killer" for my delightfully polite cousin and rookie James Wright(notes) on the Tampa Bay Lightning because he sliced Alexei Kovalev's head open with an errant high stick while playing his first ever NHL pre season game. The list of players I haven't given a nickname is getting shorter every day.

2. Defensive forwards

I know you need skilled offensive players to consistently win games and score gorgeous goals, but the defensive grinder guys are the ones that make my heart beat faster and get my admiration and respect.

It's the player throwing his body in front of a puck to block a shot for his goalie, making a sexy stick check and a clear on the penalty kill, or a hit in the corner that has me doling out brownie points. I wish people would make highlight packages for those guys.

My favourite Canuck this year is Rick "Mermaid" Rypien because he's 5-11/170 but plays like he's 6-5 and can throw a damn nice left hook.

3. Charity

Being an NHL fan, you feel proud of all the amazing charity work the vast majority of players put their free time into. Trevor Linden(notes) has reached absolutely legendary status in Vancouver in part because of the ‘94 finals but also due to the fact that he puts his heart and soul into helping sick children and many other worthwhile causes in the community. When I go to watch a game live and a tiny minor league player gets to skate warm-ups and stand with their idols on the blue line for the anthems, it never ceases to make me smile. Even the players who have a bad reputation on the ice like Sean Avery(notes) do some wonderful work behind the scenes. Plus, the guys usually wear suits for the big fancy events and what girl doesn't adore a hockey player in a suit?

4. Memorial Cup Final

In 2007, I watched the Vancouver Giants win the Memorial Cup in their own rink and it remains my favourite hockey game I've ever watched live. This may change if I ever get tickets to a Stanley Cup final but probably not. There's something about junior hockey that is totally lovely to watch.

That opening shift by Milan Lucic(notes) where he was an absolute force instantly had the crowd hollering and it only got louder from there. In the last five minutes when the Giants went ahead 2-1, I waved my towel and screamed my throat raw. I have yet to hear a crowd louder than that.

Watching these young guys celebrate after the clock ran down on winning their equivalent of the Stanley Cup was unbelievably heart warming and is easily one of my best hockey memories.

5. Female Hockey Bloggers

No offence to the male bloggers who I adore immensely, but these ladies know what's up.

They're crazy intelligent, passionate, know their hockey through and through, and always make me laugh. I don't think I would have started blogging myself if I hadn't found the fantastic sisters that run the New Jersey Devils blog Interchangeable Parts. Wrap from Wrap Around Curl was one of the first regular visitors I had when I started my blog and is easily one of the best people you'll ever meet.

I know more about the Sabres, the Leafs, the Devils and the Senators than I ever thought I would because of the bad-ass ladies I know. Hopefully more women will continue to embrace being a hockey fan, because it just makes things more awesome.

Related: Hockey Fans, 5 Reasons I Love Hockey