By Chris Barrymore
Assuming this works, I am honored to present my first post here (not counting all those other ones that the Commish helped me out with), as The Top Ten Hockey Wives and Girlfriends. This is where you should start ooohing and aaahing, for practice (if nothing else), at the forthcoming information.
Upon doing some additional research on this topic, I found that it was not quite as unique of an idea as I had first thought it to be. Even so, I am still going to proceed and post because, quite frankly, I've got nothing better to do at the moment.
Disclaimer #1: On the one-in-a-million chance that any one of the actual players happen upon this blog and takes offense that their past or current hotties are included here (yes, I'm talking to you, Tie Domi), please know that this is done as an act of respect and reverence. I am not asking for a beatdown of any kind. Essentially, it is one guy saying to another, "Well done, sir. Very well done".
Disclaimer #2: Because I do not have any photographs of wives, fiancees, or girlfriends who do not already have pseudo-celebrity status, this list is limited to those whose pics are easily obtained via web search. If I did have photographic evidence of the non-celebrities of this group, then I am positive the list would be completely different. I have no doubt that there are probably some true angels out there in hockeyland, and if they have to work outside the home then they may have chosen a profession that doesn't lend itself to having one's photo bouncing around all over the internet.
Without further delay, here they are. (If you have a drum, please start rolling it now)
10. Janet Jones (Wayne Gretzky) - because no Top Ten List would be complete without the Great One, we present his Janet Jones. Proof that he wasn't scoring only on the ice.
9. Emma Andersson (Henrik Zetterberg) – this Swedish television presenter, actress, and singer is currently engaged to the Red Wings center.
[Editor's Note: sorry fellas, but Hank liked it and put a ring on it over the summer.]
8. Rachel Hunter (ex-fiancee of Jarret Stoll) - perhaps the Queen of the Cougars, Hunter (41) and Stoll (28) were engaged up until the point when Stoll emailed the wedding guests, two months before the wedding date of June 23rd, that the wedding was off. What the hell is wrong with him?
7. Amanda Vanderpool (Ladislav Smid) – this model from Beverly Hills was an Ice Girl for the Anaheim Ducks and has also played for the L.A. Temptation of the Lingerie Football League.
6. Gena Lee Nolin (Cale Hulse) – I remember watching Gena Lee on The Price is Right as one of Barker’s Beauties. You isn’t kiddin, Bob.
5. Willa Ford (Mike Modano) – occupations include singer, songwriter, dancer, record producer, presenter, and actress. That beats my resume by a mile, to be honest.
4. Hilary Duff (Mike Comrie) – another high profile relationship, it was announced in Feb 2010 that they were engaged. Maybe it is something in the water in Ottawa? (Fisher still plays there, Comrie played there in 06/07 and 08/09)
[Editor's Note: Once again fellas, you weren't quick enough. Another one off the market this summer.]
3. Kelly Carlson (Tie Domi) - the star of Nip/Tuck has been involved with the pugilistic Tie Domi for over two years. Proof that love truly is blind.
2. Carrie Underwood (Mike Fisher) – originally meeting at Underwood’s concert in Ottawa, they became engaged in December 2009 and are currently the model for country singer/hockey player relationships in the NHL.
[Editor's Note: I know, I know, you're sick of my face already, what with my constant reminders that these women are now officially out of your reach (like they weren't, even before the nuptuals)]
1. Elisha Cuthbert (Dion Phaneuf) - formerly involved with the always classy and tactful Sean Avery, Elisha’s name was dragged through the mud when Avery used a term describing the Cuthbert/Phaneuf relationship that got him suspended for six games by the Commish (Bettman, not Spezzal Teams Playa, although I am sure that Spezzal would have done the same thing). Must see Cuthbert film: The Girl Next Door (2004).
