Believe it or not but Hockey Wives already hits its half-way mark this week! The W Network series, which follows the lives of the girlfriends and wives of NHL players, airs its fourth episode tonight at 10 p.m.
Tonight’s episode features Maripier Morin managing a bout of nerves as she prepares to host her first event in English. Morin is a French Canadian TV star – she’s currently the co-host of morning talk show Ménage à trois (on V télé) and the face for Revlon in Quebec. Morin’s boyfriend, Montreal Canadiens left winger Brandon Prust will be attending the animal fundraiser along with some of his teammates. As it draws near, Maripier and Brandon begin to quarrel and she wonders if she’ll ever be able to get her emotions under control.
The TV Watercooler had a chance to talk to Maripier while she was in Toronto promoting the series. We go over the public’s initial reaction to the series, whether marriage is a big deal for her and how Prust inspires her.
When the show was first announced, there was a lot of speculation that it would be like The Real Housewives franchise. People expected it to be scandalous and cat-fight heavy. Then they started watching and realized it’s nothing like that.
No. They didn’t serve us enough alcohol for that! [Laughs] During our first promo tour, we were trying to make people understand that we were all filmed independently and you can’t get into a fight with someone when they’re in another country!
The interesting part of our show is that it really gets into our lives. So, you see my friends, family and I think that’s how you get an inside feel into everyone’s lives.
As opposed to always creating situations where all the cast members hang out and throw wine at each other’s faces! This is a show about women who are brought together because of what their husbands or boyfriends do. They’ve sorted of created their own team.
Right.
Reality TV is known to have women fight each other, but you all support each other.
Yes. Surprisingly, when they first told me the concept of the show, I was like “Oh, do I really want to do that?” I don’t really get along with girls in general but since Tiffany Parrros (wife of former Montreal Canadiens’ George Parros) was on it, I felt more safe to do it because I know how she is. She would not have gotten herself into something that would have not been good for her or both of us. So, that’s one of the reasons why I decided to do the show.
But the rest of the girls, honestly, I’m not bull— you, they’re amazing. Emily Blum (married to Minnesota/Iowa Wild defenseman Jonathon Blum) is an Intelligence Specialist! She’s a brain and she’s also gorgeous. She decided to put her career on hold to be with Jonathon. Then you’ve got Kodette LaBarbera (married to Anaheim Ducks/Norfolk goalie Jason LaBarbera). She’s a superwoman. She has superpowers! She’s unbelievable.
It really is inspiring to get to know all of them. I fell in love with all of them while getting to know them.
Will we get to see you go out to meet the rest of the women?
You’ll see me in L.A. I got to hang out with them. I met Noureen [DeWulf, wife of Vancouver Canucks goalie Ryan Miller] in L.A.
How was that?
She has a very cool sense of humour. She’s very witty. I think during the first episode, she may have come out a little wrong. She’s talking about her hair and is posing for Playboy. It may have looked superficial, but she’s actually super down to earth and focused on her career. She really is a good role model for young girls that want to pursue their dreams.
When they presented the idea of this show, who was more excited? You or Brandon?
When they approached us, they talked about NHL Revealed (the CBC series which took an iside look at the 2013-2014 NHL season). When I spoke to Brandon about it, I said that I thought it would be a real good opportunity for the both of us in the aspect that he might be traded or he may sign somewhere else one day and that this show would give us more options. If I wanted to work in English, then I can get my name out there. It could be a stepping stone for us.
On the show, you are trying to find that perfect work/life balance.
I think that’s going to be my main thing. I think they also made a point to show that I’m the only one who’s not engaged or married… Which is not a big deal to me at all!
But it’s a big deal to everyone else…
Everyone else, except me! They made a big deal out of it. Getting married or engaged is not in our future plan at all. It’s not going to happen in the next year or the next three years. I’m looking forward to building a family – I think that’s the ultimate commitment you can have with someone. But, I do like the promise that at one point you decide to be together and choose each other for as long as possible. I would love to do that eventually. I’d love to live before and experience things. Go through ups and downs. I think that’s what kids bring into a relationship. It’s not easy.
When Brandon retires, you never know what’s going to happen. So, in 10 years from now, if we’re still together and have kids, I wanna high five him and say, “Baby, we f—ing made it,” and throw a massive party! That can be our wedding. We’ll see.
We’ve been seeing some of the other women who are dealing with their husbands who haven’t been signed on for another season or are about to retire. Is this something that scares you?
Oh, absolutely. I’m super-nervous about it and I probably really annoy Brandon. I ask him twice a week, “What do you want to do after?” I’m a psychopath!
I was an athlete myself before. I injured myself when I was 18 years old. I went through a massive depression. You define yourself with what you are doing. I was a figure skater. Nothing else. So, I woke up, 18 years old didn’t know what I was going to do with my life. I didn’t even know what I was good at [other than figure skating].
I want Brandon to just start thinking about what he wants to do. He doesn’t have to choose now or make a plan that we have to follow step by step. I just want him to start thinking about what could be our options. Where he wants to be. Does he want to stay in the hockey world? Does he want to coach? Or be a trainer or scout? Or does he want to get in the business world? Or be a broadcaster?
He’s a super smart guy. He’s well spoken. Everybody loves him. He’s like a magnet. He’s the biggest magnet I’ve ever met in my whole life. Everybody wants to be around him. I think he’s going to have a lot of options.
Does he inspire you in your career?
Not at all. [Laughs]
I’m joking. He does. He does because he’s so passionate. I think nothing is more inspiring than passionate people. He wants to be the best at what he does and I think that’s amazing.
Hockey Wives airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Catch up with past episodes at WNetwork.com.
