Hockey Books

Hockey fans will love this book. If you are not a hockey fan, you may want to read this book. It could change your opinion!

The best part about this book is that it's in the players' own words. For anyone who enjoys stories about old time hockey this is a must read.

Inside stories, inside thoughts, the hows, whys, and wherefores of hockey goaltending. Not just the stars and legends, but the back-ups, the crazies, the philosopher-goalies speak on the art, zen, and fun that is goaltending.

If you are a goalie in any sport, whether hockey, lacrosse, soccer, water polo - you will gain useful insight into your game by hearing how these athletes describe their vocation.

Irvin knows how to preamble and then just let the goalies speak their piece. An excellent read.

This is an excellent look at goalies from the present and recent past. You'll learn more about your favorites and get a welcome introduction to others (many of whom are still playing) you haven't heard as much about. You can open the book, start reading at the beginning, middle, or end, and you'll have a good time!

As a parent of a goaltender, who of course wants to make it to the NHL, I found this book to be very encouraging. Every goaltender can and does have bad games. If you have the heart, you have a chance to make it.

I enjoyed this book alot. Although I am 32 years old, I still enjoy reading the stuff that kids today read. I think it was definitely worth the read.

This book is great for children playing hockey and want to hear what the Screech Owls are doing. There is also a show of The Screech Owls.

A very good book for kids who love hockey

My older boys love this series! My oldest has been playing travel hockey for 10 years (he's 17). He started reading the Screech Owls when he was 10 years old, but when our 2nd son started reading them several years ago, and newer stories were written, I'd catch Nicholas reading them, too (literally only taking minutes to polish it off!). Our 2nd boy doesn't play hockey (golf and tennis), but he truly enjoys the series. He already put all the news Screech Owl books on his Christmas list for this year.

The funny thing is I found this series in LAKE PLACID, NY (our favorite vacation spot) in my favorite book store. How excited was I that I found a book that would keep my son's attention because of hockey, in Lake Placid, about Lake Placid?! It was a win win. Reading is so important, and it's hard sometimes to find interesting book series, especially for boys. So I thank Roy MacGregor, and hope he keeps writing. I only wish to find more authors who would touch on other sports subjects (besides baseball) like Mr MacGregor does. Also, I would love if Mr MacGregor would write books that my 7 year old would enjoy.

Finally, a young adult series about hockey! For young fans of the game, the Screech Owls series is right on target. If you are interested in hockey action, mystery, and teamwork, this is the series for you.
A team of Canadian hockey players travels to Lake Placid for an international tournament, and soon discovers that they have more to deal with than playing hockey. Sarah Cuthberson, the team captain becomes the target of sabatoge, and it's up to Travis Lindsay and his teammates to save the day (or night, even though Travis is afraid of the dark).
Hockey players will appreciate Travis' play-by-play account of the games, and everyone will enjoy the humorous dialogue among teammates.
Some language may offend the very young (or at least their parents). Overall, a must read for those interested in hockey

I'm keeping this one right by the toilet for extended sessions.

One part I like is the pictures of all the players by their statistical profiles. Also, complete won-loss records for each team, so you can see the ups and downs.

This was a gift for my son who loved it. Liked it better than the Sporting News hockey register.

Fantastic as ever. I have purchased the book sinde 1982, and its getting better and better. I from Denmark

Outstanding reference for the casual or hardcore hockey fan! Has great detail on the past season as well as statistics for every player who has ever suited up in the NHL and records.

A good reference book for those who like information on all 30 NHL teams and current hockey players on their rosters.

Quite simply the best book ever written on the history of the sport

when i opened up this book it was like the heavens opened up and angels smiled upon me.

This book is fascinating on a number of levels. It gives a great account of the beginnings of hockey, including the tensions between anglo and francophone players in Montreal in the early days.

It's also a great trip down memory lane for any fan who remembers a few decades back to players like the Rocket, and has even further, but fuzzy, memories of guys like Turk Broda or Howie Morenz. McKinley covers all the major players and moments of hockey past.

But the book is more than that. It's at many levels an argument about the game, and the recurring message is that, from the very start, there's been tension between owners who have tried to outspend each other in order to win.

Reading about this element puts the currently approaching labor crisis in a historical perspective in a way that no other hockey book I'm familiar with does. For that reason alone, it's worth the read.

It makes me wish that Gary Bettman, every NHL owner, and every player would pick up a copy. It might enlighten them to know that the money and contract issues currently plaguing the game are not new. Fans can only hope that it would have the further effect of waking them up to the effects of excess before they give the game a black eye through another work stoppage.

A fantastic book. McKinley is to be congratulated.

Fantastic Stories about the history of hockey and the Stanley Cup. Not written like a usual history book, but written as a wonderful story! To anyone who plays hockey or is a big fan, this book is a must!

I have read many books that detail the history of the great game of Hockey, but none was better written than this book. Mr. McKinley tells the history in a way that is easy to follow and entertaining to read. Where many of the hockey history books are confusing to follow, this one is a joy to read. I have read through the book twice already and will surely revisit the book many times in the future. Highly recommend!

As a coach and someone who knows the personal dedication it takes to achieve life's goals, this book confirms everything I have done in my life and teach to the players on my team. This book is more than a book about hockey. It spells out a recipe for success in life, in and out of hockey(or any team sport for that matter). Every page has something that will inspire you and remind you what is important in life. I am making this book required reading for my team because it confirms everything I have ever said in the locker room and to parents. While this is one man's journey through life to the NHL, the story is one shared by most people in the struggle to define who they are as the grow up and to achieve the goals that they want.

As the father of a 9-year-old, I am delighted that my son has selected Dan Bylsma as one of his role models. Dan (Anaheim Mighty Ducks of the National Hockey League), and his dad's most recent collaborative literary achievement, "So You Want to Play in the NHL" is an honest and straight-forward discussion about Dan's uncompromised determination to become a professional hockey player, is set against a backdrop of objectivity and seemingly insurmountable odds. The book embodies a wonderful and powerful message, that hardword and determination are the cornerstones of personal, as well as professional success. I highly recommend this book to all aspiring young athletes, their coaches, and parents.

I actually bought this book from the Dan Bylsma WEB site. THe book was sent autographed to my son for this past Christmas. Most of the content is directed toward kids interested in playing hockey and who have questions from how do I do a certain drill to what if my parents are embarrasing me. My 8 year old enjoyed the book very much and continues to read it again and again. I still pick it up as well. If you haven't read the first book "So Your Son Want's to Play in the NHL", another great read.

As the father of a 9 year old son, I am proud that my child has selected Dan Bylsma as one of his role models. Dan and his father's latest collaborative literary achivement is an honest and straightforward study of the role of athletics in a young persons life. The fire and passion of competitive sports at the highest level, measured against a backdrop of incalculable odds of achieving professional success is difficult, if not seemingly impossible to reconcile. Nonetheless, Bylsma's book "So you want to play in the NHL" deserves commendation for having done just that. I strongly recommend this book to any parent or child who participates in sports and who is fortunate to have the courage to dream.

After receiving the book, I read it throughout the day as opportunity presented itself. I hated to put it down when I had other stuff to do. I felt like I was being forced to leave the game before it was over. I was enchanted by the book as if I'd never read it before, thrilled to play a role by helping with it and to be mentioned in this wonderful contribution to amateur hockey. As I read it, I thought about my roles as a father of a young player, as a coach, and as a coaching educator for USA Hockey. Two overwhelming thoughts came to mind as I read the printed version of the book. The truth conveyed by the material and the fact that at times I fall short of the goals conveyed by that truth from a child's perspective. Even though I speak or write about and teach many of these things quite often, I found myself addressing my mistakes in each of my roles as I read the book. But, even as I found myself addressing my mistakes, I was simultaneously using the ideas in the book to reaffirm many of my beliefs or to assimilate these ideas to address issues from a different perspective. And as stated in the book, perseverance is a key to success. Taking responsibility is a key to success. Learning from mistakes or failure is what truly makes you better. "So You Want To Play In The NHL" has given me additional impetus in my goal to constantly strive to improve as a father, a coach and a coaching educator. Thank you for taking the time to inspire even us older hockey guys with a book written for kids, because really, we are all still kids at heart! By addressing the issues from a kid's perspective for kids, I believe you have succeeded in reaching adults as well. The heart of this old kid is much better as a result of the time and effort you have taken to share your thoughts with the hockey world. This new book, "So You Want To Play In The NHL", for kids, and the existing book for adults, "So Your Son Wants To Play In The NHL", set the standards by which all of us in the sporting world should continually strive to achieve. Cordially, Terry Vayda USA Hockey Associate Coach-In-Chief (Southeast District--Florida)

This is an excellent book for a young hockey fan who wants to learn about the colorful past of the NHL and the other leagues that formed around it. It's not a history book per se, and doesn't offer any organized history of hockey, but rather is a scattered collection of short anecdotes from all eras of hockey up until the early 90's. You are sure to laugh at some of the stories and grimace at others. The book is a light read and the anecdotes are just the right length for picking up the book and reading a dozen or so at a time. It only makes me wish they will put out an updated version in the next few years to cover the most recent decade of hockey. My only complaint is that the stories didn't consistently include the dates they were set in (though the majority of the time they did). Sometimes this made it a guessing game when the events took place. But other than that this is a delightful book for all hockey fans, old and young.

This book ranks at the top of my list so far as hockey books are concerned. Unlike many books, this one does not contain a single complete story, but a collection of amusing anecdotes ranging from the late nineteenth century to the recent years of NHL hockey. Since there are differnt stories in this book, my interest was rejuvenated every time I would start a new one-page anecdote. I would recommend this book to any hockey fan of any callibre, from the new kid watching his first hockey season, to those older hardcore fans who remember Howie Morenz's style of play.

From a person who loves the game of hockey, past and present,this book is excellent. Even if you know every stat around I guaranteetheres something interesting in this book that you didnt know. Do want to know about the fight that John Ferguson waited 10 years for? Well its in here along with tons of other hockey stories than any true fan can certainly appreciate.

The Best of it Happened in Hockey is a great collection of stories that span more than 150 years of the history of the game. I was very impressed with the variety of stories and I thought that McFarlane did a great job in making it a very well balanced book. There are some classic stories as well as rarely heard tales from all eras.

The book itself was laid out nicely and was very easy to read. This is a great book for anyone who is interested in some of the finer details of hockey history such as myself. McFarlane doesn't have the world's finest story telling abilities, but he's still a guy you want on your bookshelf. Though he doesn't produce a story with as much color as a Don Cherry or a Stan Fischler, his collection of data more than makes up for his shortcomings.

Overall, a superb book that any devote hockey fan will really fine interesting and entertaining.

THIS BOOK ABOUT FRANK MAHOVLICH IS WELL WORTH READING. THE BIG M WAS ONE OF THE BEST AND CLASSIEST PLAYERS OF ALL TIME. HIS GRACE AND POWER ON THE ICE WERE A THINK TO BEHOLD. HIS SON TED, DOES A GREAT JOB TELLING HIS STORY AND HITS ON ALL 8 CYLINDERS. I ESPECIALLY ENJOYED THE PARTS CONCERNING PUNCH IMLACH AND HIS DICTATOR WAYS AND THE VARIOUS OTHER COACHES AND PLAYERS THAT THE BIG M PLAYED FOR AND AGAINST. A GREAT READ FOR ALL HOCKEY FANS.

This book has been very enjoyable. Ted Mahovlich has done an excellent job in telling us the interesting story about his father. He showed us the Punch Imlach lacked class and Frank Mahovlich had a lot of class and finally enjoyed his career when he joined the best organization in sports at the time the Montreal Canadiens. I would recommend this to any hockey fan or sports fan in general

Frank Mahovlich was one of THE great players in the history of hockey. This books gives a thoughtful and intelligent insight into the mind of the quiet giant who won four Stanley Cups with the Leafs and two more with the Canadiens.

Told alongside the biographical narrative of The Big M is the author's experience of going on the road with his father, in the touring team of NHL past masters. Not only does this expose the reader to some beautiful anecdotes about other former stars of the game, but also captures the bond between father and son in a most moving way.

Ted Mahovlich is a very accomplished writer, telling his father's story with compassion, respect and honesty in a fine style that makes the book hard to put down. A must for any fan of hockey and/or good writing.

This book is great, not your normal biography. Ted Mahovlich captures a seldom read about side of his father Frank, along with the exploits of his spectacular career. The author spent considerable time traveling and playing with the old-timer greats while interviewing them as wells as capturing moments the common fan is not privey to. If you are a hockey fan -- this books for you. (Yes I know I live in Texas, but I moved here)

Plager produces here a short but entertaining read on the life and times of a modern NHL club from its inception in the late 1960s to today's front-office dealings. He's not only a good story-teller, but a great human being who's still involved in the Blues organization, and his stories do a great job of illustrating the changes the sports went through in the past fifty years when they began as part-time recreation to become Big Business (TM). Highly recommended.

Very good book, lots of funny, inside stories on a longtime NHL team.

This was an excellent book. Bob Plager tells stories from the blues and his life like no one else. He is truly a legend. This book is a must for any true Blues fan. Bleed Blue.

This book was so good, I was dissapointed when I had finished it, I wanted to hear more tales from the Blues' Bench. Bobby Plager did a fantastic job! I can't wait for his next book to come out.

I read this book after my 13 year hockey player finished. This is a life lesson book. She is one of the top in her field and like C.Gunn had things to overcome that made them stronger. This book lets girls know these are real people that worked hard, and it is possible to shoot for the stars.

My daughter is a 10 year old girl hockey player and both she and I read the book, she actually did a powerpoint presentation for school on the book. This book is more than just a hockey book but an insiration to all girls about the obstacles Angela overcame in her life. After reading the book myself I am glad to know that my daughter looks up to Angela and wants to be like her, there is NO better role model for a young girl to look up to than Angela. This book is a must for all young girls, no matter what sport or activity they are involved in.

This book is less about hockey and more about getting a peek inside the life of one of the greatest athletes of all time. It details the dedication that excellence requires, combined with personal stories from Angela's life. This book should be a part of every female hockey player's library. As a bonus, Ruggiero is seriously hot.

This book talks about some of the early formings of girls/womens hockey in the USA. This is a very good book to read if you are familiar with hockey. Even if you are not involved with hockey you will like this book, because it talks about overcoming the odds and moving up in the ranks.

This is probably the most enjoyable book I have read regarding hockey or hockey players. Brett provides a light-hearted look at his life that is neither boastful nor "preachy". He is surprisingly modest given the extraordinary career he has had. I particularly enjoyed hearing of his days growing up in the shadow of his legendary dad and how he overcame his own personal obstacles. This book could easily have been two or three times as thick but I am guessing Brett would not have enjoyed writing a lengthy tome - and clearly Brett is motivated by fun more than anything else! A great lesson for anyone!

Brett Hull was a great hockey player. He worked very hard to become a star player. It was very hard growing up the son of a famous hockey player,especailly after his parents divorced. I think Brett Hull will be remembered and admired for his goal scoring and records he set on the ice. After reading this book I will remember him for how hard he works and how he never gave up his dream. I would recommend this book top everyone that is a hockey lover. I enjoyed the book and was happy I chose it.

THIS IS THE STORY OF BRETT HULL IN HIS OWN WORDS. I REALLY LIKED THIS BOOK. BRETT DOES A NICE JOB DESCRIBING HIS CAREER, RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS DIVORCED PARENTS, AND HIS THOUGHTS ON BEING HIMSELF. BRETT FINALLY PLAYED ON A STANLEY CUP WINNER IN 1999. HE TELLS OF ALL THE PLAYOFF DEFEATS AND THE FRUSTRATIONS DURING HIS CAREER. HE ADDS HUMOR, HONESTY, AND ALOT OF INSIGHTS ON THE GAME OF HOCKEY. I RECOMMEND THIS TO ALL HOCKEY FANS AS A GOOD READ.

This is a great book, all of you brett hull fans or not, should go and get this book, it is definetily the best book i've ever read in a long time