Ice hockey Books

Book SynopsisA refreshing memoir of battles and self-belief from one of the NHL's most revered enforcers Shawn Thornton was an unlikely NHL success, to say the least. The Oshawa, Ontario native was picked late in the OHL and later thought he was being pranked when the Toronto Maple Leafs called him to say he'd been selected in the seventh round of the 1997 NHL draft. After years spent working and maturing in the AHL, Thornton would go on to play 14 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks, Anaheim Ducks, Boston Bruins, and Florida Panthers, winning two Stanley Cups along the way. For the first time, in this candid memoir, Thornton opens up about his life in hockey and beyond, from his early days as an unrated prospect to the leadership lessons he learned in the minors, from the most difficult on-ice brawls to the ecstasy of reaching the sport's most celestial heights.Fans will not want to miss this story of perseverance and finding one's own path.Trade Review"Shawn epitomized everything there was about being a Bruin: tough, down to earth, and always giving back to the community. It's a pleasure to call him a friend." Ken Casey, Dropkick Murphys

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Book SynopsisFeaturing traditions, records, and lore, this his lively, detailed book explores the personalities, events, and facts every New York Islanders fan should know. Whether you were there for each of the franchise's four Stanley Cups or are just diving in, these are the 100 things every fan needs to know and do in their lifetime. The Athletic's Arthur Staple has collected every essential piece of Isles knowledge, as well as must-do activities, and ranks them all from 1 to 100.Covering important dates, behind-the-scenes tales, memorable moments, and outstanding achievements by the likes of Denis Potvin, Mike Bossy, Bryan Trottier, and Billy Smith, this is the ultimate resource guide for all Islanders faithful.

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Book SynopsisMillions of fans have enjoyed his infectious enthusiasm, insight, and storytelling on regular television broadcasts, through moments of triumph and defeat. Now, in this striking autobiography, the longtime broadcaster takes fans behind the mic as only he can. Emrick's love for hockey is obvious to anyone who's heard him call a game, and it's multi-layered. Tradition. The Stanley Cup chase. Suspense. Passion. Teamwork. History. Handshakes. An endless list. Yet it’s the people he treasures most of all, and Doc has more than his fair share of stories from countless interactions—more than he's even been able to tell during four decades in the broadcast booth. Through both his early life and his unparalleled career, readers will meet the full cast of characters who have made their mark on the man who's voice has defined the hockey experience for so many. Equal parts riveting and hilarious, this memoir gives fans a rare seat alongside Emrick and serves as a profound ode to the sport of hockey.

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Book SynopsisA fascinating and immersive chronicle of hockey's original maskless warriors More than 400 stitches decorated Terry Sawchuk's face during his 16 years as a goaltender in the National Hockey League, the result of high-speed collisions and slapshots that whizzed directly at his skull. All in a day's work for an elite goalie of his era. Before facemasks became standard equipment in the 1960s and '70s, men like Sawchuk, Glenn Hall, and Jacques Plante—the first goalie to ever wear a mask in the NHL—put their bodies on the line in the name of hockey, enduring broken bones, damaged organs, and even psychological turmoil. In this thoroughly researched book, Rob Vanstone illuminates the stories of these intrepid warriors while examining how the goaltender position has changed throughout the decades. As masks evolved from ghoulish-looking creations not out of place in horror films to today's caged helmets with custom artwork, goalies' body positioning and tactics were similarly transformed along with NHL regulations.Told with charm and verve, this is an essential portrait of a uniquely brutal and harrowing chapter in hockey history.

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Book SynopsisThe Colorado Avalanche finally reached the mountaintop in 2022, vanquishing the juggernaut Tampa Bay Lightning to bring home the Stanley Cup. Anchored by long-tenured veterans like Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen, plus newer faces including defensive prodigy Cale Makar and center Nazem Kadri, this powerhouse squad demonstrated clear vision and incredible heart on their path to victory. Carry Me Home chronicles this remarkable season through unmatched writing from The Athletic accompanied by dozens of dynamic photos. Celebrate and relive all the top moments of the playoffs, including sweeps of the Nashville Predators and Edmonton Oilers, a hard-fought series against the St. Louis Blues and finally hoisting the Stanley Cup after triumphing over the Lightning. This commemorative book also features in-depth stories on popular figures like MacKinnon, Makar, Kadri, Artturi Lehkonen and more.

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Book SynopsisThose who have been lured by the sound of skate blades slicing into fresh ice, by the incomparable speed, split-second decisions, and everything-or-nothing attitude of the game know that hockey can seem like its own world. It's all-consuming and exhilarating, boasting its own language and complex morality code. Yet in another light, that tight community can turn insular; the values of teamwork and humility can manifest as collective silence in the face of abuse and discrimination, issues which have been brought to the forefront of the sport as many share their stories for the first time. In Game Misconduct, reporters Evan Moore and Jashvina Shah reveal hockey's toxic undercurrent which has permeated the sport throughout the junior, college, and professional levels. They address the topic with a level of passion that comes from being rabid hockey fans themselves, and from experiencing its exclusivity first-hand. With a sensitive yet incisive approach, this necessary book lays bare the issues of racism, homophobia, xenophobia, bullying, sexism, and violence on and off the ice. Readers will learn about notable players and activists fighting for transformation as well as those beyond the spotlight who are nonetheless deeply affected by hockey's culture of inaction. Both a reckoning and a roadmap, Game Misconduct is an essential read for modern hockey fans, showing the truth of the sport's past and present while offering the tools to fight for a better future.

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Book SynopsisAttention Big Apple hockey heads: Want to know where to join a league, play a pick-up game, or get your blades sharpened? Where to grab some grub before heading to the rink or where to find a post-skate brew? In The Hockey Addict’s Guide New York City, Brooklyn-based beer leaguer Evan Gubernick highlights NYC’s best hockey hubs, along with the go-to spots nearby. The local hockey community chimes in, from rink rats to pros, and takes readers beyond Madison Square Garden to discover the best sports memorabilia, pro shops, sneaker boutiques, and more. Whether you’re a New Yorker or a tourist, this is a top-shelf guide to the five boroughs—on the ice and off.

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Book SynopsisAttention hockey heads: Want to know where to join a league, play a pick-up game, or get your blades sharpened? Where to grab some grub before heading to the rink or where to find a post-skate brew? In Hockey Addict’s Guide Los Angeles, beer-leaguer Evan Gubernick highlights the city’s best hockey hubs, along with the go-to spots nearby. The local hockey community chimes in, from rink rats to pros, and takes readers beyond the stadiums to discover the best sports memorabilia, pro shops, sneaker boutiques, and more. For Angelenos and tourists, this is a top-shelf guide to all things hockey—on the ice and off.

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Book SynopsisAttention hockey heads: Want to know where to join a league, play a pick-up game, or get your blades sharpened? Where to grab some grub before heading to the rink or where to find a post-skate brew? In Hockey Addict’s Guide Toronto, beer-leaguer Evan Gubernick highlights the city’s best hockey hubs, along with the go-to spots nearby. The local hockey community chimes in, from rink rats to pros, and takes readers beyond the stadiums to discover the best sports memorabilia, pro shops, sneaker boutiques, and more. For Torontonians and tourists, this is a top-shelf guide to all things hockey—on the ice and off.

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Book SynopsisWhen the Detroit Red Wings were rebooting their franchise after more than two decades of relative futility, they knew the best place to find world-class players who could help turn things around more quickly were conscripted servants behind the Iron Curtain. All they had to do then was make history by drafting them, then figure out how to get them out. That’s when the Wings turned to Keith Gave, the newsman whose clandestine mission to Helsinki, Finland, was the first phase of a of a years-long series of secret meetings from posh hotel rooms to remote forests around Europe to orchestrate their unlawful departures from the Soviet Union. One defection created an international incident and made global headlines. Another player faked cancer, thanks to the Wings’ extravagant bribes to Russian doctors, including a big American car. Another player who wasn’t quite ready to leave yet felt like he was being kidnapped by an unscrupulous agent. Two others were outcast when they stood up publicly against the Soviet regime, winning their freedom to play in the NHL only after years of struggle. They are the Russian Five: Sergei Fedorov, Viacheslav Fetisov, Vladimir Konstantinov, Vyacheslav Kozlov and Igor Larionov. Their individual stories read like pulse-pounding spy novels. The story that unfolded after they were brought together in Detroit by the masterful coach Scotty Bowman is unforgettable. This story includes details never before revealed, and by the man who was there every step of the way – from the day Detroit drafted its first two Soviets in 1989 until they raised the Stanley Cup in 1997, then took it to Moscow for a victory lap around Red Square and the Kremlin. The Russian Five did more to bridge Russian and American relations than decades of diplomacy and dÉtente between the White House and the Kremlin. This is their story.

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Book SynopsisPicking up where the international best-selling book The Russian Five left off, Vlad the Impaler will have readers alternately laughing—and in tears—with dozens more memorable, untold stories and anecdotes from the Detroit Red Wings Stanley Cup championship season in 1997, 25 years ago. The book includes a foreword by Hall of Fame defenseman Slava Fetisov, along with lengthy excerpts from interviews of several members of that team, from captain Steve Yzerman, teammates Brendan Shanahan, Nicklas Lidstrom, Sergei Fedorov, Igor Larionov, Slava Kozlov, and coach Scotty Bowman, among many others. A portion of the proceeds from the book will be earmarked for the Vladimir Konstantinov Special Needs Trust to help ensure the care he needs after suffering catastrophic injuries just a week after he helped the Wings win their first Stanley Cup title in 42 years. #Believe

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