Synopses & Reviews
Here are writers such as Rick Carpiniello on Mark Messier and his finest game ever, the crucial turning point of the Devils-Rangers series on the Rangers' road to the Stanley Cup; Dave Bidini on longsuffering hockey fanatics in deepest Romania, waiting desperately for their chance on the international stage; Ken Dryden, from his classic The Game, on the spirit of the dominating Montreal Canadians of the seventies; ESPN magazine's Gare Joyce on Patrick Sullivan, the 2004 draftee whose biggest challenge isn't making the NHL, but handling his father; John Stackhouse on triumph and tragedy on a Native American rink in northern Canada. No anthology would be complete without work from the likes of: .
George Plimpton on his stint in goal with the Bruins . Guy Lawson on the tough lives of junior players . Dave The Hammer Schultz on the Broad Street Bullies . Brian Fawcett on poetry in the locker room . Don Cherry on The Siberia of Hockey . Hugh Hood on Jean Beliveau . Jeff Greenfield on the Rangers . Martin O'Malley on the hard life of a fighter . Jack Falla on building a backyard rink . Peter Gzowski on Wayne Gretzky . and more
The only thing more hard-core than most hockey players are the fans themselves, and this is their book.
Review
The Game is acknowledged as the best hockey book ever written, and more than just a hockey book, it has become an enduring classic-;a reflective and provocative look at a life in hockey and at the game itself. Ken Dryden, a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame and the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame, is recognized as one of the greatest goalies ever to play the game. More than that, he is one of hockey's most intelligent and insightful commentators. In The Game , Dryden captures the essence of the sport and what it means to all hockey fans. He gives us vivid and affectionate portraits of the characters-;Guy Lafleur, Larry Robinson, Guy Lapointe, Serge Savard, and coach Scotty Bowman among them-;that made the Canadiens of the 1970s one of the greatest hockey teams in history. But beyond that, Dryden reflects on life on the road, in the spotlight, and on the ice, offering up a rare inside look at the game of hockey, and a profoundly personal memoir. This commemorative edition marks the 20th anniversary of The Game 's original publication, and features a new chapter from Ken Dryden, reflecting on the past two decades in hockey. Take a journey back to the heart and soul of the game with this timeless hockey classic. THE GAME 20TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION "The sports book of the year, or maybe the decade, or maybe the century." -; The Globe and Mail "A work of art that defines and represents our game." -;Hockey News "[Dryden] has written a very special book, possibly the best [hockey book] I have ever read. His affectionate yet realistic portrait of the players is unrivalled in hockey writing." -;Mordecai Richler "A book about Ken Dryden, about Quebec, about the rest of Canada, and most of all, a loving book about a special sport." -;New York Times "An enduring classic, Ken Dryden's The Game has lost none of its luster since its original publication in 1983, and remains the one book every hockey fan must know...This backstage look at one of the best books ever published on any sport." -;David Gowdey "A [hockey] book so rare that there is actually nothing to compare it to." -;Scott Young Sports Illustrated: One of "The Top 100 Best Sports Books of All Time" (number nine). Top hockey book. Top Canadian sports book. Top book written solely by an athlete. University of Toronto Review: One of " The Top 100 English-Canadian Books of the 20 th Century ." Synopsis
Finally, hockey's rabid fans have an anthology of their own, a showcase of writing as dynamic and diverse as the fastest sport itself.
Synopsis
Finally, hockey's rabid fans have an anthology of their own, a showcase of writing as dynamic and diverse as the fastest sport itself.
Synopsis
The Greatest Hockey Stories Ever Told is an anthology of classic tales from the locker room, behind the benches, in the buses, and of course, on the ice itself. Youll hear Mike Richter talk about seeing the ice, tag along with Peter Gzowski as he tries to decode the magic that was Wayne Gretzky, follow Red Fisher on a last visit to the legendary Toe Blake, and hear from the players who made the Miracle on Ice happen at the 1980 Olympics.
Contributors include:
E. M. Swift, Alec Wilkinson, George Plimpton, Peter Gzowski,
Dave Bidini, Jeff Greenfield, Gare Joyce, William Faulkner,
Red Fisher, Guy Lawson, Jack Falla, Brian Fawcett, Hugh Hood,
John Stackhouse, and Nancy Dowd.
About the Author
Bryant Urstadt has written about hockey for
ESPN The Magazine and
Details, and he has also written for
Harpers,
The New Yorker, and
The New York Times. He lives in Guilford, Connecticut, with his wife and two children.