Nickname:  Tess, with two s’s.  I don’t know why, but everyone spells it like that.

Age:  26

Hobbies:  Here I play video games, go to the gym and cook.  I like trying new stuff in the kitchen.  Back home I do more artsy stuff.

Favorite sport besides hockey:  To play, basketball.  To watch, football. 

Favorite team:  Colorado Avalanche.  They’re #1.  Also, I’d say the Denver Broncos.  I like to support my Colorado teams.

Favorite athlete:  Joe Sakic, retired captain of the Avalanche

Favorite type of music:  Electronic, country, old school rock and roll – I’m pretty diverse

Favorite singer:  Bruno Mars – he’s neither electronic, country or old school rock and roll, but I really like his voice.

Favorite book:  Dr. Dolittle – I loved that book as a kid

Favorite movie genre:  The Rocky series and comedies

Favorite TV show:  Into the Badlands – It has some really intense sword-fighting battles.  That’s the one I’m into lately, but I also like Game of Thrones.

Favorite animal:   Monkeys – Whenever I go to the zoo, the first thing I go look at is the monkeys.

Favorite restaurant:  Efrain’s – It’s a little authentic Mexican restaurant back home.  It’s the best!  I used to go there a couple times a week.

Favorite meal:  Chicken chimichanga from Efrain’s and baked ziti from my grandma

Favorite junk food:  Buncha Crunch

Favorite beverage:  Cherry Coke

Favorite color:  Green

Favorite car/truck:  Ford F150 Raptor – It’s the suped-up version, and I’d love to drive it!

Favorite video game:  Star Wars – Can’t wait to see the new movie!

Favorite superhero:  Captain America – because not only does he have superpowers, but he’s a leader

Favorite holiday:  Halloween – especially the costume parties

Favorite cause or charity:  BMHA – Be Mental Health Awareness.  My friend started this not-for-profit, and the funds raised go towards research for mental health.  I’ve helped him work the fundraisers.  It’s a great organization and mission.

Favorite vacation destination:  Disney World – I went there a lot with my family when I was a kid.  It’s magical and full of happiness.  I would love to bring my nephews.  You can’t just have a vacation for yourself, so this would be for my family.

Favorite place to go to relax:  The mountains – hiking alone

Favorite saying or quote:  “Show me something.”  I like to yell that to the team.  I don’t say it to anyone else, just to the guys.

Pet peeve:  Sitting in the passenger seat while someone else drives and putting your fate in someone else’s hands.  I have to be the one driving.

One thing on your bucket list:  To hike The DeCaliBron loop – it’s an all-day hike in Colorado where you climb three 14,000 ft. peaks in one day.  It’s super cool; I don’t even know if I can do it, but I’d love to try.

One thing you can’t live without:  Some kind of hockey, either playing or teaching.  I can’t imagine not having it in my life.

Person you would most like to meet and why:  Joe Sakic – He’s been my favorite since childhood.  I did actually meet him once at Disney World when I was around 12.  He was signing autographs, talking to people, being a really nice guy.  I’d love to meet him again and sit down and talk with him.

Proudest moment:  Signing my first pro contract.  I kept a copy of it.  I wasn’t good at hockey when I was younger, so a lot of people never thought I would make it.

Most embarrassing moment:  During my high school graduation, I was lined up out of order, so the principal called the person’s name in front of me, who happened to be a girl, and I started to walk up.  We switched before I actually walked on stage, but my family noticed it!  Of course, it happened in front of everyone I had known my whole life, so it was pretty embarrassing.

Best childhood memory:  Disney World – all the trips there, getting ready for them every summer.  Also, I had a 50 cc motorcycle that my parents bought me from a garage sale when I was young.  I rode it all over and kept it until I got my first car.

One simple pleasure:  Baking cookies, and of course, eating them.  Shout out to [former teammate Brian] Soskin for getting me started on them.  I miss those times, but at least now I get to eat more of the cookies!

One guilty pleasure:  A pre-game frappuccino – I have one before every game.  And a Steak-n-Shake sandwich after the game; the guys always tease me about that.