Ice Hockey Books

If you like hockey or are from Canada, Northern U.S., or Northern Europe, you would enjoy this book. Tod is the Average Joe. I think this is a good book for 7-11 year olds. Matt Christopher is a good author for sports books.

For our book reivew I read the book "Wingman On Ice," by Matt Christoper. It's about a boy named Todd Baker who gets a brand new hockey stick for christmas.Todd doesn't think he deserves the stick because of the way he had been playing,so he puts it in his closet. He practices for a long time, but still does not think he deserves the stick. This story takes place in present time. It was the last day of the season at Mana rink, Todd's game had really improved, now he finally thinks he deserves the stick, but does not have it with him. If you want to know what happens next, you will have to read the exciting book, "Wingaman On Ice." If I had to rate this book from a scale of one to ten, I would give this book an eleven it is so good!

I like this book because how a boy practices to get better and he does so he finally earns his new hockey stick that he got for christmas.I also like this book because they make it real.I think people who like hockey they would like this book.

We enjoyed reading this story as it addresses a key value: that good things must be earned. At times, however, we felt the boy was a bit too hard on himself. Overall we enjoyed the story alot and if you love hockey it is a good way to learn more about how the game is played.

The book kept the interest of my son from start to finish. The book also provided accurate information on some of the skills used in hockey. My son is looking forward to the day he will be able to read it on his own.

I will be the first to admit that I am not the ultimate hockey fanatic. I don't know a lot about the sport, but I do like to watch when I can and the team I like to watch is the Philadelphia Flyers. I can still remember 1975 when they won the Stanley Cup.

This book from Sports Publishing Inc. is a great piece of work and the author has certainly does his homework researching the players and the moments that have made this hockey franchise a great one in the annals of the NHL.

Players like Bobby Clarke, Bernie Parent, Eric Lindros, Rick Tocchet, Ron Hextall, Pete Peeters and so many others are included in the one a kind book, and that only the first chapter. Chapter 2 gives you the best, worst and most unusual in the Flyer Franchise history.

Chapter 3 is a chronological listing the 50 momentous events in the Flyers history and the appendices give a listing of the career stats for the greatest players. Like so many other books from Sports Publishing, this is another winner!

Despite the mindless drivelling of the "Reader" who referred to this book as "propaganda," it's actually a well-written and fascinating look at one of the NHL's most successful franchises. The first post-1967 team to capture the Stanley Cup, the only NHL team to defeat the Soviet Red Army Team during 1ts 1976 tour, the first expansion team to have members elected to the NHL Hall of Fame, and the only expansion team to have made appearances in seven Stanley Cup finals in its first thirty years of existence, the Flyers certainly have a glorious and entertaining history despite "only" winning two Stanley Cups. As for Flyers fans being "pie-eyed zombies," I'm willing to bet "Reader" (maybe he needed help sounding out the big words and that's what accounts for the bitter tone of his review) is too much of a cowardly little boy to have actually ventured into Philadelphia to conduct his research. Ignore his axe grinding. (And by the way, "Reader," the film SLAPSHOT was inspired by the Johnstown Jets, not the Flyers. But neither hockey knowledge nor reading seems be exactly your strong suit, does it?) This is a fun book for fans of the Flyers, their players, and NHL hockey in general.

This so-called momentous book is nothing but a mouthpiece for more Flyers propaganda. The employees and fans of this franchise have a maddening (and misplaced) smugness about them, and this tome does nothing to dispell that. Considering that the team hasn't won squat since 1975, the book leads you to believe that the Flyers are the Yankees or Cowboys of hockey. The book does not dwell on the disastrous effect the Bullies had on the sport, inspiring the classic movie "Slapshot". It also leaves out the fact that 99 percent of the fans are pie-eyed zombies who would follow Bob Clarke off a cliff if he led them there. Someone needs to do a true expose of this vastly overrated franchise, which has managed to milk 2 lousy Cups for 25 years now.

When I bought the book I wasn't so sure about it but it was great when I received it and read it. It was very informative. The only thing is I wish it had color pictures. It doesn't.

If you want info on all the goalies(just about), this is the book you are looking for. It's great because it shows how much style has changed. From styles of play to styles of mask and equipment. For each goalie it has a brief paragraph or more on his carrer. It's a great book.

This is a fantastic hockey book for one reason: the photography! Because it is translated from French, some of the text is choppy and although provides good background, does not go into great detail. Trust me, though. You won't want this book for what is written on the pages, but for the pictures that capture some the great moments of the world's most exclusive union: hockey goaltenders.

Denis Brodeur has photographed the Montreal Canadiens for several decades, so all of the pictures were taken at The Forum and a few at the Molson Centre(Bill Ranford). It is no secret that Denis' son, Martin is one of the finest goaltenders in the game, and the father pays his son a nice tribute in the book.

This book a must-have for any hockey fanatic and features photographs of goaltenders hard to find anywhere. Where else will you find Gilles Gilbert, Daniel Bouchard, Rick Wamsley and other lesser-known, but succesful netminders in the same book? Brodeur's photos have captured the spirit and flamboyance of the position and is a tribute to everyone who has ever put on the pads and gone "between the pipes" in the great game of hockey.

This book provides a ton of pictures for the reader, as well as it gives some insight about the goaltenders that are photographed. While it is so extensive, I feel it is too extensive, covering almost every netminder that has been in the NHL since the 1980's. I would like to have seen just some of the better players over the years, not just the HOF players, but perhaps a few less than were put in.

Also, the pictures are of average quality. Brodeur does have some phenominal shots of goalies over the years, but these pictures are not art quality, rather documentary. I would like to see a book that focuses on the art of goaltending and the people behind it rather than a somewhat plain approach than was taken here. Nonetheless, it still sits on my coffeetable and starts a conversation or two.

While this book is most interesting , something is missing. Why does Tarasov completely leave out The Soviet Olympic Team losing to the US Olympic Team in the 1980 Olympics? Herb Brooks was an avid student of Tarasov and would often track him down with a bottle of vodka and pry the master for information he could use to develop his US teams to emmulate the great Soviet squads. Could it be the conflict between Brooks and AHAUS that this portion of Soviet history was blantently edited out? Shame on USA Hockey if this is the case!

Simply because I remember most of the later events described in this book unfold during my childhood years, I found this book to be most interesting. It provides a great look into some of the hockey's most profound moments, and describes the system that has produced so many great stars. It is definately a must read for anyone interested in the history of the game.

In a blunt and descriptive review one of the greatest hockey coaches ever, points out the differences between hockey his way and hockey "our" way. What made the Russians dominate?? Tarasov reveals the answer...Why the decline of the Russian hockey program?? Tarasov fortells and describes why it happened..Do Russians enjoy playing hockey??...once and for all the father of Russian hockey destroys the myth of the stone faced Russians... For fans who want stories of internatinal hockey..this book has it. For people who want to become familiar with the history of Russian hockey this book will cover it. Coaches will also gain insight into a few of the revolutionary training and tactics that Tarosov introduced to the ice

ALL-STAR PRIDE is about a guy named Hog Burnell. He is a part of the WHL (Western Hockey League), which is a step below the NHL (National Hockey League). He is going to play on the all-star team against Russia. They even get to travel to Russia for the games!

They are going to have a seven-game series, and the first team who wins four games wins the series. Hog does not realize, though, that hockey isn't the only thing they'll be doing. There is plenty of more money to be made in Russia.

Soon Hog finds himself on the borderline of what is right and wrong: do I join in the schemes to make more money while in Russia?

ALL-STAR PRIDE is a thrilling story that will pull you in and not let you out until the book is over. I hope you consider this book for reading because I really liked it.

Reviewed by: Mike

"I was unable to put it down... if you like hockey, you'll love this series!" (Andy, 11 years old, telling you what Ron MacLean, host of Hockey Night in Canada, said about this book.)

Deception point by Dan Brown was a good book. This book was very interesting. There were feuds between the father and the daughter were very intense sometimes. Because Of his daughters career they have very different opinions. While her father is running for a political position she is working for his opponent. That is a difficult funk for the two of them. I don't think the father should wig out because of it but that's how it sometimes is. Over all thou I thought it was a very interesting book and I recommend this book to more of the adult figure. I really couldn't get into the book. This seems more of a book my parents can relate to not me. I am not into that kind of stuff. Like the DaVinci code. I thought this book was very well thought out. I would give it a 8 out of 10. But it was a very goods book.

The authors contend that the consolidation of pro hockey teams in Eastern Canada to form the National Hockey League was often a heavy handed, nasty affair. Nieforth and Holzman make a convincing case to restore the honour of Toronto's EJ Livingstone, who Frank Calder and the Ottawa and Montreal interests despised and wanted expelled from their company at all costs. "Deception and Doublecross" seemed to be the order of the day to reach this end. Holzman and Nieforth illustrate how the arm's length relationship that is incumbent on today's media was quite different in pro hockey's formative years where newspapers editors and columnists often held controlling interests in pro teams and arenas.

I also found the book quite rewarding in that it provided some insight into the character of many players and the forces that conspired to have them play on a particular team.

What is particularly impressive about the book is that the authors have clearly spent a lot of time carefully searching primary sources to arrive at their conclusions. All are footnoted and properly catalogued to allow interested parties to do further research.

I recommend this book for any hockey fan interested in the history of the game.

Irv Osterer
Ottawa, ON

I had two reasons for buying this book. First I'm a Will Ferguson fan; I've read and loved most of his books and his being listed as co-author was good enough for me. Second, despite being Canadian, I am completely ignorant of ice hockey, which comes mostly from a lack of interest. As a Canadian living abroad, I realize that I have ambassadorial duties regarding the promotion of Canadiana, and ice hockey tops the list of Canadiana must-know items. So since girlfriends are seldom interested in sports (he he he) a book written by a woman for women would logically need to drum up interest in the topic, and this it did for me.

Teene Spencer wrote most of it and presents the history of the game, a basic overview of the rules, a survey of the organization, and lists of the greatest players and teams. Husband and boyfriend Bruce Spencer and family friend Will Ferguson pepper the pages with comments and disputes, most prominent of which is the fight-to-the-death over the Montreal Canadiens.

Good read, and informative if you want to get into hockey.

Like the author, I found myself engaged to a die-hard hockey fan. This book is a great place to start for the newly-initiated hockey girlfriend. It's a quick read, the author's racy innuendos give it a Girls' Night Out tone that's a lot more inviting and easier to relate to than other intro books. The stats and trivia are great, but will need to be updated eventually. Nice to see coverage of women's hockey, too.
PS - the bit about defensemen on page 19 is totally true ;).

Also recommended:
* Without Fear: Hockey's 50 Greatest Goaltenders
* Hockey's Best Shots: The Greatest NHL Photography of the Century

Simply put, this book covers about 450 of the TOP NHL players. This is a must book for all guys invovled in fantasy hockey.

I have read reviews that state it is not in depth enough with stats and lesser known players, but this book is an A+ of what is meant to be. A solid pro and con of 80% of the NHL's starters.

I love it and buy it every year it comes out.

Sherry Ross presents a keen analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of many current NHL players, bolstering her opinions with catchy diagrams and charts. There are several problems with this book, however, that sophisticated fans of the game might not be able to overlook. One: the author selected only the most talented and popular athletes from each team's roster. A fan looking to learn more about the background and athletic talent of lesser known players will be disappointed. Two: seemingly due to space restrictions, she presents statistics for each player for only the last four seasons or so. So a reader looking for complete statistical information on, say, Wayne Gretzky's entire NHL career would again be disappointed. This book is well suited for those who are just learning about the game and the NHL, but for those with a little more knowledge of the game, there are plenty of other NHL analysis books out there that have a lot more "meat" on them.

52-Week Hockey Training is a very complete book that, if followed properly, will help immensely in improving your overall fitness as well as getting you into great "hockey" shape. The book overall is very satisfactory and achieves its purpose, but I think that some improvements can be made. Some of the photos do not give a good picture of the exersice and all of the pictures are in black and white. A foreword by an NHL star was lacking and would have been a nice compliment. One thing I thought very useful however, was the breakdown of the four main training periods from off-season to postseason.

This book is a great training guide that covers everything from flexibility to power and quickness. There are countless exercises, drills, procedures and schedules that will make attaining your goals much easier. A very complete book that is a bit rough around the edges.

So, just how many Leafs came from Fergus, Ontario? This book can tell you! This truly is a must for all diehard Leaf fans, and it does not disappoint. If anything, it overwhelms you with information, statistics, and anything and everything else you could possibly want to know. You'll even find a list of "Leafs Who Have Sported A Moustache Or Beard?" What else do you need?!