PLAYER PROMPT WRITTEN TASK: Mats Marner’s non-hockey passion is baking! Besides being an obvious means to an end of going through the process of making a tasty treat, the act of baking is a form of Mats Marner’s self expression. With baking Marner gets to create whatever he wants to create, however little or magnificent that baked good may be. Baking makes Marner happy and baked goods make everyone happy and with baking spreading joy is immensely powerful.

Marner was never able to make a career out of this baking passion but baking provides a great amount of joy and creative freedom. On a more serious note, baking also helps manage Mats Marner’s anxiety. A chronic worrier since my teen years, Marner find the structure and focus that baking requires to be soothing. When baking you are in control of the outcome for the most part and that control is important during times that anxiety feels debilitating.