Player Wives & Girlfriends

Photos

The Boston Bruins have had a fair deal of success the past several years, largely due in part to their netminders. Sure, Tim Thomas gets all the credit but most people believe the man lurking behind him is as good if not better. So with Thomas going on a yearlong insane conservative-driven sabbatical, Tuuka Rask will step in and lead the charge for another Cup parade in Beantown.

Along with the starting gig, we assume he will also receive a lot more attention from the Boston media. This should also shed some more light on Tuuka Rask’s girlfriend Jasmiina Nikkila, as not much is known at the moment. We know that Nikkila’s in Boston via Finland, so the same path Rask took (minus the unfortunate stop in Toronto). We’ve read they have been together since high school, but this was from a site that claimed Lucic was dating the coach’s daughter, so take that as you will. Rask and Nikkila have together a few years at the least, as she toured with him the Lord Stanley’s Cup when Rask brought it to Finland. Reportedly fluent in English but with a thick Finnish accent, Nikkila has been active with the other Bruins player’s WAGs at charity events.

Only 25 years old, Rask is considered one of the better young goalies in the league. Recovered from a groin injury that sidelined him for a couple of months last season, he re-upped with the Bruins in June on a one-year deal. He was drafted in 2005 by the Maple Leafs, but for some reason they let him go for next to nothing (aka Andrew Raycroft). Thanks Canada!

Photos

How's this for a reach?

The Boston Herald's gossip page Track Girls are speculating that love may be in the air for two Boston athletes, Tyler Seguin and Aly Raisman,... when the two have never actually met one another. Coming off Raisman's incredible performance in the London Olympics it comes as absolutely no surprise to anyone that dating rumors have started following the 18 year old as she returns to Massachussetts.

In fairness, the Herald does acknowledge that this is heavy speculation based on a couple back and forth Tweets, which more or less consisted of
"Congrats on the Gold,"
"Thanks, good luck this season."

With that, love is born, Seguin has been asked at various public appearances if the two have any plans to meet up (they don't). Raisman has put the ball in Seguin's court answering only that the two would get together, "if he wants to meet me," when asked if the there were any plans in the works.

In fairness, the Herald does have self awareness when they say, "if media matchmakers have their way, the two will be the new hot couple for the fall!" We will find out if they get their way in the coming weeks as the B's training camp opens September 21. If there's anything here, we'll definitely know more about it then.