Karl El-Mir skates along the board during UConn’s loss to Vermont at the XL Center. El-MIr scored two goals during the Huskies’ series. (Amar Batra/The Daily Campus)
Freshman forward Karl El-Mir of the men’s hockey team may have gotten off to a slow start this season, but he certainly finished with a bang. El-Mir netted two goals against Vermont last weekend, including a great solo goal early in the second period. We sat down with the freshman from Montreal on Wednesday to get to know him a little better OFF THE ICE.
PH: What is your major?
Karl El-Mir: Business Management. At first, I wanted to be an engineer, but with hockey, it’s hard. I have some people in my family that are in business, so I took that path.
PH: What is your go to pregame meal?
KE: Chicken and pasta.
PH: We talked to Max [Letunov] in the fall and he said the same thing.
KE: (Laughs) Yeah I know. Everybody loves it.
PH: If you could play another sport, what would it be?
KE: Soccer. I’m good at it, and I love watching it. It’s different than hockey, but it was my second sport growing up.
PH: Being from Montreal, do you follow the Impact at all?
KE: A little. I follow more Barcelona. It’s my dad’s favorite team. They’re pretty good.
PH: Do you have a favorite musical artist?
KE: I’m not a big music guy, but I’ll go Drake. He’s from Canada — everybody loves him.
PH: Do you have a song of choice from Drake?
KE: I’ll go Hotline Bling.
PH: Great choice. That one’s really catchy. Do you have a favorite movie?
KE: Pirates of the Caribbean. I think they’re all good. Great movies.
PH: Who’s your favorite athlete?
KE: Brad Marchand from the Boston Bruins. I think he’s a great hockey player. How he plays — he’s just a little pest on the ice. I love how he plays.
PH: Do you have a favorite class here at UConn?
KE: I’ll go with French History. The teacher had a passion for her class, so it was just fun being in that class. When your teacher’s into it, it makes it fun. It’s so much nicer.
PH: Do you have any pregame rituals or superstitions?
KE: Stretch on the roller before every game. I listen to the same music. I guess for my favorite artist I could switch it. It’s Flume, a DJ. I think he’s really good. I listen to his songs before the game on repeat.
PH: Do you have a favorite moment in your sports career?
KE: When I played in prep school, at South Kent, we won the regionals to go to nationals. I thought that was a great moment.
PH: If you could travel anywhere, where would it be?
KE: Switzerland or Greece. Two of my favorite countries just from looking at pictures.
PH: Do you have a Twitter or an Instagram? Which do you prefer?
KE: Yeah I have both. I prefer Instagram. I never use Twitter.
PH: Who is your team’s biggest rival?
KE: Since it’s my first year, I don’t really know, but I’ll go with Quinnipiac. That game was a really rough, physical game. Probably the most hitting I’ve seen this year.
PH: What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not playing hockey?
KE: Xbox. I play a lot.
PH: What is your favorite TV show?
KE: Can I say Walking Dead? I love it. It’s a great show.
PH: And one more — What’s your dream job?
KE: I guess doctor. You save lives and you can make bank.
Pete Harasyko is a staff writer for The Daily Campus. He can be reached via email at peter.harasyko@uconn.edu.