Getting to Know You: Brian Boyle

Just five games into his tenure with the Nashville Predators, Brian Boyle's jersey has already been spotted more than once on the Bridgestone Arena concourses.
His first goal with the Preds - which proved to be the game-winner - in a 3-1 victory over Montreal on Thursday might bring out a few more Gold sweaters with the No. 11 affixed to the back.
But, do you know why those are the digits he chooses to sport?
After sitting down for a touching interview on the Predators Official Podcast to discuss his recent battle with cancer, Boyle opens up on a few more topics, including how he honors a friend, what his sweet tooth craves and why Music City might just be a perfect fit.

Boyle used to wear No. 22, but a few seasons ago, he made a switch:
"My best buddy, he wore number 11 growing up. He passed away in 2014 in an accident, and I had just signed with Tampa, and I switched it over. I wear that in honor of him, his family and his name. His legacy had kind of gone on and on. They've started a foundation, and it's a really important thing that they do to help a lot of kids in terms of some schooling, some children's hospital stuff; the foundation is huge. It's the Corey C. Griffin Charitable Foundation, and he's dearly missed every day. It's just a small thing I can do, and it makes the number a little bit more meaningful for me."
Boyle is one of 13 children, so perhaps odds were decent that one of them would already reside in Nashville:
"My sister (Gabrielle) lives here, and she's working to become a musician and a singer and songwriter. She started in country music, and I think she's kind of adapted a little bit, but she books those acts and she's around those people. Our whole family is full of country-music listeners. We enjoy it, we're fans, and it's a cool spot to live in that regard."
The Chief is Boyle's top choice, among other legends:
"I love Eric Church. I think he's incredible. We go to Kenny Chesney concerts; he comes up to Boston a lot and it's tons of fun, and then the older guys, George Strait, Johnny Cash, it's always awesome listening to that. Especially when the weather gets nice, for whatever reason, I like listening to him."

Being a father, husband and professional hockey player takes up plenty of time, but when he has a few moments to spare, Boyle might be doing some binge watching:
"I watched "How I Met Your Mother" from start to finish one summer with my wife because we never watched it. We never really thought it was anything special, but then I got into it, and there's so many storylines that run throughout the whole series. We watched "Parks and Recreation," we do the Netflix stuff, and we sit there in the summer, the offseason and we'll knock out a good three hours of anything. "Making A Murderer," I just watched that Fyre Festival thing, that was ridiculous, but anything really. I loved "Friends," I watched every episode of "Friends" a few times probably, and "Game of Thrones," I think, is the best show ever."
And if he's consuming media in a hotel room, the snack drawer may take a hit:
"I've got a sweet tooth. I'll eat candy, chocolate, a little pizza; I eat a little bit of all those things over a long period of time, and I'll mix it up. But for whatever reason, like if there's M&Ms in the hotel room or a Kit Kat bar, it's gone. I eat pretty well for the most part, but once I get enough of the good stuff in me, I'll indulge a little bit."