I know Al personally. My wife used to work with him at Beckett Publications in Dallas. Al is still there. I could get his email, but I've given you enough to google him.
1) Al did play hockey. He was in the juniors (I think) about to get drafted when his career ended due to injury.
2) He's Canadian
3) His haircut IS that awful in person
4) He met his wife at a place where you wouldn't be proud to tell the kids (I'll leave it to your imagination). She was working.
5) He works part-time for cnnsi and the Dallas Stars
6) He does know his hockey, but his anti-Buffalo bias is getting out of hand. He had an article recommending Tim Thomas for the Olympic team and forgot about Ryan Miller. He took it in the shorts for that one.