Hockey Book Reviews.com

Showtime: One Team One Season One Step From NHL Buy The Book - Amazon.ca - Chapters - Amazon.com From The Publisher: For fans of NHL 24/7, a raw and revealing account of roller coaster of a season of the Peterborough Petes – the launching pad for a record number of NHL stars including Steve Yzerman, Tie Domi, Roger Neilson, Chris Pronger and Bob Gainey. But, victory is never guaranteed and after a disastrous 2011-12 season, The Petes agreed to give Ed Arnold unrestricted access throughout the 2012-13 season offering an unprecedented behind-the-scenes look at one of the most-storied hockey franchise in Canada and a season marked by defections, firings, heartbreaking losses and incredible victories. In the tradition of Next Man Up and Friday Night Lights, Chasing Hockey Dreams uncovers the world of hockey as rising stars fight their way to the pros.

We Are Your Leafs: The Toronto Maple Leafs Book of Greats Buy The Book: Amazon.ca - Chapters - Amazon.com Boy was I ever wrong about this book! I should have known better. Michael Ulmer is an excellent writer, especially when it comes to the Toronto Maple Leafs. But when I first learned of  We Are Your Leafs: The Toronto Maple Leafs Book of Greats  I foolishly assumed this was just another in the long line of photo-laden, pedestrian coffee table books about Leafs players from the past. There are quite a few over the years, after all. And they all tend to be alike. But Ulmer's wowed me. He honoured Leafs teams and stars by the decade, and he constantly taught me new details about them. I kind of pride myself in bio writing of star players of yesteryear, and I've done a lot of reading and my own writing. But Ulmer had me devouring this book all evening as he taught me all sorts of wonderful new biographical tidbits. Ultimately this book is a photo-laden coffee ...

Over the years Gordie Howe has been the subject of much hockey literature. In addition to re-writing the NHL record books "Mr. Hockey" has also contributed several books of his own, including hismost recent autobiography released in October 2014. Mr. Hockey: My Story  is Gordie's most recent and most complete autobiography. The publisher promised the most "complete account" of Gordie Howe's life, and they delivered. The book goes back to Howe’s Depression-era upbringing, and follows him through his remarkable Hall of Fame career, and his enduring relationships with wife Colleen and his children. Obviously with Gordie's recent serious health issues he has been unable to promote the book much, with the exception of this must-read 20 questions interview conducted by none other than Wayne Gretzky . But let's take a look at some of the other book offerings out there about or by Gordie Howe: This is a beautifully done coffee table bo...

Puckstruck: Distracted, Delighted and Distressed by Canada's Hockey Obsession  by Stephen Smith. Buy The Book: Amazon.ca  - Chapters - Amazon.com Usually when I write a book review I like to see what others around the internet are already saying about it. I like to get a feel for what the masses think, and what the critics think. Funny thing is I can find very little reaction to Stephen Smith's first book,  Puckstruck: Distracted, Delighted and Distressed by Canada's Hockey Obsession , and that is an absolute shame. Smith and Greystone Books have an instant classic here. It is such a good a book that I declare, without hesitation, that Puckstruck is the 2014 Hockey Book of the Year. Smith chronicles his "wide-eyed and sometimes wincing wander through hockey's literature, language, and history. On this journey to discover what the game has to say about who we are as Canadians, he seeks to answer some essential riddles. Can hockey make you a better person...

Kary Carkner (wife of New York Islanders player Matt Carkner) and Pam Helmer (wife of former NHL player Bryan Helmer) have teamed up with illustrator Steven Snider to produce the fantastic new hockey/Christmas children's book Hero's Ho Ho Ho Hockey Dream. This book immediately comes alive with vibrant colours and drawings by Snider, but then is upped even more by the infectious energy from the two writers. In the story our little Hero (that's actually his name!) plays a dream hockey match at the North Pole with Santa Claus and a bunch of elf hockey stars that not-so-suspiciously remind us of NHL stars (Daniel E-L-Fredsson - that's awesome!). Hero loves hockey, and he loves Christmas. But as amazing as his experience is, he realizes what is most important in life - his family. His Mom. His dad. And even his little sister. It's a good read with an important lesson. It is the perfect story for your little hockey fan as Christmas nears. And remember: Anyone ...

Here's a fun story for the kids on your shopping list. It is a strong piece of juvenile fiction written by author Caroline Akervik. Hockey and Christmas both play big roles in this novel. It is a smart selection for those who are shopping for hockey-mad reluctant readers. From the publisher: It’s December in Wisconsin and not quite Christmas, which means it’s already cold and snowy and all Calvin Greene can think about is Christmas. After watching a cooking show on TV, he is inspired to make a glittery Christmas Cookie book that he tries to share with his parents, but they’re too busy to pay attention. Adding to Calvin’s holiday blues, two of the best players on his hockey team want him to play with them in the Pond Hockey Tournament, but his best friends, Perry, who’s not a very good hockey player, wants Calvin to play with him, too. What should Calvin do? A snow storm is coming, so who knows if the Pond Hockey will even happen? Life is crazy and Christmas is around the corn...

My Granny Loves Hockey Buy The Book: Amazon.ca - Chapters  - Amazon.com From The Publisher: Granny has always dreamed of playing hockey. As a child, she could only watch the boys play on the lake until her mom called her home to do more chores. Now, her granddaughter wheels her to the park, where Granny watches the kids play at the rink. One day, the doctor says Granny should take it easy, but she disagrees. So does her granddaughter. She knows that what Granny needs to perk her up is a chance to take a shot on net. With the help of the boys and girls on the ice, Granny finally fulfills her dream.

Three of the most respected researchers in hockey shock the world with their findings in On the Origin of Hockey . Hockey was in fact played in England before it was played in Canada. Their proof? Charles Darwin. Buy The Book:  Amazon.ca  - Chapters - Amazon.com From The Publisher: The debate about the origin of hockey appears to be as old as the debate about the origin of species, though if we compare the number of pages dedicated in every day's newspapers to hockey and those dedicated to animals and plants, the relative importance of each quickly becomes obvious (well, to hockey fans at least). Hockey historians have been looking for the smallest piece of evidence that would reveal the secrets of the origin of hockey. However a wealth of evidence is available - as soon as one starts looking in the right place. This book does not present a new theory based on slivers of evidence. It is a presentation of known facts about the origins of hockey, based on tens of thou...

Long time readers of this site know I love Mike Leonetti's children themed hockey history books. Leonetti continues his series with - Iginla Sparks the Flames . Buy The Book - Amazon.ca - Chapters From The Publisher - A young hockey player learns about persistence and charity with the help of his hockey idol. Riley is a Calgary Flames fan who dreams of playing organized hockey — but it just isn't something his family can afford. Riley is applying for financial help when he meets Flames captain Jarome Iginla! After learning that Iginla grew up working hard for what he has, and seeing that even with his fame and talent this hockey superstar is a kind and generous person, Riley vows to grow up to be just like him. With financial aid, Riley is able to make his hockey dreams come true. He knows that it will take a lot of hard work both on and off the ice, but he's determined to play like Iginla, and more importantly, to be able to give back to his community as Iginl...

The Boy in Number Four Buy The Book - The Boy in Number Four - Chapters - Amazon.com From The Publisher: “The Boy in Number Four had a passion and a dream … to one day be a player on a big league hockey team.” It takes hard work and dedication to make it to the big league, but those aren’t the only things that are important. Respect, determination and the sheer thrill of the game brought Bobby Orr from a small northern town in Canada to one of the best teams in the NHL. Using Bobby Orr and his journey as a model, The Boy in Number Four celebrates the game of hockey—from backyard rinks to the big leagues. A book for hockey enthusiasts of all ages!

Mike Leonetti offers us his book, Defining Moments: Toronto Maple Leafs . Buy The Book: Amazon.ca  - Chapters - Amazon.com From The Publisher: The Toronto Maple Leafs are celebrated in Defining Moments. This book shares over 100 Maple Leaf moments that defined, started, or rejuvenated a career. This up-to-date volume of work tells the story behind each amazing player and is packed full of Hall of Famers and other great stars of the past and present. A hundred great moments in Leaf history, including over a hundred players categorized into ten themes, such as fan favourites, leadership, tough guys. Including Leafs' greatest players, such as Syl Apps, Darryl Sittler, Dave Keon, Börje Salming, Mats Sundin, Joffrey Lupul, this book brings together the greatest stories in the Toronto Maple Leaf history.

Stephen Brunt is one of my favorite writers, so that helps to raise my expectations even higher of what should already be a fascinating story on to itself - Jordin Tootoo's autobiography, All the Way: My Life On Ice Buy The Book -  Amazon.ca  - Chapters - Amazon.com From The Publisher: It seemed as though nothing could stop Jordin Tootoo on the ice. The captain of Canada’s Under-18, a fan favourite on the World Junior squad, and a WHL top prospect who could intimidate both goalies and enforcers, he was always a leader. And when Tootoo was drafted by Nashville in 2000 and made the Predators out of camp in 2003, he became a leader in another way: the first player of Inuk descent to suit up in the NHL. The stress of competition in the world’s top hockey league, the travel, the media, the homesickness—and the added pressure to hold one’s head high as a role model not only for the young people of his hometown of Rankin Inlet but for the culture that had given him the ...

Dan Diamond and the gang are back for a third go at the very popular The Official NHL Hockey Treasures series: Buy The Book - Amazon.ca  - Chapters - Amazon.com From The Publisher: Updated to include the 2012-13 season and the 2014 Winter Olympics, this new edition of The Official NHL Hockey Treasures tells the fascinating history of the sport through hundreds of photographs and an exhaustively researched text. As always, it covers the great players and games, but this title really scores with its awe-inspiring collection of 30 interactive facsimiles of hockey memorabilia—inserted right into the book! The artifacts include 90-year-old newspaper reports from the NHL's first games, letters from the President of the NHL, player contracts (including Gordie Howe's deal to play with his two sons on the Hartford Whalers), collectible hockey cards, and much, much more. Hockey fans will treasure this forever. Joe's Note: I have the first edition of this series only. It ...