Sy Nutkevitch plays center for the Huntsville Havoc. CONTRIBUTED

MADISON – Sy Nutkevitch started on skates as a young boy. “I started playing organized hockey at 5,” he said.

Today, Nutkevitch plays center for the Huntsville Havoc Hockey team. “I grew up playing soccer and baseball as a kid, also. Now I stick to hockey, golf, water skiing and, from time to time, softball,” he said.

“I played hockey growing up all the way through prep school, then college and now at the professional level,” Nutkevitch said. “I have also played in Fort Worth, Texas when there was a Central Hockey League. I also spent some time in Fort Wayne, Ind. and Greenville, S.C. over the years.”

“Hockey is my favorite sport and always has been. I just have always loved the game and playing it,” he said. “If fantasy football were a sport, it would be closing the gap on hockey quickly.”

Nutkevitch still loves his hometown of Montreal, Quebec. “Montreal is much bigger than down here. Also the weather is nowhere near the same, especially the winters. I can get used to playing golf in January — that’s for sure,” he said.

Q & A

Q: What are your favorite restaurants?

A: “The team has discounts at a few places so I eat at some of the same places often. I would have to say right now … Olive Garden or Farm Burger. I usually eat at Olive Garden on game days, and I’d say the boys on the team go for lunch once a week at Farm Burger,” he said.

Q: What are your favorite foods?

A: “I enjoy steak, ribs and pizza, but my favorite thing to eat would probably be ice cream sandwiches,” he said.

Q: What are your favorite sports teams? 

A: “The Montreal Canadiens are my favorite team and always have been,” he said. “It’s just that way where I am from — they are like a religion.”

Q: What is your favorite sports memory?

A: “Playing in my first professional hockey game. Right after my senior year of college ended, I went and played for the Fort Worth Brahmas. I had worked extra hard all year to try and get that opportunity. So to get it, and get there and play, was very fulfilling,” Nutkevitch said.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time? 

A: “I enjoy relaxing and hanging out with my friends in my downtime. Here, right now, most days you will find me in the Lazy Boy at my apartment or on the golf course,” Nutkevitch said. “The boys on the team have also just started up playing Mario Kart for Nintendo 64 again. It has become a very common activity every afternoon.”