5 Questions: Get to know CBJ defenseman Andrew Peeke

Blue Jackets defenseman Andrew Peeke is a 24-year-old from Parkland, Fla., who has become one of the most dependable defensemen on the team.
Drafted by the Jackets in 2016 as a second-round pick (34th overall), he spent three seasons at Notre Dame and was the team captain his final year before signing an entry-level contract with Columbus in April 2019. Prior to that, Peeke was named to the USHL All-Rookie team in 2016 and the Hockey East All-Rookie team in 2017.

Peeke has played 104 NHL games, scoring two goals and getting 18 assists, with one of those goals and 13 of his assists coming this season. This year, he's become much more of a physical presence, notching 161 hits in 71 games and moving up to the top defensive pair.

We caught up with Peeke to get to know him off the ice, what he would be doing if he wasn't playing hockey, his love for wiener dogs and what pregame superstitions he has.
1. BlueJackets.com: Did you always want to be a professional hockey player growing up?
Andrew Peeke: "I love hockey, I love playing it, but I also played baseball as a kid. I always knew I wanted to do something within sports, it just so happened that I picked hockey and it worked out the way it did. Since I was about 6 months old, I have been going to Florida Panthers games. It always was a goal in mind so thankfully it worked out so far."
How long did you play baseball?
"I played baseball until I was 12, and then I had to choose between hockey and baseball."
2. I know you said you wanted to do something in sports when you grew up, but if it wasn't being a pro athlete, what would you want to do?
"I always found the behind-the-scenes interesting, like management. If I wasn't going to be the player, I always found the aspect of crunching numbers and trades really fascinating."
3. Do you have any superstitions or pregame rituals?
"Yeah, I have too many. I don't even think we'd have enough time to go through them, but I guess an easy one would be I have to get dressed left to right, everytime I get dressed. That's an easy one, but there's too many."
4. Do you have any pets right now?
"My family had a dog when I was younger, but I haven't had a pet in a long time."
If you could have any animal as a pet, what would it be?
"One day I want a wiener dog. I think they're called deutch-something like that. I don't know the true name, I just know I want one of those one day."
Why a wiener dog?
"When I was younger a couple of my buddies had them and they were always super playful. It just kind of stuck with me and so I've always wanted one."
5. Have you ever met anyone famous or been starstruck from meeting someone?"
"I mean, when I was younger I would meet NHL players and at the time that was like really cool. Obviously, being in the NHL now it's just normal. I know a couple of MLB players back home, but no one like, celebrity-celebrity."