John Tavares is a hockey player who, when he’s not training for the Olympics, is the captain of the NHL’s New York Islanders. A hockey prodigy, he was the youngest person ever to be drafted to the OHL. He helped win gold at the World Junior Championships two years in a row and, now 23, he already has a number of records to his name. When Team Canada hits the ice, all eyes will be on him. Here are five things you didn’t know about John Tavares. 1. His Olympic dream was sparked watching Canada win gold in 2002. “You just felt like there was something different about that team that made them special. There were a lot of guys that stepped up in their play, and they really played as a team to win the gold medal the way they did against Team USA. When you watch something like that in 2002, you wonder, if you got the opportunity, just how special it would be.” 2. He has a soft spot for working with kids. “I helped out a special needs class for a number of years and just love being around those kids and their attitude, their enthusiasm and their joy in life in every day. You really realize, especially when I was in high school, how fortunate you are and you see these kids and how appreciative they are of everything. I’m glad to have been able to be a part of something like that.” 3. When he’s not on Team Canada, he may play for New York, but Mississauga, Ont., is still the place he calls home. “I still live very close to my parents. I’ve kept my roots here. This is where I love to be. This will always be home to me.” 4. He keeps his stick in a strange place. “Something that’s kind of stuck with me that I do every single game is I always leave the stick that I’m going to use for the game in the medical room. And it’s something that started in junior hockey, because the stick rack where we usually put our sticks was full. It was always right beside the medical room, so I figured I’ll just put mine in there and it won’t be in anyone’s way. So it’s kind of just carried on ever since because it’s always seemed to work for me. It’s just one of the quirky things I do before the game.” 5. When he’s not swinging a stick, he’s swinging a golf club. “In the summertime my biggest hobby is golfing with friends and family. It’s a way to stay competitive, but it’s obviously not too hard on the body. And it’s a lot of fun to be outside and enjoy the summer.” Read more about John Tavares and check out our February issue for our full Olympic package. (Photography: Wiki Commons/Michael Miller)