Tracy P (@T_A_Pthat) is not the first to suggest this Foxy Friday, but her DM yesterday reminded me of something.

Lots of teams visiting the Caps stay at the hotel next to my office.  It’s prime territory for an awkward lunch-break encounter with hockey players that no one else recognizes.  One day last year, Gator and I ran into a handful of the Winnipeg Jets.  By ‘ran into,’ I mean ‘stop talking up the whole sidewalk boys, this isn’t Sex and the City.’  But big strapping guys always turn heads, even if that makes it hard to dodge traffic or mind the curb.

Probably not Jets, but I can’t always tell.

We made it around the corner alive (and silent, for extra weirdness) and immediately both said, “Who was that guy?”  Obviously there’s a flaw in my facial recognition software, or I just don’t get to Winnipeg often enough to update the database.  I recognized former Cap Eric Fehr, but it was this guy that nearly sent Gator headfirst into a No Parking sign.

Foxy Friday: Zach Bogosian

Well, hello.  Zach is 22 and from Massena, NY.  There’s the Upstate NY that I represent, then there’s this.  Way to Upstate like you mean it, Bogo.

He was drafted third overall in 2008, and we must say the company is pretty foxy (now, not then).  It shouldn’t have taken us so long to get to Zach.

Especially because he’s got a Shea Weber/Skeet Ulrich/Jim from the Office thing going on.  Right?  He looks a little bit like an actual fox, in gorgeous real-life human form.  No question what his Patronus would be.

At 6’3″, 215 pounds, Zach is a physical defenseman with a scoring touch.  He’s hit the 10-goal mark once, and last season had a career-high 30 points (for my fantasy team, thanks).  This, the last year of his contract, should have paid him $3 million.  Sadly he’s making less that I am these days.

We think he’d be a hit at other sports, at least among the fans.

Golf Instructor – Meet us on the Ladies’ Tee.

Nature Guide –  We’d pay extra to watch him row.

Swim Class…

… because eventually there’s talking, and that’s where Ryan Lochte loses us.

Remember, if you can’t be an athlete, be an athletic supporter.  

While the lockout hurts everyone, Zach is one of the few players whose season is not (yet) affected.  He underwent surgery on August 31 to repair a torn ligament in his right wrist, an injury cited as “chronic” by team doctors.  The procedure was successful, but he was projected to miss 3 months (if not 4-6) in recovery.

At the rate we’re going, he might get back for Opening Night.

When he’s not busy bringing joy to the hearts of Winnipeg fans who waited so long for their team’s return, Zach really enjoys hunting.

In onesie invisibility cloaks.

His dog Tuck (peeking out of the corner there) is his superhero sidekick – complete with YouTube videos [link]. See above in the boat, and…

If you don’t love a guy who loves his dog, we don’t even know you anymore.

Tuck has the league-leading GAA.

This action shot demonstrates that Bogo also loves to Tweet (@Bogogo_44) and Instagram (zachbogosian_44).  Both activities require a lot of arm muscles.

He’s snarky too, which earns high-level foxy security clearance.

Really, he’s just like us… with more bicep.

 Changed his number (4 to 44), changed his Twitter handle.

If we can’t have hockey, at least we can hope Zach still Tweets some of our favorite winter activities, like Movember:

Scarves:

And the insistence that his eyebrows are naturally this shape.  It’s as true as it is tragically unfair. (Note: RNH still holds the title.)

Down here at the bottom of the post, we reward you with workout videos:

And just as you’re feeling the gaping void hockey has left in your life, a video of Zach cracking up laughing.  Happy Friday.

Tags: winnipeg jets, zach bogosian