By Mikki Tuohy -
On the surface, Marcus Foligno is a tough, gritty hockey player who isn’t afraid to slam bodies into the boards and Superman punch an opponent. But another side of Foligno has fans online dubbing him Mama Moose. Let’s be clear that this is not a bad thing or an insult. It’s a fun example of the duality of human nature, the rough exterior and soft inside.
But instead of digging into the philosophical side, this is all about why Foligno is such a great guy to keep around. Why does Foligno seem to ooze suburban wine mom energy? Below are a few elements of Moose’s softer side:
Landscape Photos
Everyone needs a few landscape photos to really set the vacation scene, especially for a possible scrapbook. Moose was almost left behind while he tried to take a winter panoramic picture during the team bonding activity. As he tried to catch up with the rest of his team, he yelled, “It’s just so beautiful,” so that all of the viewers at home could also appreciate the beauty.
The Pride in His Eyes
Foligno is one of the veterans in the locker room, and judging by the look in his eyes, he’s extremely proud of every young kid who gets a chance to make it in the NHL. Below is a video of Connor Dewar’s first game with the Minnesota Wild. At the very beginning, Foligno looks like a proud Mama Moose.
Strict Code of Fighting
As one of the top fighters on the Wild, Foligno is known as a tough guy. But he follows a strict code of conduct when playing physically. In this clip, Moose motions for the refs to break up the fight even though the other guy wants to keep going. Once his opponent’s face started bleeding, Foligno knew Nikolai Knyzhov was in over his head and stopped the fight.
Physical Affection
When it comes to celebrations on the ice, Moose isn’t afraid to show physical affection, and he isn’t the only one. The Wild players are such close buddies that a little smooch isn’t out of the question. At one point, Foligno kissed Zuccarello so passionately that he knocked his helmet off.
In another game, he pecks Matt Dumba on the cheek after Foligno scores his third point.
Concern About Frostbite
During the Wild’s Amazing Race adventure, Foligno was overly concerned that Jordan Greenway was running around without mittens on. “Greener, get some gloves on, bud,” he said. “Keep those mitts hot.” It’s the constant refrain of parents in the winter to their children.
Getting Everyone Fed
Like so many other caregivers, Foligno wants to ensure everyone gets fed. Once, he even brought Ryan Reaves a giant piece of pizza during his interview with Kevin Gorg.
Takes One For the Team
A good caregiver isn’t afraid to take one for the team. A lot of times that means a physical fight. But other times, it’s by doing things that might be uncomfortable but good in the long run, like submerging himself in the lake dressed in hockey gear.
Just A Relatable Guy
Those 360 cameras are all the rage nowadays. Moose is dancing in this one about the same way I’d dance in one at a wedding.
Mama Moose Leads the Way
Foligno was in charge of his group during the Amazing Race team bonding activity, leading Joel Eriksson Ek and Jake Middleton. Foligno didn’t let the fact that he had no clue what he was doing stop him from leading the way. He kept everyone’s spirits up with some humor and wasn’t afraid to break the rules to lead his pack to the finish.
But What Does This All Mean?
Overall, this is an excellent example of how all hockey players are human. They have a whole other side to their personality that might not appear on the ice. It’s also a good way to show that enjoying hockey doesn’t have to be all about stats and replays. There is room for fun.
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