Pass the Cheese, please

(Hey look, it's the birthday of my favourite Leaf!)
Name: Colby Joseph Armstrong
Nickname: Army, armdog, Cheese
Birthday: November 23, 1982 in Llyodminster, Canada

Colby Armstrong is among some pretty amazing company as a recent first-round draft pick by the Pittsburgh Penguins. After spending a few seasons with the Baby Pens, Army made his NHL debut alongside a certain Sidney Crosby, who would turn out to be a close friend and his roommate on the road. Besides his friendship with Sid, Army was a large part of the camaraderie that defined the early beginnings of those post-lockout Penguins.

In the most bittersweet move of my life as a hockey fan, the Pens traded Colby Armstrong, Angelo Esposito, and Erik Christensen to the Atlanta Thrashers season for Pascal Dupuis and Marian Hossa  in the 07/08 season. Hossa was obviously a large part of this deal, and the Pens had high hopes that he would be a great winger for Sid Crosby well into the future. That failed, and Army was stuck with the Thrashers. 

Nothing really happened in Atlanta except that Army married his long-time girlfriend, Melissa (and he scored a career-high 22 goals one year). They now have an adorable little son named Cruise. 

After a few seasons with the Thrashers, Army became a UFA and signed a three-year deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs for $3 million per. While most people think he's overpaid, I was ecstatic to have him on the Leafs. Army hasn't disappointed and been the character guy we've known him to be despite battling injuries. If interviews and twitter are any indication, he's probably the most popular guy in the dressing room and a huge part of the Leafs/Jays love-fest known as #teamunit. Army went from being my favourite ex-Penguin (screw you Max Talbot) to my favourite Leaf and one of Emily's favourites (which doesn't sound like a big deal, but it is). And so from both of us here at Ginger Snowflake, happy birthday to the awesome awesomeness known as Colby Armstrong.

So, let's help JP Arencibia and Teamunit out and get #HappyBdayArmy trending today for everyone (who had a sense of humour)'s favourite pest.