Inside the Press Box: Greg Wyshynski

Storming the Crease is conducting a series of interviews with people who cover (or work for) the Caps and the NHL. You can find a link to the series archives on the right sidebar. Today's 12th installment: "Puck Daddy" himself, Greg Wyshynski.

1. What was your reaction when you found out that you made The Hockey News' "100 People of Power and Influence" list?

Honestly, it was to call them and ask who No. 99 was. And they said, "Actually, you'll be in the 90s." Which got my hopes up that they didn't just give the goofy No. 100 honor to blog boy, like Carrot Top might get on the "100 Most Influential People in Hollywood" list. Yet, two weeks later, I'm a prop comedian, and one ranked behind Jeff Finger and a guy donating his brain to science no less.

Kidding aside, as I said to The Hockey News: it's an absolute, blow-me-away honor to make the cut and to be the first blogger to do so (or so they tell me). It's a testament to how hard everyone works on Puck Daddy, and how far the hockey blogosphere has come in the eyes of traditional media. There isn't a day that goes by where we're not trying to help that fundamental shift for non-traditional media towards acceptance.

2. Your career certainly has taken off over the last couple of years. Describe your path to the Puck Daddy gig.

After attending the University of Maryland, I worked at a weekly newspaper in Northern Virginia for nearly a decade, editing their sports section before creating an arts and entertainment section for them. At the same time, I was writing sports for SportsFan Magazine and its Web site, which led to a gig with The Fourth Period, which led to a gig with Eric McErlain's NHL FanHouse on AOL Sports, which led to a gig with Deadspin and then Jamie Mottram came calling for Yahoo! Sports. We started Puck Daddy in April 2008. So I'm a "blogger" now, but a newspaper guy at heart.

And since you didn't ask, I'll just say it: The best advice for anyone looking to get into blogging or any type of sports writing is to self-evaluate whether you're good enough and dedicated enough to do it; find your voice, whether it's humor or analysis, and be different than what's readily available; and then work your ass off.

3. As a Devils fan growing up, are you still loyal to your roots or do you now cheer for the Caps?

I'm a Devils fan, born and bred. I root for hockey to do well in D.C. and I'm a huge Ovechkin fan, but those scars from the Patrick Division days run too deep to "cheer" for the Caps. Unless they're playing the Rangers.

4. What's your favorite hockey-related moment(s)?

I was in the upper deck in 1995 when the Devils won the Stanley Cup, and in the parking lot for all three parades. Doesn't get much better than that for a fan. I'm also fond of Chris Pronger's fifth suspension. Or was it his eighth? I lost track.

5. What occupies your time when you're not working?

My wife; four cats; friends from Jersey; the siren's song of good television (welcome back, "Conchords" and "Battlestar") and bad television (anything on the Food Network or involving reality dating would qualify); dining out in a way that doesn't involve getting drunk at the pub and eating Taco Bell at 1 a.m., although that certainly occupies my time, too.