Skip to main content

Welcome To Maple Leaf Gardens: Photographs and Memories Of Canada's Most Famous Arena


Author Lance Hornby joins forces with photographer Graig Abel to bring us Welcome to Maple Leaf Gardens: Photographs and Memories from Canada's Most Famous Arena

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

Rome has the Basilica of Saint Peter. India has the Golden Temple. The Middle East has the Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

Canada has no such spectacular place of worship. But there was a time that (at least in English Canada) Maple Leaf Gardens was about as close as we came.

Okay, so that's a bit of a stretch. But for hockey fans of a certain age there was no more hallowed ground than Maple Leaf Gardens. Hockey is the most dominant religion in Canada, after all.

Built in 1931 thanks to the vision and determination of team owner Conn Smythe, the corner of Church and Carlton streets became the centerpiece of hockey excellence not only in Toronto, but from coast to coast (minus Quebec thanks largely to those hated rivals the Montreal Canadiens). Modern day fans may have trouble believing it, but there was a time when Maple Leaf Gardens - now a grocery store/University athletic center - was the home to numerous Stanley Cup championships and many Hall of Fame players.

King Clancy. Charlie Conacher. Red Horner. Syl Apps. Turk Broda. Bill Barilko. Frank Mahovlich. Dave Keon. If hockey was a religion, these guys were the apostles.

Graig Abel and Lance Hornby carved out their own little place in the history of the Leafs and in the Gardens. Abel was hired by the team in the 1970s as the official photographer, a post he still holds today. Hornby has been on the Leafs beat for the Toronto Sun nearly as long, since 1981.

The two have teamed together to produce the new book Welcome to Maple Leaf Gardens: Photographs and Memories from Canada's Most Famous Arena.

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

The book is loaded with Abel's eye-catching photography over the years. With every turn of the page the reader is treated to amazing photos - mostly of hockey but also concerts, and other sporting events and professional wrestling. He has done an excellent job of chronicling the history of "the Carlton Street Cashbox.|

But the real highlight of the book is Abel and Hornby's commentary. They treat us to countless of inside stories of the Gardens and the Leafs. I particularly enjoyed learning about legendary public address announcer Paul Morris and an ice cream salesman named Pops, as well as small anecdotes about players and even celebrities.

Maple Leaf Gardens may have been the ultimate hockey shrine, but just like every other rink in the country it is not so much about hockey than community. Same goes for churches and mosques. And anyone who has ever had any connection to Maple Leaf Gardens - even if it was through their radios or televisions back in the day - will love to reminisce with this excellent new book.

Comments

Unknown said…
great book, fantastic pictures

Popular posts from this blog

Free Patrick Roy Books

Wiley is giving away two copies of Patrick Roy: Winning, Nothing Else . This offer is exclusive to readers of HockeyBookReviews.com ! All you have to do is email me the names of three other 2008 Wiley hockey book releases. Here's a helping hint - there are currently 5 2008 Wiley titles reviewed at HockeyBookReviews.com . It's just that easy! Then email your answers to hockeybookcontest@hotmail.com . As always, those with the correct answers are put into a draw, with two lucky winners being selected randomly. One entry per person. Contest is open to North American mailing addresses only. Winners will be announced on October 15th .

Slap Shot Original by Dave Hanson with Ross Bernstein

Many think the 1970s cult classic movie Slap Shot is as synonymous with hockey as Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe and hockey fights. It is mandatory viewing for any hockey fan. And many fans have, since, believe it or not, Slap Shot is the second most rented movie ever. Slap Shot looked at the rough and tumble world of minor league hockey in unforgettable fashion, often using an explosive cocktail of glorified violence and crazy humour. The adventures and hijinks of the Charlestown Chiefs has spun off two sequels, Breaking the Ice in 2002, and Slap Shot 3: The Junior League , just released directly to DVD. The original Slap Shot starred none other than the late Paul Newman as the foul-mouthed coach, but the stars of the show became The Hanson Brothers. The lovable, entertaining, violent, and bespectacled Hansons were loosely based on three actual hockey playing brothers - Steve, Jeff and Jack Carlson. Jeff and Steve actually play Jeff and Steve Hanson in the movie. Jack Carlson could n

Net Worth: Exploding The Myths of Pro Hockey

Net Worth delves deep into the intricate web of professional hockey, dissecting its myths, realities, and the complex interplay of economics, politics, and culture that shape the sport. Written by Allison Cruise and David Griffith, the book offers a comprehensive exploration that is as enlightening as it is engaging. From the outset, Cruise and Griffith shatter the romanticized notions surrounding professional hockey, peeling back the layers to reveal the stark realities beneath the glitz and glamour of the sport. Drawing on extensive research and insider insights, the authors confront prevalent myths head-on, challenging readers to reconsider their perceptions of what truly defines success and worth in the hockey world. One of the book's strengths lies in its meticulous examination of the economic forces driving professional hockey. Cruise and Griffith provide a nuanced analysis of the financial dynamics at play, exploring the intricate balance between player salaries,