Western Conference Hottie: Andrew Cogliano (Edmonton Oilers)

HOCKEY SENSE

Cogliano was Edmonton's 1st Round Draft Pick in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft (25th overall).  He was the only player in the OPJHL drafted that year.

His junior career consisted of two seasons with the Tier 2 Junior 'A' team, St. Michael's Buzzers, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada (2003-04, 2004-05).  During his first season playing with the Buzzers, he was named "Rookie of the Year" in South Division of OPJHL; in his second season, he led the league in scoring (36-66-102 in 49 GP) and was a finalist for "Canadian Junior Player of the Year."  He also played for Team Canada (U-18) at the 2004 Junior World Cup leading the team in scoring and ultimately playing a large part in helping them win the gold medal (scored the gold-medal-winning goal).

After being drafted by the Oilers in 2005, Andrew played hockey at the collegiate level for two years at the University of Michigan - along with fellow NHLer Jack Johnson (2005-06, 2006-07).  He was named to CCHA All-Rookie Team and was All-CCHA honorable mention in 2006-07.  As a Wolverine, he also made two more appearances at the IIHF World Junior Championships (2006 and 2007) again winning gold medals both times.

On May 2, 2007, Cogliano signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Oilers and earned a spot on Edmonton's NHL roster straight out of his first training camp a few months later.  He had quite a rookie season that year.  His first NHL game was on October 4, 2007 and scored his first career NHL goal a few days later on October 8, 2007 beating elite goaltender, "the Dominator," Dominik Hašek.

For his sophomore season (2008-09), Andrew was invited to play in the NHL YoungStars Game. He won the Fastest Skater competition during the SuperSkills event clocking in at 14.31 seconds.

Cogliano was recently involved in an almost "block-buster" trade  along with Ladislav Smid, and Dustin Penner for Ottawa's Dany Heatley who chose to exercise his no-trade clause to ultimately accept an offer from San Jose -- SEE LINK to VIDEO BELOW!!

HOTTIE SENSIBILITY

Andrew may look familiar (or NOT since I'm guessing it probably wasn't his face you were focusing on - I wasn't, thats for sure!) since he appeared in the first ever issue of ESPN's "The Body Issue" in 2009 along with fellow Edmonton teammates Sheldon Souray and Ethan Moreau (pictured RIGHT; he's the one on the far right and BELOW; he's the one on the left).  If you need to jog your memory, HERE'S HftL's POST on that very subject - WITH A PIC!!!  That picture has the same effect on me that it did when I first saw it (oooooooooweee, momma!)!!     ; D

As for a little "tamer" hottie info, Andrew grew up in Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada and has an older brother, Matthew.

He has a great sense of humor - nothing like a man with a sense of humor (CLICK HERE to watch the video that supports this fact - players talking about the team's 2009 Halloween party)!!

AND he's not afraid to drop the gloves if needed which always makes a player more attractive (to me, anyway!)!!  He doesn't do it often, but from the looks of his most recent fight with Bruins' Brad Marchand (02/27/2011), he can hold his own (for his teammate no less ... he was targeting Marchand after cross-checking young superstar Taylor Hall!)!!

But Andrew does have a soft side and participates in charity work with the team.  He's been a part of the "Oilers & Friends Softball Classic" and, more recently, visiting children in local Edmonton hospitals.