Canadiens Hockey: EXPERIENCE The Centennial Season - host biography

Birthplace? Beautiful and historic Lachine.  How historic?  Where the Roadrunner cut his teeth.  Where Wally Harris, ref of the classic New Years Eve game between Les Canadiens and the Central Red Army grew up.  Where Cliff Fletcher, former member of the Montreal Canadiens organization and now interim-GM of the Leafs grew up, heck, where Larry Robinson, Yvon Lambert and Alouettes QB Tracy Ham once lived.

What's the best thing about living in Montreal?
Feeling the passion of the fans of the Alouettes and the Canadiens at Molson Stadium and the Bell Centre.

Most memorable moment in your radio career?
I've been sprayed with champagne in the Canadiens' Stanley Cup dressing room back in '86, clubbed by police during the '93 Stanley Cup riot while covering it for Mix 96 and CJAD, I've been sprayed with champagne by the Alouettes celebrating the Grey Cup Championship of 2002, but the proudest moments came during our first Caring for Kids Radiothon when I met a brave young man named Jabbarr, who helped encourage our listeners to donate more than $1-million dollars for the Montreal Children's Hospital. 

Favorite person you interviewed and why?
Carey Price and Alex Kovalev are always interesting in very different ways.   Carey has a dry and droll sense of humour that comes out when he's prodded or challenged, but gives a cliche' answer to every cliche' question.   Kovalev has a charisma and isn't afraid to plant tongue in cheek about his larger-than-life hero-status.  Ben Cahoon and Bryan Chiu with the Alouettes are great guys who've sweat and bled an awful lot for their teams and their fans over the years.

Other than Montreal, where else would you love to live someday?
In the words of Vladislav Tretiak: "Montreal--hockey city."   But if I really have to start all over again somewhere, I'd like to clean up the beach at Choroni', Venezuela.

When you have friends visit Montreal from elsewhere for the first time, what's the one thing you insist they see/do?
Get to a Canadiens game in time for pre-game skate and the stunning presentation on ice masterminded by the Canadiens special effects guru Paul Gallant, and in-season: to sit on the North Side at Molson Stadium for an Als game.  And of course shopping at MH GROVER AND SONS IN VERDUN.

What's the weirdest job you've ever had?
Short-order cook at an A&W restaurant.  Guy Lafleur came in, he doesn't know it but I made his burger and fries, and I witnessed the waitress who served him save his leftover fries and lettuce to take home to show the family.  And you don't think hockey is religion in this town?  I loved working for the moving company a few summers, so if I'm ever out of a job, Joe Gagnon and the Official Movers of the Montreal Alouettes and Montreal Canadiens, WESTMOUNT MOVING AND WAREHOUSING will be hearing from me.

Favorite Hobby/Pastime?
Playing goalie for the CJAD Mighty Yuks (that should read---picking pucks out of our net!)

Favorite magazine? 
Farber in SI and Eduardo Galeano wherever I can find him.

If you could have one superpower, what would it be, and why?
Be able to close my 5-hole!

Favorite television show of all time?
The Sopranos.

TV Show that you'd most like to appear on, and why?
Would have loved to have cuffed Tony!  Or maybe Hockey Night in Canada, as a game-winning goalie in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final.   Of course, before that ever happens, they'll be deciding Stanley Cup overtime games in shootouts.

Famous person (living or dead) you'd most like to have lunch with?
Living---Rowan Atkinson, Evo and Hugo Chavez!  Dead---Che', Toe Blake and Tony Soprano.

If they made a movie about you, what actor would you like to play you?
John Cleese or Eric Idle.

What's your #1 pet peeve?
Goalies getting run over without a penalty.

Whom do you admire the most?
The art of Lawren Harris, the mind of Noam Chomsky, the writing of Eduardo Galeano, and of course, the goaltending of the greats like Dryden, Roy, and among active players: Ovechkin, Brodeur, Koivu, Price,  and in football: Cahoon, Calvillo and my longest serving roomate Tony Proudfoot.

CALL RICK MOFFAT---During Montreal Canadiens Hockey and Montreal Alouettes Football  at 514-790-0991 or by punching *-Talk, which is free on Bell Mobility.  Or try the CJAD Sports Department at 514-989-CJAD.

What's the best thing about living in Montreal?
I met the love of my life, Heidi, in Montreal when I returned to Standard Broadcasting and CJAD almost five years ago.

Most memorable moment in your radio career?
Calling Montreal Canadiens hockey this season on CJAD.

Favorite person you interviewed and why?
Wayne Gretzky while covering the Stanley Cup Finals during the Edmonton Oiler dynasty years of the 80's. I was always amazed at the grace, poise and humility that number 99 exhibited while weathering the intense media storm that accompanies a Championship Series. It was the same gracious Gretzky some 20 years later when the Great One was in Montreal this season as head coach of the Phoenix Coyotes.

Other than Montreal, where else would you love to live someday?
Edinburgh, Scotland. Fell in love with that city, and the people, while covering the Commonwealth Games.

When you have friends visit Montreal from elsewhere for the first time, what's the one thing you insist they see/do?
I make sure they come during the summer months so that they can take in the Jazz Festival.

What's the weirdest job you've ever had?
I was in charge of the salad bar at the old Stagecoach Restaurant on Decarie on the busiest day of the year, Mother's Day, during a brief stint there many many many years ago, while going to school. I slipped on a tomato and almost ended up as a somebody's side dish. True story.

Favorite Hobby/Pastime?
Reading trashy novels, and crankin' up my guitar amplifier and playin' the Blues on my Guild Starfire.

Favorite magazine?
Guitar Player.

If you could have one superpower, what would it be, and why?
As a kid I always wanted to be Superman.

Favorite television show of all time?
Monty Python's Flying Circus.

TV Show that you'd most like to appear on, and why?
Seinfeld. I would have loved to have been part of that great cast of characters.

Famous person (living or dead) you'd most like to have lunch with?
Eric Clapton.

If they made a movie about you, what actor would you like to play you?
George Clooney. But apparently he's busy. I hear Randy Quaid is available.

What's your #1 pet peeve?
People who are late.

Whom do you admire the most?
My parents

Birthplace? Sewickley, PA. USA

What's the best thing about living in Montreal?
Reminds of Chicago...it's where I grew up.

Most memorable moment in your radio career?
Being hired by CJAD and having worked for ESPN Radio in Bristol, CT.

Favorite person you interviewed and why? No one person in particular. I enjoy my daily chats with Michael Farber, Pierre Houde and Murray Wilson. They are all very knowledgeable and force me to be a better sportscaster.
 

Other than Montreal, where else would you love to live someday?
Back to Chicago.

When you have friends visit Montreal from elsewhere for the first time, what's the one thing you insist they see/do?
Because I'm a frat boy I take them to a strip joint and then out for smoked meat.

What's the weirdest job you've ever had?
Working at my father's law firm in Chicago. Not fun working for Dad.

Favorite Hobby/Pastime?
Simply spending time with my beautiful wife and twin boys. Time is at a premium so when I have it that's what I like to do.

Favorite magazine?
Sports Illustrated and The New Yorker.

If you could have one superpower, what would it be, and why?
Mind reader. That way I would really know what an athlete or coach I'm interviewing really thinks.

Favorite television show of all time?
Seinfeld. Family Guy is a close second.

TV Show that you'd most like to appear on, and why?
Sports Centre.

Famous person (living or dead) you'd most like to have lunch with?
The man who said "there are only three real sports; bull fighting, auto racing and mountain climbing," Ernest Hemmingway.

If they made a movie about you, what actor would you like to play you?
Jack Nicholson. There's no one cooler.

What's your #1 pet peeve?
Cell phones that ring during press conferences.

Whom do you admire the most?
My entire family because they put up with all my B-S.