Five Quick Things: Jerry "The Snake" Mander

1. He's now a Russian citizen. In a very rare governmental decision, Jerry Mander requested Russian citizenship after properly defecting from his Chicago, Illinois roots. Said Mander in a recent press conference: "I like how they do things here better. The goal is glory. You are respected for chasing your dream. There is no drama. I can relax here and be supported by my friends. I will now take my talent to the SHL and return here after long seasons." The request was approved in July of 2016, just before the calendar for the 2016 MHL season was released.

2. He learned to hit people in the MHL. Although the government viewed Jerry's decision as a suitable one, a lot of native Russians were pissed--and it showed. Mander led the MHL in penalty minutes, and it was mostly due to fights being started with him. "That's not my game at all. Well, not all of it. I like to hit; I don't fight. These guys wanted to fight because of what I chose to do with my citizenship."

3. He's very well read. Having read a lot of classic books, Mander frequently attends discussion sessions at libraries. His educational background is far from Ivy League, but he embraces discourse within intellectual communities. "It's just like hockey, you don't get better until you're thrown into it. It give you a better perspective of life. That's why I'm coming back to America strictly to compete. It presents the best opportunity for me."

4. The only thing he missed from the US? Pizza. That's right; Jerry even cooks pizza himself. It simply doesn't compare to Chicago deep dish, though. "Yeah, if I could get Lou Malnati's shipped to me in Moscow every week, I wouldn't even be back here to play hockey. I'd probably be very fat and doing something else. But still, it helps that during the season I can grab some pizza." At 5'10, 245 pounds, Jerry needs all the pizza he can handle.

5. He has a lot to prove on [newly] foreign soil. "A lot of people, including some of my family, aren't happy I'm back so soon. I fucking hate this place when it comes to government, the treatment of others, and the craving of equity and social justice. I don't want to speak about that, either. But I'm here to be the best hockey player in the world. The MHL was cool, but I knew once the SMJHL called I needed to be here to challenge the rest of the world."