Summer Hockey Series: Q&A with Danielle Hooper

This week we are getting to know Danielle Hooper! She is the beautiful girlfriend of Boston Bruins forward, Charlie Coyle. They live in the fun city of Boston with their adorable dog Bodie and are navigating this pandemic just like the rest of us! Read on to find out more about her life as a hockey girlfriend.

Hockey in the summer!! What does this look like for you and your family?

Our little family is just me, Charlie, and our 1 year old golden retriever Bodie, so it hasn’t been too different for us. I’m doing my best to keep Bodie entertained on my own, because Charlie is definitely his best bud and favorite playmate when he’s home. I’m also a buyer for a pharmaceutical wholesaler and with the whole global pandemic happening my work has been a little crazy over the past few months. I’ve just been trying to balance that while still enjoying summer and keeping up with all the playoff games.

Is there something you look forward to when the guys are gone? (for example less cooking, having the bed to yourself, etc.)

Charlie is such a healthy eater and keeps me eating pretty healthy, too, when he’s home (which I’m very grateful for!), but I’d be lying if I said every now and then during long road trips I don’t treat myself to one of the embarrassingly unhealthy places he won’t get with me like Taco Bell or Shake Shack! As much as I hate whenever he has to leave, it’s always nice to miss one another and forces us to make the most of our time together.

We potentially have a fall season with no hockey, any plans?

We definitely want to go on some kind of little trip or stay-cation but not sure where yet, maybe Nantucket! Other than that it will just be fun to enjoy a new season with fewer obligations. I joked to Charlie that we can have lots of visits to pumpkin patches and apple orchards, but I’m not sure he’s looking forward to that part, haha! I definitely think he will more-so be looking forward to having friends and family over for football games. 

What is your favorite part of quarantine with your boyfriend/hubby?

It was just so nice to get into a daily routine with him. We moved to a new condo right as COVID hit and it was nice to get settled in there together. We hooked up the old Wii and got through the thick of quarantine boredom by playing Wii-Golf and Mario Kart... those will definitely be some of my favorite memories from that time. 

Are the ladies on your team doing anything particular for playoffs? Weird times not being together, do you guys still chat about the games?

It is so different being apart from everyone and watching on TV. I am definitely missing last year’s playoffs and being able to all watch together, but we all have our matching cozy sweatshirts to wear from home while we cheer on the guys! My heart just goes out to all the mamas on the team and around the league - having to hold everything together and care for little ones alone would make all of this so much harder, so they are always in my thoughts. 

Now that we are well in to the playoffs how do you handle watching the games? Calm and cool or are you yelling at the TV?

I’m pretty calm if I’m watching with others, but if I’m home alone, I definitely find myself reacting out loud! It makes me laugh a lot of the time, because before I met Charlie I never watched or cared about sports at all. Now, I’ll be on the edge of my seat, jumping and cheering alone when they score a goal and just stop for a second and think, “who am I and how did I get here?!” I love it though and wouldn’t trade it for the world!

How is your bf/hubby handling the NHL bubble? In a routine now or does it get harder the longer it goes?

Charlie might be the most positive, level-headed, unaffected person in the world, so he was made for this “bubble” challenge! I know he misses me and Bodie and his family, but he never lets things like that get him down. He just stays focused on the goal and the things he has control over, which I really admire about him.

Any thoughts on entering the bubble if/when the team advances far enough to do so?

I’m lucky that I work remotely right now and that Charlie’s family lives here in Boston and that they love taking Bodie whenever we are both away, so I’m definitely open to going to the bubble. It seems like it’s not going to be an easy process with all the rules around quarantining before and after we get there, testing, etc. but I think it will be worth it!

5 things you are loving right now?

1. Having a homemade latte in the morning on our balcony. With my work being so busy lately, it’s definitely nice to start it off in a relaxing way.

2. Barre classes! I used to go to Pure Barre, but since COVID I’ve been doing them on my “mirror” (interactive home gym system thing) from home and love it! 

3. Hulu! I’m late to this party - I always just watched Netflix, but I finally got Hulu. I recently binged Little Fires Everywhere and The Handmaids Tale, so good. 

4. Espresso Martinis - I’ve been trying to master making a restaurant-quality one from home!

5. Trying new restaurants. We have only been in Boston for a year and half now, so I’m still finding new favorites. Currently loving “Dig” for takeout and “Lolita” for a fun cocktail and tacos with friends. 

Any opinion on the players deciding not to play the games/ the games being moved due to social justice?

I think it’s incredibly powerful whenever any group of people come together to stand up to something they disagree with. We are used to seeing these guys battle it out on the ice, so it says so much when they come together as a league and use their platform to speak out and let it be known that they won’t stand for any kind of racism. 

Where can we find you? Any social media handles, or any initiatives you want to support/promote?

My instagram handle is @daniellehoop.

I’m a huge advocate for Big Brothers Big Sisters. I am originally from Minnesota (where Charlie played for 7 years and we met) and before he was traded to Boston I was a big sister in the program for a couple of years. It was such an impactful experience on myself and the benefits of mentorship in communities are so powerful! Since we never know with Charlie’s career if we will be on the move without notice, I decided it wouldn’t be fair to a “little” to try to become a “big” in Boston, but I now instead make monthly donations to the cause. I love sharing my experience as a big sister with friends and attempt to recruit them! I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a way to give back and make a difference in their community. 

Much Love,