The maturation process for young hockey players getting accustomed to life in the NHL can often be a gruelling test. Beyond being scrutinized for on-ice performance they must also find their footing in a new city, which means apartment hunting, and for many players it means finding an applicable roommate.
On the cusp of entering his third full season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, defenceman Jake Gardiner decided it was time for a change. The 25-year old had spent his previous seasons sharing living quarters with teammate and fellow blueliner Morgan Rielly, but he began September with a public campaign to find some new company.
Gardiner’s calls were answered by Toronto born actor Will Arnett, known for his roles as Gob Bluth on Arrested Development and more recently as the title character in the Netflix series BoJack Horseman.
On Tuesday, both Rielly and Gardiner had a little fun with the media when questioned about the split. “A time comes in every relationship,” laughed Rielly. “He might have a houseguest moving up at a certain point, I’m not sure.”
“I’m living with Will Arnett now,” said Gardiner with a smile. “We’re a little opposite – he’s an actor and I play hockey – but we’re going to try to make it work.”
So, wait, is the Arnett and Gardiner pairing for real? In the name of journalism, Sportsnet went straight to the source: Arnett’s twitter account.
Hopefully duo get along in their new digs, and nobody has to proclaim “I’ve made a huge mistake.”
