Listen, no one can deny that Leo season is one of the best seasons of the year. Today we’re celebrating one of my Favorite Leos, Perrye! Welcome to your late 20s, bitch, hahaha.
I am fundamentally a cornball, so allow me to be corny for a bit. We’ve been friends for a couple of years now, and when I think about our friendship, I think of that Anne of Green Gables scene where she talks about bosom friends. Talking and checking in on each other during the height of the pandemic was one of the only good things that happened that year and cemented our friendship in a way that I will always be grateful for.
Perrye is among the smartest, funniest, and most resilient people I’ve ever met. She has this wisdom and innate capacity to get shit done that I admire and can only hope one day to emulate. As the true driving force behind THWL, it is an honor to be working on all of these projects with her. Even though she’s very much a “people don’t need to know” type of person, I’m happy that you all get to know her a little better through the newsletter. Enjoy!
Okay, so I know that hockey is like some sort of rite of passage for the Quebecois, and I know that you left after Subban was traded, but what brought you back to the sport?
My short answer is boredom and hyper fixation!
My long answer is that during the early stages of the pandemic, I was spending a little too much time on Twitter and randomly came across a tweet about Mat Barzal. That’s when I realized I wasn’t in the know anymore. Since I don’t like not knowing things, I decided to catch up on articles, podcasts, YouTube videos and shows that are all hockey related.
Then that same year, I moved to Toronto for my master’s degree while the bubble season was happening, so while I was discovering my new city, I kept seeing ads about hockey being back. All the signs were there for me to be back in “hockey fandom.” Dammit Universe, haha.
So yeah, although I took a break of 4 years, it’s funny to see how little had changed.
In this new iteration of your fandom, what teams do you root for? Are the Flames still on your list after all of the off-season moves?
I love watching hockey without having any team allegiance. Certain teams have better vibes and fun players, but at the end of the day, it doesn’t take me much to start following a team.
The only team with a long-lasting soft spot in my heart is the Canucks. It was the team that my dad, my little brother, and I watched when my dad came home late from work. Nostalgia is a bitch, eh?
To answer your second question, yes - I am still rooting for the superior team of Alberta.
What would be the first thing you change if you woke up as Gary Bettman tomorrow?
Hmm, that’s a scary image, and just for that, I *almost* refuse to answer the question.
My answer would be the schedule. It’s so unserious, and I have so many thoughts on them that I don’t even know where to start, so until I write about it in a specific newsletter, I’ll leave with one of my tweets.
Describe… Goalie Interference
Bitch, you describe goalie interference! Like why are you trying me on my birthday? Don’t piss me off sksksk
Aside from our Haitian king Anthony Duclair, what other players should we root for? Why?
My friends know that I have this running gag where I refer to people I root for and wish them success as my clients, whether in sports or pop culture. In hockey, it’s players that I enjoy their vibes and pick to be on my fantasy teams. They vary year to year, but some are regulars, and no, I won’t say names because I won’t allow you (and by you, I mean GABY) to judge me.
However, one of them is William Nylander, the true head empty/ himbo king. He gave us this piece of art in the series All or Nothing, and I’ll be forever grateful for that. #GettingTheVid
Tell us about your favorite piece of Hockey Lore™. (AKA gossip)
I don’t think I can talk about my fave stories without repercussions, so… but I’m currently trying to keep up with a certain captain, ALLEGEDLY having a secret baby and his baby mama, which has been pretty interesting this summer.
You’re a big reality tv fan, so if you could produce a new season of Hockey Wives, who would be your ideal line-up? Who’s gonna give us the best mess?
This question is challenging because the girlies aren’t giving like they used to. The era of the Blackhawks Wags from 2012-2015 was elite. Elena Hjalmarsson, you will always be famous in my house.
Also, to make a show like Hockey Wives/WAGs work, we need various personalities with different lifestyles or lives, which is rare nowadays. Their men also need to be semi-interesting and on different journeys in the league.
For this exercise, I decided not to put any WAGs who took part in the initial iteration of the show, and we didn’t want to give the spotlight to any MLM.
On top of my head, I would say Amanda Ostervall (Jacob Markstrom’s girlfriend), Anna Kasterova (Evgeni Malkin’s wife), Ryanne Giroux (Claude Giroux’s wife), Kate Kirchof (Tyler Seguin’s fiancée), Tate McRae (who’s allegedly dating Cole Sillinger) and Jess Molina Merill (Jon Merill’s wife).
I’m annoyed because I would need to sit down and think this more through. Tomorrow, another WAG will pop up in my mind, and I will say, “Oh, yes, I should have put her on the list.”
What’s one thing you’d like to see in this upcoming season?
I’m hesitating between better gameday suits or fun content on social media that doesn’t limit a player to just “this or that” answers! I hate to say it, but some NHL teams’ accounts on TikTok have been pretty cool this past year.
We also have a couple of people we want to interview for the newsletter. Let’s manifest for us.
Faves
Fave hobby? I consume a lot of media, whether watching TV/movies, music or reading. Outside of media consumption, I write a lot (Duh!) and love to move my body. I recently started to go to Barre classes and have been doing strength training for almost a year now via YouTube videos. I want to learn how to sew and get more into my fashion bag during the year.
Fave dish to cook? Currently, I’m obsessed with the cooking websites: Craving California & Love and Lemons. My favorite recipes on my roster are Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon Vinaigrette on Craving California and Cherry Tomato Couscous Salad on Love and Lemons.
Fave dish to get at a restaurant? I love a good nourish bowl, whether it’s a Poké Bowl, Buddha Bowl or any other variation.
Fave all-time TV show? Such a hard question because I watch so many things in so many languages too, but I have to say Ugly Betty or The OC. CALIFORNIAAAAAAAA
Fave all-time movie? Does Homecoming by Beyoncé count as a movie, haha?
More seriously, my fave is Incendies by Denis Villeneuve, adapted from a play of the same name written by my fave playwright Wajdi Mouawad or The Princess Diaries.
Fave city in Canada? Montréal, baby! Any other answer is wrong, and I will not argue.
Fave all-time concert? When I was younger, definitely the Baby Spices (note from Gaby: this is the funniest shit I’ve ever seen). As a grown-up, it’s hard to say because each artist brings something different to the table. Maybe I need to sit down and make a list, but most of the concerts I went to recently were pretty good, so at least I know I have taste.
Fire round!
Now at the ripe old age of 26, what’s a piece of advice for all of the girlies reading this? Stop trying to fight food! Eat what you wanna eat! You’ll be fine, I promise. More seriously, life is all about nuance and fun. Be curious and commit to personal growth.
Recommend a reality TV show? Ouh, it depends on the vibes because you have the classics such as Big Brother or Occupation Double and then some more obscure stuff like Love after Lockup and The One That Got Away. I’m a woman with many facets.
PS: I know I give the impression that I only watch reality TV, but this is a false advertisement of my life and television consumption.
What’s on replay? Currently, it’s Beyoncé’s Renaissance (obviously), but her live albums “I AM… World Tour” & “Homecoming: The Live Album” are always on my playlist rotation.
Besides that, I’ve enjoyed Jensen McRae, James Arthur, Amir & Louane’s albums. Aya Nakamura & Demi Lovato released some great singles, and as usual, I love supporting the rap girlies.
Best Love Island season?
UK - Season 5 or 7/ USA - Season 2/ QC - Season 2
What are you most proud of this year? The fact that we’re still publishing issues of the newsletter after eight (8) months, haha.
I’m also grateful and proud that I can give myself more grace about different things in my life. My birthday was also that weird day when I received my cancer diagnosis four (4) years ago.
Since remission, I’m always proud that my body can get me to point A to B. Being able to celebrate another trip around the sun year after year is enough for me.Finish the phrase “the way to my heart is…..” Eating some good food while catching up or gossiping with my friends.
Whew, this was so hard!
Shit She’s Obsessed with from Gaby’s Perspective
Figuring out the mystery of why there are so many hockey players balding at all times
Love Island - she runs Twitter circles about the episodes?
Hockey Tumblr - She’ll check it out once in a while, and the commentary could honestly be a comedy special
Cooking! She’s gotten so good at cooking in the past year. Instagram foodie account when?
Franglais - (*cue blank stares when the Quebecois comes out*)
Pop Culture - Top-tier analysis of the current happenings of the world.
This was fun! Now everyone, go ahead and make sure to wish Perrye a Happy Birthday!
To Perrye: May this year be filled with love and lots of blessings! Joyeux anniversaire friend!
With love,
Gaby
this was wonderful. thank you for sharing. Happy Birthday Perrye!!!