Three Titles From St. Johann Press

I got three hockey history titles from little known St. Johann Press today.

St. Johann Press is a small publisher out of New Jersey that, amongst other things, specializes in sports history books, including the three hockey titles provided to me by president Dave Biesel. All three books are written by members of the Society for International Hockey Research.

Hockey's Historic Highlights

Glen Goodhand is out first with Hockey's Historic Highlights. Published back in May, his book is a collection of fascinating, unbelievable and downright strange stories from the hockey history. He specializes in the little-known and unknown stories while retelling stories of hockey heroes and characters.

The best way to describe the book's approach? Think Brian McFarlane. And speaking of McFarlane, hockey's leading historian, here's what he was to say about the author, Glen Goodhand:

"Hockey is his passion. His diligence and his curiosity has led to this chronicle - a gift to the game and those who love it."

Wow! Now that is heady praise! You can buy Glen Goodhand's Hockey's Historic Highlights at Amazon.com

Behind The Bench

Next out of the box is Jeff Marcus' book Behind the Bench: A Biographical Directory of Professional Hockey Coaches Since 1904, also available from Amazon.com.

Marcus documents the professional coaches dating all the way back to 1904, the date of the first openly professional hockey league, the International Hockey League.

He goes on to cover all the coaches in all of those early leagues including the Ontario Professional Hockey League, The Eastern Canada Hockey Association, the Pacific Coast Hockey Association, the Western Canada Hockey League and the National Hockey Association. Of course, that NHA would later be reformed into the National Hockey League.

Marcus moves away from all the obscure pro leagues that littered the 20th century but does focus on all WHA and NHL coaches, right up until the current day. (Oddly, the American Hockey League was not covered).

Marucs does a good job as biographer, expanding far beyond the on-ice record to include as much personal and family information as possible in the profiles, as well as talk of each coach's own playing days.

Red, White and Blue on Ice

Last but certainly not least is Roger Godin's Red, White and Blue on Ice, also available at Amazon.com.

Minnesota is considering to the home of hockey in America, and no one knows this better than Godin. Godin is Minnesota's leading hockey historian, so much so that the Minnesota Wild hired him as the team's official curator. In this book he offers a look at Minnesota's elite hockey teams and players of the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s.

Godin looks at five championship teams and one runner up in the days of the AHA and CHL days prior to the 1950.

In addition to focusing on these teams, Godin pays special attention to six hockey heroes on those teams, telling the story of Doc Romnes, Mike Karakas, Cully Dahlstrom, Hub Nelson, Frank Brimsek and John Mariucci.

The 346 page book, illustrated throughout, fills a void in American sporting history.

All of these books can be purchased via the Amazon.com links provided or directly from St. Johann Press

Best of 2010: Hockey Biographies

Today HockeyBookReviews.com is going to name the top hockey biography of 2010.

The finalists are:

• Eddie Shore And That Old Time Hockey by C. Michael Hiam 
• Final Call by Kerry Fraser
• The Golden Jet by Bobby Hull with Bob Verdi 
• They Call Me Killer by Brian Kilrea with James Duthie 
• Tough Guy by Bob Probert with Kirstie McLellan Day

And the 2010 HockeyBookReviews.com Hockey Biography of the Year goes to: Tough Guy by Bob Probert with Kirstie McLellan Day.

Simply put, how can you not go with McLellan Day's latest effort. Last year she masterfully turned Theo Fleury's tragic story into a book that remains on the Canadian bestsellers list a year later. With Bob Probert's autobiography, she turns an almost equally tragic story into a book that is every bit the equal of Fleury's book.

Fleury's book was named as the 2009 Hockey Book of the Year winner last year, thanks in large part to McLellan Day. She takes home the new title of 2010 Hockey Biography of the Year, and you are guaranteed that later this week she will be a strong contender to once again take home Hockey Book of the Year in 2010.

Like the class of 2010 hockey books in general, there were some serious contenders that definitely challenged the Probert project. The Kerry Fraser and Brian Kilrea books were fun reads that should not be underestimated, while Bobby Hull's unique coffee table book style autobiography was a home run.

Special mention needs to be made concerning C. Michael Hiam's book Eddie Shore And That Old Time Hockey. He did a wonderful job bringing a long lost and down right foreign era to life. The great stories and history he presents are wonderful, especially considering the lack of first handed accounts, properly recorded history leave a lot of challenging blanks for any researcher in this era. Hiam does a great job accurately presenting history in an enjoyable to read text.

Best of 2010: Hockey Coffee Table Books

Today HockeyBookReviews.com is going to name the top hockey coffee table book of 2010.

First, let's take a look at the candidates:

• Canucks At 40 by Greg Douglas and Grant Kerr. 
• The Golden Jet by Bobby Hull with Bob Verdi 
• He Shoots . . . He Skewers by Roger Duncan 
• The Hockey Book by Sports Illustrated
• Hockey Hall of Fame Book of Goalies by HHOF

The 2010 HockeyBookReviews.com Coffee Table Book of the Year goes to: The Golden Jet by Bobby Hull with Bob Verdi

Trust me when I say this was no easy decision. Sports Illustrated is legendary for their book series, and they did not disappoint with their long await hockey title. Not picking them was hard. Similar comments go for the latest Hockey Hall of Fame tribute to goalies.The Canucks title is a real strong seller, while He Shoots ... He Skewers, admittedly not a coffee table book by the classic definition, is just a real fun book to flip through.

But there is something about The Golden Jet that I just love. It is an autobiographical coffee table book, loaded with amazing photo. Bobby Hull provides the captions in what I think is a wonderful option for those who do not want to write a true autobiography.

I love the idea behind this Triumph Books project so much that I sincerely hope the publisher will do all it can to use this format to create a series of coffee table autobiographies of the same high quality. Give us all the hockey greats - Gordie, Bobby, Wayne, Mario. Heck, expand it to other sports even.

Triumph Books definitely has a winner with this coffee table autobiography format - winner of the 2010 HockeyBookReviews.com Coffee Table Book of the Year

Hockey Hall of Fame Book Of Goalies

The Hockey Hall of Fame has six books coming out in the next three years, including two in 2010. One of those titles is the very promising title Hockey Hall of Fame Book of Goalies

Buy the book - Amazon.ca - Chapters - Amazon.com

This beautiful hardcover title looks at every goalie who is enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Profiles, memorabilia, essays, statistics and of course an endless collection of photographs that Hockey Hall of Fame books are famous for make this book a must see.

All 33 goalies inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. From pioneer puckstoppers like Georges Vezina, Hap Holmes and Clint Benedict, to Original Six stars like Jacques Plante, Terry Sawchuk and Johnny Bower to modern greats like Ken Dryden, Patrick Roy and Vladislav Tretiak.


Steve Cameron is the editor. Working with him are Michael Farber (Sports Illustrated), Bob Duff (historian), Chris McDonell (author), Brian Costello (The Hockey News), Matthew Manor (photographer) and Brian Hayward (former NHL goalie turned broadcaster).

This is a very interesting book, a perfect Christmas gift for the goalie afficionado on your shopping list. It is a strong contender as the top hockey coffee table book of 2010!

Buy the book - Amazon.ca - Chapters - Amazon.com

Here's the specs:

• Hardcover: 216 pages
• Publisher: Firefly Books (Sep 1 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1554076447
• ISBN-13: 978-1554076444

Here's more from Firefly, the publisher:

A celebration of the players who have excelled in the most demanding position in all of sports.

Hockey Hall of Fame Book of Goalies features the most distinguished and influential men and women who ever patrolled the crease, exploring the careers of such stars as George Hainsworth, Georges Vezina, Johnny Bower, Jacques Plante, Ken Dryden, Tony Esposito and Patrick Roy.

In this comprehensive illustrated reference:

• Chris McDonell profiles all 33 goaltenders enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
  
• Bob Duff explores the pioneers and trailblazers of goaltending, including the stars of international and women's hockey.
  
• Michael Farber of Sports Illustrated analyzes the goaltender from the other players' perspective.
  
• Brian Costello of The Hockey News chronicles the history of the NHL's two goaltending-specific trophies (the Vezina and William Jennings), as well as the goaltenders who have taken home other significant NHL awards, such as the Conn Smyth MVP trophy for the Stanley Cup playoffs and the Hart trophy for MVP of the league.
  
• The Hockey Hall of Fame's impressive goaltending artifacts are presented in a photo collection of stunning memorabilia.
  
• Bob Duff uncovers the history, lore and evolution of goalie equipment, including gloves, chest protectors, pads and, most significantly, the mask.
  
• Former NHL goaltender Brian Hayward opines on what makes hockey goaltenders so unique.

The Hockey Hall of Fame Book of Goalies is the official Hockey Hall of Fame book on goalies and will be the definitive book on the topic.

Buy the book - Amazon.ca - Chapters - Amazon.com

Also watch for the Hall's other book, Official Guide to the Players of the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Getting The Edge by Gabrielle Vanderhoof

Hockey is one of the fastest and most exciting team sports in the world, but the speed and hard-hitting contact so important to the game can lead to several different types of injuries. Many young hockey players have a false sense of security, believing wrongly that the protective equipment will keep them safe. Discover the game’s common injuries and read expert advice on avoiding them. Here, you will also find out how to treat injuries, when to consult a medical professional, and how to come back from injury as quickly as possible and stronger than ever. Read about:

• The rules of the game.

• Types of protective equipment.

• Exercises and conditioning that help prevent injuries.

• The importance of good nutrition.

• The dangers of performance-enhancing drugs.

The book is intended for young adult readers. The book is specifically being marketed to schools and public libraries in Canada and the US, although the book can be purchased by the public at Mason Crest's website.

Twenty Greatest Hockey Goals by Eric Zweig

Earlier I mentioned the new book Game's Greatest Goals where authors Don Weekes and Kerry Banks look at the top 100 goals in hockey history

In similar fashion, author Eric Zweig's new book is Twenty Greatest Hockey Goals where he, rather obviously, looks at the top twenty goals in hockey history.

Buy The Book - Amazon.ca - Chapters - Amazon.com

Needless to say these two books directly compete against each other. If pressed, I would have to declare Zweig's title as the winner.

Zweig is does not rank his top 20 goals like Weekes and Banks did, and I'm quite fine with that. I found ranking the top 100 goals to be an exhausting and almost silly exercise. Granted ranking the top 20 is far more manageable but I am quite satisfied with Zweig's chronological listing.

Instead of spending time trying to rank these goals Zweig instead focuses on offering the most research possible on each of his top 20. Weekes and Banks went for quick capsules, while Zweig offers a more satisfying read thanks to full background stories, quotes and fascinating tidbits, not to mention 70 photos.

For example, did you know:

• Bobby Baun's famous goal score with a broken leg was not the final game of that playoff series. In fact, he refused to have his ankle x-rayed after the game so that doctors could not declare him medically unfit to play.
• When Bobby Hull scored his record breaking 51st goal of the season, he was given 51 gifts including a hockey stick studded with 51 diamonds, 51 jars of pickles, 51 weeks' supply of tobacco, and 51 tubes of suntan oil? His wife was given gifts including 51 floor mops, while Brett and the other kids were each given 51 clusters of candy bars!
• That Wayne Gretzky's famous slap shot goal against Calgary's Mike Vernon in 1988 was described by The Great One as his "greatest thrill."
• After scoring 3 goals in 21 seconds, Bill Mosienko hit the goal post 45 seconds later. Also, Gus Bodnar assisted on all three of Mosienko's goals.

Also, reading the commentary of Sidney Crosby and Ryan Miller regarding 2010's famous "Golden Goal" from the Olympics is fascinating.

All in all Eric Zweig and Dundurn Press expertly present the Twenty Greatest Hockey Goals. It is an enjoyable read in which I guarantee you will learn something about each of the famous moments in hockey history.

Here's the specs:

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Dundurn (Oct 18 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1554887895
• ISBN-13: 978-1554887897

Here's more from the publisher:

Every hockey fan remembers certain goals scored that stand out from all others. But if one had to name just 20 as the greatest ever accomplished, what would they be?

There's Paul Henderson's third game-winning goal in 1972, the one that clinched the Summit Series for Canada against the Soviet Union. Also Mike Eruzione's upset "Miracle on Ice" winner for the United States against the Soviets at Lake Placid in 1980. And don't forget the famous Stanley Cup winners by the Toronto Maple Leafs' Bill Barilko in 1951 and the Boston Bruins' Bobby Orr in 1970.


From the goal by the Montreal Victorias against the Winnipeg Victorias in the 1896 Stanley Cup rematch that truly made hockey's most famous hardware a national event, to Wayne Gretzky's 77th goal in 1982 that beat Phil Esposito's single-season record for goals, to Sidney Crosby's "golden goal" in the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, Zweig serves up a slice of exceptional hockey moments that's sure to provoke heated discussion.

Buy The Book - Amazon.ca - Chapters - Amazon.com

HBR Bestsellers List

Here's the HockeyBookReviews.com Bestseller's List, as ranked by affiliate sales:

1. Tough Guy by Bob Probert
2. The Day I (Almost) Killed Two Gretzkys by James Duthie   
3. Don Cherry's Hockey Stories Part 2 by Don Cherry 
4. The Hockey Book by Sports Illustrated
5. Canucks At 40 by Greg Douglas, Grant Kerr
6. Final Call by Kerry Fraser
7. Best of the Best by Scott Morrison/Hockey Night In Canada
8. Eddie Shore And That Old Time Hockey by C. Michael Hiam 
9. The Greatest Game by Todd Denault
10. They Call Me Killer by Brian Kilrea/James Duthie 

Here is the Amazon.ca Hockey Bestsellers. And here is the Amazon.com Hockey Bestsellers list.

I appreciate all of you who support this website by making online purchases via my affiliation links. I spend a lot of time reviewing hockey books here at HockeyBookReviews.com, all for free. Making your online purchases via my links offsets costs of running my free websites. Look at it this way: If you like my work, and you think it's worth buying me a cup of coffee, then shop Amazon or Chapters via my links. I'm going to keep doing my work for free because I love doing this, but I'd greatly appreciate your support!

Pucklore: The Hockey Research Anthology: Volume 1

The Society for International Hockey Research is proud to announce the release of Pucklore: The Hockey Research Anthology Volume 1 published by Quarry Heritage Books of Kingston, Ontario. The book is the first publicly available publication from SIHR and features selected articles taken from the annual Hockey Research Journal first published in 1993.

Buy The Book:  Amazon.ca - Chapters 

Compiled by James Milks, the collection features articles from twenty-two authors from Canada, the United States, Sweden and England and includes noted hockey writers J.W. (Bill) Fitsell, Kevin Shea, Eric Zweig, Paul Kitchen and Jim Mancuso.

Pucklore authors celebrate the founder of the game, James Creighton, reveal the first 1,000 goal scorer, trace the evolution of the hockey net, recreate the trial of Allan Loney for murder on the ice, and present more fascinating stats and stories than you can shake a (hockey) stick at.

The 268 book has never before seen photos and illustrations laid out in an attractive 10'' x 8'' portrait format.
No hockey fan should be without this book. A perfect special occasion gift.

Buy The Book:  Amazon.ca - Chapters

Advice For Young Hockey Players

Last year I featured a cute set of hockey books called Thanks To My Hockey Dad and I Love My Hockey Mom. The charming little books were written and illustrated by the 7 and 8 year old boys and girls on the Flyers Novice AE Team, with a little help from coach Jason Howell, teacher/hockey mom Jennifer Sutoski and the support of none other than Don Cherry!

What a great idea, and what a great way to say thank you to mom and dad for all their efforts to let their kids play hockey. The books were a tremendous success, reaching bestseller status thanks to magnificent distribution and a low price point.

At some point along the way the gang realized they forgot to say thank you to coaches and volunteers. So, the gang is back in 2010, this time with Thanks to My Hockey Coach. And they also decided to help out other young hockey players across the entire world with Advice for a Young Hockey Player. Let's take a look at the latter title here.

Buy The Book: Amazon.ca - Chapters 

Here's the product description:

The bestselling little authors of Thanks to My Hockey Dad and I Love My Hockey Mom have been at it again, drawing on their cumulative hockey experience as nine-year-old player prodigies to create the next hockey bestseller: Advice for a Young Hockey Player.

You need to master the basics to be successful in hockey, and this book offers practical advice that young players can use to improve their game. It offers gems of wisdom like “always keep your feet moving” and “don’t be scared of bigger players.” Even more than that, though, it provides a window into young players’ inner thoughts and feelings, and these are often honest, heart-felt, and funny. “If you make a bad play,” one boy reminds us, “remember to look up at your mom and not your dad.”

The colour illustrations throughout are creative, funny, and charming.

There are 570,000 hockey players registered in Canada, and they would all benefit from this simple advice... as would their parents. Parents will enjoy the simple messages, and be gently reminded that hockey is a game, a game we all love, but a game that, most of all, we should let our kids play with joy, love, and passion. It is a game intended to be fun.

About the authors:

Flyers Minor Atom A Team. They have successfully completed Grade 3, and look forward to the challenges and experiences that await them in Grade 4.

Buy The Book: Amazon.ca - Chapters

The Golden Jet by Bobby Hull with Bob Verdi

The book's title is The Golden Jet: A Spectacular Career in Stunning Photographs. You already know Bobby Hull had a spectacular career. Let me assure you the photographs in this books truly are stunning.

Consider this book is a coffee table autobiography. Countless photographs accompanied with Bobby's own captions brilliantly bring back to life the amazing career of one of hockey's true greats. The photos steal the show, but Bobby's commentary are the true jewels of this treasure chest.


The book is also accompanied with a tribute DVD featuring exclusive interviews, archival footage and behind the scenes clips.

This book is listed at $29.95 US/$34.95 CDN. (Apparently no one has told Triumph Books that the Canadian dollar is near par for a few years now.) For a book of this size loaded with so many rare and exclusive photos, that is a really reasonable price. And of course, many bookstores and online sources are selling it 30% less than the jacket price.

I wish other hockey greats would consider such a project as this. I hope Triumph Books is looking to create a NHL series of books along these lines, as I am a big fan of their approach.

Buy The Book: Amazon.ca - Chapters - Amazon.com

By The Way: Of course, more recent fans know Bobby Hull strictly as Brett Hull's dad. This is a great chance to learn more about one of hockey's true legends. Oh, and Brett makes more than a few appearances in the book - from a tot to a pee-wee to a NHL star in his own right.

Here's more from the publisher, Triumph Books:

The name Bobby Hull is synonymous with greatness when it comes to hockey in Chicago and throughout the NHL.  One of the most charismatic and electrifying athletes of his or any era, Hull thrilled fans with his unique combination of speed, skill, and grace.  Along the way, he became known as the finest left wing in hockey history and is still widely regarded to be the best ever.

Hull now has his electrifying career highlighted in the new book The Golden Jet: A Spectacular Career in Stunning Photographs, where he traces his life and career from his days as a youngster learning to skate on the Bay of Quinte to his current role as a Blackhawks ambassador.  Throughout the book, beautiful photos reflect on Hull's greatest moments, including:

• Amassing a team-record 604 career goals
• Collecting three Art Ross trophies as the league's leading scorer
• Earning hockey's ultimate prize in 1961: Lord Stanley's Cup and a championship ring
• Behind the scenes in one of the most prominent hockey families in the sport
• Being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983

Featuring hundreds of rare, full-color photos from his personal archive and accompanying text from legendary Chicago sports columnist and Blackhawks team historian Bob Verdi, The Golden Jet gives Hull's millions of fans a never-before-seen glimpse into the life of this hockey icon. Bringing the pictures to life is an exclusive commemorative DVD, which includes highlights, interviews, and behind-the-scenes clips from the Blackhawks' video library.

A must-have keepsake for Blackhawks fans of all ages, The Golden Jet is a rare opportunity to celebrate the life of the greatest hockey player in Chicago's history.

About the Authors:
Bobby Hull is generally regarded as the greatest left wing in the history of hockey. During his illustrious 15-year Chicago Blackhawks career, he scored 604 goals-the most in team history-and led the 1960-61 squad to the Stanley Cup. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983.

Bob Verdi is the Chicago Blackhawks' team historian and has covered sports for five decades, including more than 40 years as a columnist and contributor for the Chicago Tribune. He authored Chicago Blackhawks: Seventy-Five Years in 2001.

Buy The Book: Amazon.ca - Chapters - Amazon.com

Total Penguins by Rick Buker

My first impression of Rick Buker's new book Total Penguins: The Definitive Encyclopedia of the Pittsburgh Penguins: Holy Frank Pietrangelo, Batman!

(Actually my first impression contained a more distinct expletive, but this is a family website.)

At over 700 pages, this is a really big book - a true encyclopedic history of the Pittsburgh Penguins. I think I equally floored at the low price for such a thick book - jacket price of just $29.95 US which means you can usually get it for just $20 bucks at most bookstores and online sources.

Buy The Book: Amazon.ca - Chapters - Amazon.com

I immediately assumed this book must be overwhelmingly filled with endless statistical entries. Again, I was surprised to find that was not so much the case. I mean, there is a lot of stats presented here, but it is spread throughout, nicely complimenting a wealth of written history that makes this book a true must have for any Pittsburgh Penguins fan.

The exhaustive encyclopedia includes:

• Season by season summaries
• Stats of every player ever to play in Pittsburgh
• Biographies of Hall of Famers, coaches, managers and owners
• Profiles of 66 key players in Penguins history
• Year by year playoff summaries
• Remembering The Greatest Games
• Team Records, award winners and trivia

There is also a nice nod to other notable Pittsburgh hockey teams over the years.

The bottom line is every serious Pittsburgh Penguins fan will want Total Penguins: The Definitive Encyclopedia of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Every fan wishes their team had such an amazing resource for their team, Pittsburgh fans, consider yourself lucky. Don't pass up a look at this title!

Here's more from the publisher:

Total Penguins: The Definitive Encyclopedia of the Pittsburgh Penguins is the definitive resource on the Pittsburgh Penguins, one of the NHL's most popular and successful franchises. Featuring author Rick Buker's exhaustive research and hundreds of exclusive photographs courtesy of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Total Penguins traces the franchise's history from its birth as an expansion team in 1967 to its flirtation with bankruptcy in the 1970s to the arrival of Mario Lemieux in the 1980s and Sidney Crosby in the 2000s, two acquisitions that have led to a golden age of Pittsburgh hockey.

Buy The Book: Amazon.ca - Chapters - Amazon.com

He Shoots . . . He Skewers!

I am in Vancouver for the weekend and I just learned of a whole new hockey book I never even knew about before: He Shoots... He Skewers! by Roger Duncan. It is a fascinating look at many years of hockey as told through the caricature pen of Duncan, who has had his cartoons featured in newspapers across Canada.

Buy The Book: Amazon.ca - Chapters

Here's more from the publisher, Summit Studios:

Do you remember playing hockey in your backyard as a kid, dreaming of fame and fortune as you fished your wayward shot out of a snowbank? This book caricaturizes the guys who didn't miss ... at least not very often! Past meets present as today's superstars and legends of yore are immortalized in the funniest, weirdest and sometimes most absurd moments in the game we all love.

• See what Don Cherry would look like as a masked crusader, defending the NHL from dastardly Russian defectors.
  
• Find out what Alexander Ovechkin has in common with Paris Hilton.
  
• Learn the real reason Sidney Crosby didn't shake hands with the Red Wings captain after the 2009 Stanley Cup final.
  
• Discover Vladislav Tretiak's goaltending secret during the 1972 Summit Series.
  
• Relive the media battle between Patrick Roy and Jeremy Roenick during the 1996 Stanley Cup playoffs.
  
• Find out what would happen if the Sutters met the Staals around a poker table.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, some of the words in these caricatures might very well draw an unsportsmanlike penalty!

Summit Studios also offers free full colour samples of Duncan's work.

Definitely check out this fun title today: Buy The Book: Amazon.ca - Chapters

Don Cherry's Hockey Stories: Part 2

A couple of years ago Don Cherry released a new book called Hockey Stories And Stuff. English teachers everywhere shuddered, but publishers and bookstores celebrated as it was an incredible seller.

That should come as no surprise. Neither should the news that Cherry and Random House have teamed up again to produce Don Cherry's Hockey Stories, Part 2

Buy The Book - Amazon.ca - Chapters - Amazon.com - E-Book

Cherry is back with more rollicking stories and controversial thoughts that make for entertaining book. Whether it be tales of Eddie Shore or Montreal Canadiens training camp or of Darryl Sly snoring through a coach's speech, this book is a lot of fun.

But what I like best about Part 2 is that the better part of the second half of the book is told by daughter Cindy and son Tim. To have these two tell stories of their dad allows us an intimate look into the man who is really behind the flamboyant suits and big mouth.

That alone makes me recommend Don Cherry's Hockey Stories, Part 2. It is a fun, entertaining book that you can read cover to cover or just pick up and read a few passages at a time.

The bottom line is this - either you love Don Cherry or you hate him. If you love him, treat yourself to this book. You won't regret it.

Also, keep your eyes open for a couple of Cherry DVD releases. Don Cherry's Rock Em Sock Em 22 and the highly acclaimed CBC mini-series Keep Your Head Up, Kid: The Don Cherry Story.

Here's the specs:

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Doubleday Canada (Oct 26 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385670036
• ISBN-13: 978-0385670036

Here's more from the publisher, Random House:

You thought you'd read them all, did you? Well, you haven't.

Simultaneously loved and loathed, Don Cherry is one of the most talkative and talked-about personalities in hockey today. His more than twenty-five years as a player and coach have informed his popular Hockey Night in Canada commentary segment, "Coach's Corner." And now he's got more stories to share.

In Don Cherry's Hockey Stories, Part 2, Grapes tells us about the 2010 Stanley Cup, relays the lessons he's learned both on and off the ice, and takes us inside hockey's mythical players' "code." You'll encounter familiar names from the game and find out who this idol looks up to. You'll travel back in time to Cherry's days playing in the minor leagues. You'll share his experiences of being named Coach of the Year in the NHL and in the AHL. And you'll hear from his kids about what it was like growing up with a dad like Don..

Don Cherry tells it like it is, for better or for worse. You won't be disappointed.

P.S. Don wants you to know it's a book the whole family can enjoy.

2010 Paperbacks: Jacques Plante by Todd Denault

A little bit lost in the hype of his new release The Greatest Game, Todd Denault has another book on store shelves in 2010. It is the paperback release of his 2009 smash hit: Jacques Plante: The Man Who Changed the Face of Hockey.

Buy The Paperback: Amazon.ca - Chapters - Amazon.com

Here's my original review of the hard cover release, although perhaps all you need to know about my thoughts on this book can be read on the back cover of the book:

"After just a few pages into this book it was obvious Todd Denault had written an instant classic. I can not recommend this book enough." 

Tough Guy by Bob Probert with Kirstie McLellan Day

It is not often a book's prologue is entitled The Last Chapter. It is even less often those first 12 or so pages puts you through such an emotional roller-coaster that you may have to put the book down to catch your breath when you are done reading it!

That's how Tough Guy: My Life On The Edge by Bob Probert with Kirstie McLellan Day, starts out. And it only gets better.

Buy The Book - Amazon.ca - Chapters - Amazon.com

In that opening prologue Kirstie McLellan Day recreates Bob Probert's dying moments with such clarity it is as if you are right there on the boat too and it is happening all over again. The wide range of emotions I experienced while reading this passage was as amazing as any 12 pages I have ever read in any book. I was left bewildered and exhausted as she described the horrible and frantic moment. I was heartbroken for his wife. I was absolutely horrified at the thought of his children witnessing it all. I was angry with his friends who, try as they might, could do nothing. I found myself cheering with hope as another boater arrived to help save the life of one of my hockey heroes. But it was not meant to be. After just 12 pages I was left distraught and exhausted. I wanted to help so bad, knowing that I would have been every bit as helpless as everyone on that boat on that terrible day.

What I am trying to say is this book has one hell of an intro.

You will undoubtedly recognize the name Kirstie McLellan Day. She wrote Theo Fleury's autobiography Playing With Fire. She has another epic here with Bob Probert's Tough Guy: My Life On The Edge. She very well may be the best writer in hockey right now.

This book project was in the works before Probert suddenly died this summer. The Probert family decided to see the project through to the finish. Steve Yzerman and Probert's wife Dani Probert provide emotional forewords.

After the moving prologue, the book turns to Bob's voice. It is very much a stark contrast to the prologue, as Day is careful to let Bob's true voice and character to tell his own story. It is very raw and candid, on the edge just like the way he lived life. Turbulent would definitely be the one word summary of Probie's life.

It takes a bit to warm up to Probert, as you realize right from an early age he was a bad ass - on and off the ice. But Probert tells all - the drugs, the alcohol, the rehab and prison sentence, and of course the hockey - without ever apologizing for who he is.

A funny thing happens as you read this book. You find yourself warming to Probert, and then pulling for him, even though we all know the tragic story from the on-set. Behind all the drugs, booze and legal headlines, you come to realize exactly what everyone of his teammates will tell you - that Probert was a great guy who loved his family and was unfailingly loyal to his friends. We all could only hope to know a person as warm and as good as Bob Probert.

The memoir features 50 photographs, many of them never seen before. Also of interest is a listing of Probert's career fight card - 11 pages long!

Despite his death, his wife Dani and biographer Kirstie McLellan Day saw the project through to completion. It was Bob's wish for his story to be told in his words, as his kids were reaching an age where they would soon learn about his sordid past.

Here's the specs:

• Hardcover
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd (Oct 26 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1443404616
• ISBN-13: 978-1443404617

Here's more from the publisher, Harper Collins:

During a notorious career with the Detroit Red Wings and the Chicago Blackhawks, Bob Probert racked up points, penalty minutes and bar bills, establishing himself as one of the most feared enforcers in the history of the NHL. On the ice, he was a fan favourite. He backed up his teammates one hundred percent, takin

g on the toughest guys of his era. Off the ice, Probert played hard too. Over his pro career he went through ten stays in rehab, two NHL suspensions, a jail sentence for carrying cocaine across the border and a near fatal motorcycle crash. When he died unexpectedly of a heart attack on July 5, 2010, at the age of forty-five, he was hard at work on his memoir with Kirstie McLellan Day, co-author with Theo Fleury of the blockbuster Playing with Fire. Probert wanted to tell his story in his own words to set the record straight.

Tough Guy is a gripping journey, full of jaw-dropping stories about Bob’s on-ice battles and his reckless off-ice encounters with drugs, alcohol, customs officials, police, courts and the NHL. Probert’s opponents often feared him, but they always respected the man beneath the bloodied jersey. With his unique sense of humour and inside stories, Probert gives us a first-hand account of his adrenalin-fuelled life as the toughest fighter in the NHL.

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eBook - Trolley League: 1908 - 911

Kevin Slater, "a hockey fan with too much time on his hands," has made his first book available via various electronic mediums. 

For just $5 Slater offers everything he has researched - an it is extensive - on the Ontario Professional Hockey League from 1908 through 1911. The ebook, Trolley League,  is available on eBay or directly through his email address, kslater1@cogeco.ca

The Ontario Professional Hockey League was one of the first openly professional hockey leagues in Canada and during its brief history was regarded by many as the second best hockey league in the Dominion of Canada. This book provides detailed summaries and statistics for all 146 league games and four Stanley Cup challenges. 

Further, it also examines the struggles of forming and running a professional hockey league in perhaps the most turbulent era the sport has ever seen and in a geographical area where the prevailing opinion of the media favoured amateurism in sport.

This book tells stories of the struggles the team owners had to sign quality players, and the lengths to which some players went in order to protect their amateur standing. The book also includes countless anecdotes of the many colourful characters that surrounded the game, some of whom are household names (Newsy Lalonde, Joe Malone, etc.) and others would be unheard of outside of their immediate families.

Again, the ebook Trolley League is only $5, and available directly from author Kevin Slater at kslater1@cogeco.ca .

Hockey Opposites

 

Per-Henrik Gurth brings us the children's title Hockey Opposites in 2010.

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Also available in French

Popular artist and best-selling illustrator Per-Henrik Gürth puts his winning team of lovable animals into play to demonstrate a wide range of opposites, including home/away, behind/ahead, win/loss and many more. The excitement of a hockey game and the bright, bold illustrations will keep the attention of children while they are introduced to the concept of opposites.

 

Per-Henrik Gürth is a graphic designer and illustrator who has illustrated more than a dozen children''s books in his native Germany. He now lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Here's the specs:

• Format:Hardcover
• Dimensions:24 Pages, 8.75 x 8.75 x 0.3 in
• Published:August 1, 2010
• Publisher:Kids Can Press
• ISBN - 10:1554532418
• ISBN - 13:9781554532414

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Also available in French

Freddy's Hockey Hero

Award winning author Susan Chalker Browne has a new kids book out: Freddy's Hockey Hero, illustrated by Hilda Rose:

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From the Publisher

When the Habs and the Leafs face off in an exhibition game, Freddy is beside himself with excitement. He has a secret mission to find Billy Binkle, the most famous hockey player of all time. Although Freddy''s dad gently suggests that Billy Binkle may not be at the game, Freddy is convinced. "He''s going to sign my stick, too!" he says. Is Billy Binkle really at the game? And will Freddy find him? This fast-paced adventure (with a surprise ending) will have thousands of fans cheering for our Freddy.
About the Author

Susan Chalker Browne is an award-winning writer, journalist and teacher. Hey Freddy! It''s Canada''s Birthday is her eighth book for children. Her other books include Marconi''s Secret, The Amazing Adventures of Captain Bob Bartlett, At Ocean''s Edge, The Land of a Thousand Whales and her most recent, Freddy''s Day at the Races. Her books Thomas Doucet - Hero of Plaisance and Goodness Gracious, Gulliver Mulligan were each named Canadian Children''s Book Centre "Our Choice" selections.

Here's the specs:

• Format:Trade Paperback
• Dimensions:32 Pages, 8.5 x 8.5 x 0.12 in
• Published:September 24, 2010
• Publisher:Creative Book Publishing
• ISBN - 10:1897174624
• ISBN - 13:9781897174623

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Next Ones: Hockey's Future Stars

Lorna Schultz Nicholson's The Next Ones: Hockey's Future Stars is a glossy, colorful, photo-laden look at the top players in junior hockey, specifically those who have had some connection with the Canadian national team at some level.

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The book is somewhat geared towards younger readers, as that is Schultz-Nicholson's area of expertise. But that should not discourage interested older readers. This book should be considered by junior hockey fans of all ages; Canadian hockey fans looking for more information on players soon to be named for the popular World Junior Championships; and NHL fans looking to learn more about their favorite team's top draft choices.

One of my favorite parts of this book is the Q&A inserts for each player. These rapid fire fun questions about favorite superheroes and rock bands somehow humanizes these hockey players that we will undoubtedly end up treating as bigger than life all too soon.

The book is written in cooperation with Hockey Canada, which should be no surprise as Lorna Schultz Nicholson is married to Hockey Canada president Bob Nicholson.

Here's the specs:

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Key Porter Books (October 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1551683636
• ISBN-13: 978-1551683638

Here's more from the publisher, Key Porter Books:

Ever wondered who the next big hockey star was going to be? With Hockey Canada’s annual comprehensive guide to the best of the best in the junior hockey world, you can find out. Not only for hockey fans, but for coaches and scouts alike, this guide includes photos, stats, personal information, players’ ambitions, plans, and dreams. Based on junior hockey performance and expected success in the pros, The Next Ones presents the top twenty-five Canadian prospects as decided by Hockey Canada. This book will give readers the whole picture and maybe even a glimpse into those who might become the next Great One.

About the Author

Lorna Schultz Nicholson is a hockey insider, from minor hockey to the Olympic games. She travels extensively to cheer on Canada, whenever and wherever our men and women compete, including the 2002 and 2006 Winter Olympics. She has been at the juniors and the worlds, and enjoys the friendships she has made with the players and their families. Lorna and her husband Bob live in Calgary, Alberta. They have three wonderful children together, Mandi, Marijean, and Grant.


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Gold Medal Diary by Hayley Wickenheiser

Hayley Wickenheiser has a new book for 2010. In Gold Medal Diary: Inside the World's Greatest Sports Event the Canadian Olympic veteran offers a behind-the-scenes view of the world’s most exciting sporting spectacle.

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Wickenheiser recently gave a great interview with the Canadian Press concerning the book. Here's a few highlights from that interview about life with the Canadian women's hockey team:

"There's a lot of ups and downs emotionally, both personally and from a team perspective. I tried to convey that as best I could and not just the good things, but the frustrations that come with it. I tried to make it as real a story as possible."

Wickenheiser goes on to describe the book as "a book about hockey and the Olympic experience and life as an athlete versus my life. The focus of the book was to keep it on the team and the process."

It is an interesting backstage look that Wick tries to keep very real for the reader. "Besides taking out the profanity, we tried to keep the emotion in it about how the day was going. It's pretty raw."

The book is interesting in that it chronicles Team Canada's captain throughout the season as the players are pushed to achieve a golden standard at the home Olympics. The training sessions and practices are every bit as intense as any NHL practice. These girls work hard, and all for the love of the game, not a million dollar pay check.

"I wanted to convey that to people and for them to get a little bit of an insider's view of what it looks like, which may not be as glamorous or as exciting as people think," she said.

The book is not an autobiography, rather just a snapshot of her life during this amazing time. It makes for a unique book that all hockey fans should read.

"It was an idea I liked and it really hadn't been done before," she said. "I thought it would be important for people to understand what a team or an athlete goes through in the lead up to the Olympics and then actually at the Olympics.

A free excerpt of the book is available at the publisher's website.

Here's the specs:

• October 2010
• ISBN 978-1-55365-580-0
• Hardcover
• 6" x 9"
• 256 pages
• 25 b&w photographs
• Sports & Recreation
• $29.95 CAD

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Here's more from the publisher, Greystone Books:

"Hayley Wickenheiser is unarguably the best women’s hockey player in the world. With four Olympic medals (three gold and one silver) she is the heart and soul of the Canadian team. Now thirty-one, Wickenheiser has been on the national team since she was fifteen and has played more games in international competition and has more goals, assists, and penalties than any other woman in the game. She’s also held her own while playing professional hockey on men’s teams in Sweden and Finland. In 2008 Sports Illustrated ranked Wickenheiser as Number 20 on a list of the Top 25 Toughest Athletes in the World.

"In Gold Medal Diary, Wickenheiser reveals her day-to-day experience of the 2010 Games, including the six-month lead-up of intensive training and pre-Olympic tournaments. The heart of this book, though, is what Wickenheiser reveals about the life of an Olympian—the behind-thescenes stories, the highs and lows, physical and emotional challenges, struggles and triumphs of an elite athlete in a hyper-intense environment, including details of the public ceremonies and private moments, friendships and rivalries, community and isolation, media presence and security.

"For the first time ever, non-Olympic athletes can be on the ground inside the storied Athletes’ Village and understand what it’s like to live through the most high-pressure, high-profile sporting event in the world."

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If you are interested in this title, you may also be interested in these titles:

• Hayley Wickenheiser: Born to Play  
• Canada's Olympic Diary: A Day-by-Day Account of the 2010 Winter Games 
• Women on Ice 
• Too many men on the ice: Women's hockey in North America 
• She Shoots...She Scores: A Complete Guide To Women's Hockey

Tuesday Top Tens: Things You Didn't Know About Slap Shot

 Here's the top things you did not know about the movie Slap Shot, as chosen by Jonathan Jackson, author of The Making of Slap Shot - Buy the book - Amazon.ca - Chapters - Amazon.com 

* Al Pacino wanted the role of Reggie Dunlop and could have had it if he had played his cards right.
 
* Peter Strauss was considered to play Ned Braden but broke his leg during his audition.

* Henry Winkler, aka The Fonz, was almost cast as a Hanson Brother.
 
* Allan Nicholls, who played Chiefs captain Johnny Upton, is the grandson of a Hockey Hall of Fame
netminder Riley Hern.

* The character Nick Brophy was originally to have been named Nick Fotiu, after the future New York Ranger whose pro hockey career began in the North American Hockey League, on which Slap Shot's Federal League was based.

* Paul D'Amato also considers himself a pacifist who needed coaching and some unwitting inspiration from Bobby Schmautz of the Boston Bruins in order to play a convincing goon.

* The character Tim McCracken was inspired by real life veteran tough guy Ted McCaskill, the father of baseball pitcher Kirk McCaskill.

* It's well known that Washington Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau was an extra in Slap Shot, but so was future NHL referee Paul Stewart.
 
* The late Brad Sullivan, who played the lecherous Mo Wanchuk, was a born-again Christian who was uncomfortable with the character he immortalized.

 * When the Carlson brothers first arrived in Johnstown, Pa., to begin their career with the Jets, they really did attack a pop machine.

Read the full book review here.

A Passion To Win by Lou Nanne

"Sweet Lou From the Soo" Lou Nanne has an autobiography out in 2010. I haven't seen this title yet, so here's more from the publisher, Triumph Books.

The name Lou Nanne is synonymous with hockey in the state of Minnesota.  As an icon throughout the hockey world, Nanne shares his incredible stories from both on and off the ice in his brand-new autobiography, A Passion to Win.

Nanne grew up in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, prior to his march through the hockey ranks.  Over the course of his 50 years in the sport, he sheds light on his greatest achievements and most heartbreaking disappointments.  Nanne shares many of these intriguing stories and the most memorable of his personal life, his years playing the game he loved and later his professional career, including:

• Playing and coaching at the University of Minnesota
• Leading the Western Collegiate Hockey Association in scoring as a defenseman
• His participation with Team USA and the Olympics
• Playing in 635 NHL regular season games for the Minnesota North Stars
• Manning the helm as the coach, general manager and ultimately president of the North Stars

This endearing story of perseverance and determination in A Passion to Win casts new light on the memorable 50 year career Nanne achieved in hockey while both on and off the rink.  Nanne takes readers into the locker rooms and onto the ice in some of the greatest NHL arenas in both the U.S. and Canada.  Nanne talks about the sensational wins but also the losses that haunt him to this day.  Most notably, he speaks frankly about his most harrowing struggle: the disease that nearly overcame him and resulted in his departure from hockey.

Nanne also for the first times shares his incredibly combined hockey and business experiences that he utilizes in developing and maintaining a successful career in finance. His strategies, knowledge and lifelong lessons for a prosperous life outside the hockey arena are spelled out in an informative and fascinating manner.

Nanne lays it all on the line and reflects on all of his amazing experiences while sharing insights about behind-the-scenes moments in the locker room and the business world. He accomplished his dreams, fought through the hard times and will inspire others to do the same in A Passion to Win.

About the Authors:
After Lou Nanne captained the Minnesota Golden Gophers and the United States Olympic hockey teams, he had a remarkable tenure as player, coach, general manager, and president of the Minnesota North Stars. Since his retirement from professional hockey, he has championed a successful occupation in the financial industry. He resides in Edina, Minnesota.

Jim Bruton, a former prison warden, is the author of The Big House, A Tradition of Purple, Every Day Is Game Day, and Gopher Glory. Bruton was a member of the Minnesota Golden Gophers football team in 1965 and 1966 and signed professional football contracts with the Minnesota Vikings and the Dallas Cowboys.