5 comments about Gabby: Confessions of a Hockey Lifer.

1. Being a Manchester Monarchs (NH) fan and having the pleasure to watch Bruce in action for several years he is a PERFECT example of how hard work pays off. Not just hockey fans will enjoy this book. Anyone with passion for hard work who enjoys something will be able to relate. His honest outlook was GREAT.



2. 
   If you went through youth hockey, loved AHL and ECHL, Junior hockey, wondered why Canada is so obsessed with hockey, and just love the sport then you will not be able to put this book down. "Gabby" covers all aspects of the game through his story and talks about teams, players, and even movies like Slapshot. Without a doubt the book is one of the great stories.
   Armed with the book "Gabby", a copy of Slapshot video, and the Hanson Brothers "Sudden Death" CD honoring Tiger Williams will be your ticket to the pearly gates of also being a hockey lifer



3. I bought this book for my husband for Christmas, upon his request. He thoroughly enjoyed it.



4. Growing up going to Hershey Bears games and having the Capitals broadcast in my hometown, I really enjoy reading a refreshing success story about one of the most unique coaches ever to grace an AHL or NHL bench. I really enjoyed reading about his journey from the time he started playing, to his coaching career. I recommend this book to any hockey fan, for a good hearted story about determination and triumph. The only thing missing is Lord Stanley, but I see it in Bruce's future for sure.
   
   GO BEARS, and GO CAPS



5. Living near Buffalo, I'm a lifelong Sabres fan, but there is something about Bruce Boudreau that appeals to me, so I bought the book. Maybe I just like an honest coach who doesn't give cliche answers and one who wears his heart on his sleeve, or one who paid his dues more than most to make it to the NHL Whatever it is, it's not hard to root for him.
   
   The book is a lot lower-key than I thought it might be - not that much humor or controversy - but I still had no trouble reading it. It's an easy read, which is a compliment. I wish it had more on last season and a detailed report on the exciting playoff series against the Penguins. Instead, it's kind of an afterthought at the end of the book. I assume most of this was written before the 2008-2009 season. The book, however, gives you a good feel of what it's like to coach in the minors.
   
   You just have to be a fan of hockey and you'll enjoy reading this autobiography about an underdog who made good.

5 comments about Playing With Fire.

1. A very entertaining and motivating read. I great behind the scenes look at the REAL NHL.



2. Purchased this book for my boyfriend for Christmas. He couldn't put it down until he was finished it. According to him it was well written and has been lending it to his friends.



3. I really wanted to like this book because I loved the way he played the game. I appreciated his perspective on some of the players he played with and against. No question, Theo was tough. He made an impact but to suggest he was THE star of the Flames, he was putting people in the seats is a little too much.
   I'm glad he's doing better in life at this time. I wish him the very best. I'm grateful for his honesty with his personal life. But I got tired of hearing about all the heavy drinking, drug use and sexual escapades, in each chapter. That said, the book was just, ok to me. It was more like "write what I say and try to organize it chronologically. It's not in the same league as the game.



4. I have a lot more respect for Theo after reading what he was going through. I followed him since his rookie year, this book helps answer a lot of questions at to what was going on behind the scenes. Its actually a really good read and Im happy to see Theo where he is today. It says as much about abuse and addiction as it does about hard work and determination. Im a hockey, Flames and Theo fan so for me this book was a 5 out of 5.



5. While I have NEVER been a real fan of Theo Fleury nor a fan of the Flames, I got the book because I always had respect for the little man that chose to play hockey like he was 6 foot 2. (plus the Flames were my dad's team since they were in Atlanta). It has given me alot of insight into why he played the game the way he did. I may not have liked Fleury, but I still respected him.

1 comments about Herb Brooks: The Inside Story of a Hockey Mastermind.

1. The book "Herb Brooks: The Inside Story of a Hockey Mastermind, is an incredible story of a man that changed so many peoples lives! He took a group of kids and turned them into a team that no one could reckon with! It truly took the talent of Herb Brooks to bring the talent inside this incredible kids out to the surface, and turn them into a team. This book is a must read for anyone who enjoy`s a true and inspirational story!How the Game Is Played is a true story of twin brothers in their inspirational story about hockey, baseball, military careers, and their medical careers and family lives. A must see for people of all ages!

5 comments about Open Ice: Reflections and Confessions of a Hockey Lifer.

1. I received this for Christmas and before I had a chance to read it my dad had it read. The book was a great read.



2. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS BOOK. MR FALLA HAS PUT INTO WORDS HOW I FEEL ABOUT HOCKEY. HE REALLY CONNECTED WITH ME. I BOUGHT THE BOOK WHEN IT WAS FIRST RELEASED, AND READ IT IN A RECORD PACE. I WAS VERY DISSAPOINTED TO LEARN THAT HE HAD PASSED, AND WISHED I COULD'VE MET HIM TO TELL HIM HOW MUCH THIS BOOK MEANS TO ME. THIS IS A MUST READ FOR ANYONE WHO HAS ANY INTEREST IN HOCKEY. YOU GET A GREAT DEAL OF APPRECIATION FOR THE RICH HISTORY OF HOCKEY....AND THE PASSIONED FAN. THANK YOU TO MR. FALLA, AND HIS FAMILY FOR SHARING SUCH GREAT MEMORIES.



3. I will preface this by saying I have only read a chapter of this book. I am one of the people that helped him buy his new skates. He was a pleasure to talk with. Though I am not a hockey fan, I did enjoy listening to his stories. He was in the store for probably about an hour, maybe a little more just talking and trying on skates, but it was an hour that I still talk about to this day. I was saddened to hear of his passing and my sympathies go to his family.



4. Quite simply, one of the great collections of stories yet written about any sport. As a quite avid reader, I usually find myself ripping through my current effort in hopes of getting to the next book straight away. But this afternoon was different. After reading one or two of the chapters, I would place the book on my coffee table and consider what I had just read. When I could not bear it any longer, I picked up where I left off.
   
   Made more poignant due to the recent passing of Mr. Falla, "Open Ice" is breathtaking writing all the way through. I have my favorite stories, such as the funeral for Canadians legend Maurice Richard (you will learn the correct pronunciation of his name herein, as I did), but this is one book that will live forever in sports fans memories, as well as in the hearts of lovers of great writing. Thanks to you, Mr. Falla...



5. I'm anticipating a good read but haven't had the time to read yet. Anybody got a copy of 'home ice' u r willing to sell?

5 comments about America's Coach: Life Lessons & Wisdom for Gold Medal Success: A Biographical Journey of the Late Hockey Icon Herb Brooks.

1. If there is any more to say about Herb Brooks, you'll have to dig deeper. This book does a great job of outlining the life and times of Coach Brooks, pre and post "Miracle on Ice". Good lessons on motivation and business too.



2. This incredible book was truly inspiring to me. After reading this great book I will now look at the game of hockey, but most importantly life in a completely different way because of the lessons that one can learn from Herb Brooks. Mr. Bernstein did a great job in giving us all a glimpse of how Herb touched the hearts of such a diverse group of people throughout his life. The dedication and hard work that Herb showed towards the game of hockey and his willingness to help othersh is a motivation for us all, and this book can motivate anyone through all of the life lessons that can be learned from Herb.
   A must read for all!



3. Mr. Bernstein did an incredible job of not only showing the talent and skill that Mr. Brooks had building the 1980 Olympic team and taking them to victory but he also was able to show the real Herb Brooks. I say this for in the mid-80s I worked at a hardware store near where Herb lived and on many occasions he'd stop in and pick up supplies or get keys cut and every time he stopped in he'd always be open to chat or sign autographs for as many who would hold out a slip of paper and a pen. A few years after that I was leaving a video store and he asked me how I liked a car I had recently purchased. All of these fond memories came back to me as I read this book, but this time it was almost surreal to think that someone who did so much and accomplished so many things would care enough to do these things for a person working at a counter or walking out of a store. This book put all of these things together and truly celebrated a person who meant so much to so many people of so many backgrounds for so many different reasons. It was a pleasure to read and I would recommend it to anyone, if you're a hockey fan or not, you will love learning more about a man who was a true hero.



4. The biography of Brooks is well-written, but the true value of the book lies in the coaching asides that litter the book. Speeches and quotes from Coach himself make it an extraordinary motivational tool.



5. I really enjoyed this in-depth biography of the late Herb Brooks. The book provided information into the psychology and methods of a mysterious, complex human being who was clearly a master motivator and obsessive in his preparation. it provided wonderful insight into a true coaching legend. I recommend it to any hockey fan.

5 comments about Don Cherry's Hockey Stories and Stuff.

1. I wasn't a Don Cherry fan until I read this book. It was written as if he was sitting across the table telling me stories about moments in his life. I liked the way that it bounces around, instead of starting at the beginning and heading towards the end. It's a great book for anyone interested in the last 35 years of hockey.



2. The book is filled with little stories of hockey. I didn't really know all the names, teams and places that came up in the stories. I also found the book a bit boring at times because I didn't get all the jokes or stories. Part of it is because a) I'm aged 26 and haven't been around at the time of most of the stories in the book and b) I don't play professional hockey and that way miss the insider view on things.
   
   Best parts were the ones telling something about everyday hockeylife, team members and some intangible stuff that goes on in the rink.
   
   So for me this book was a two star effort. Someone else will get more out of it with a background better suited for reading this kind of hockey stories.



3. The latest from Don Cherry with my fellow
   Sirius Radio Toronto broadcaster, Hockey's
   Al Strachan. Don details some of his lengthy
   Hockey career as a player, then Coach and for
   many years now, Antgonist/Anaylst. Great new
   pics are included as well. The tree-humpers
   and others leftist may cringe at the thought
   of him, but I love him. And I'm only of the
   Political Middle and not Right-wing (the phrase
   sounds like a Hockey position anyway)!
   
   Don's books and DVDs are always a highlight
   when they come out because of the putrid
   albatross of 'political-stupidity' that hangs
   from neck these days. Screw 'The Bloc'! Don
   did well in telling Harper how to straighten 'O
   Canada' out! God love ya, Don. Slapshot On!



4. Most of my readers will have no clue who Don Cherry is. But if you are from Canada, he is a national hero or figure. Depends on how you see him. This is a autobiography that is more concerned with good hockey stories than telling the life story of Don. Don is a flamboyant man that is on T.V. every Saturday night. He does The Coach's Corner. On Saturday night, the majority of people in Canada watches Hockey Night in Canada. It is a national past time. This is an enjoyable read about hockey living. It is about some of the most well known players ever, like Bobby Orr. It is a light read and entertaining. If you like hockey, this is a great book. I had to read it as a break from all of the church development books I been reading lately.



5. If you've seen Don Cherry on his "Coach's Corner" show on TV's "Hockey Night In Canada," then you are well-prepared to read this book. "Grapes" goes from one topic to the next, rapid-fire, sometimes not completely finishing his thought. He just says what hits him at the moment. His grammar isn't the best either and he's extremely frank, sometimes outrageous. All of this is just the way we like it!!
   
   Right in the beginning of this book, he explains to the reader that he's going to keep the same approach. When you read this book, it's like Cherry talking to you right from the TV screen 10 feet away. In case kids want to read the book, he says, he won't use profanity - so you can give this to your children. I appreciated that.
   
   As someone old enough to know most of the names Cherry mentions in this book, I thoroughly enjoying hearing about these guys.....and about him. It's just wonderful stuff. Don't look for a cohesive story; that's not Don, but it's as entertaining as listening to him.
   
   The only disappointment is that he never said how he got the nickname "Grapes." If someone knows, please write me!

1 comments about Sidney Crosby (Amazing Athletes).

1. I just adore Sidney Crosby but this book was quite juvenile with some untruths.. Sidney did not have an apartment prior to living with Mario Lemieux's family, nor were his front teeth "knocked out" by a Philadelphia Flyer, they were broken off (the lower portion).

5 comments about Home Ice: Reflections on Backyard Rinks and Frozen Ponds.

1. I wasn't a hockey player growing up. Basketball was my first love. My Dad put up a hoop in the driveway back in the early 70's, and the memories of playing 21, Horse, and three on three will last forever. Meeting neighbors and friends, playing by myself working on skills: those were the days.
   
   And Falla's stories of his backyard rink inspire the same kind of love and committment to family and friends that my father's hoop did. What a wonderful book, made all the more important and influential by the author's passing away not too long ago. He was a wonderful writer who seemed to inspire many others through his life, teaching, and writing.
   
   Thanks to Jack Falla...



2. After reading the book I wanted to head right out and build the rink it was the spring thaw but I did clear out my back lot and leveled it got it ready for winter can't wait until the first freeze



3. I was geared up to read about the experiences the Fallas and their friends shared on the Bacon Street Omni. And Falla delivers the goods with humor and honesty, with wit and wisdom. But Home Ice, for me, has become more than a celebration of hockey and that which unites families and communities.
   
   I, a relative newcomer to New England, didn't expect to learn so much about the Boston Bruins. I had heard of Orr and O'Reilly, of course, but I didn't grow up watching them as Falla did. He brings his memories of the Big Bad Bruins to life. Falla also mixes Black and Gold with the Oil. His skate with Wayne Gretzky enriches the book, giving it balance: the Great One juxtaposed to the average Joes who play on the pond.



4. Even if you live in a climate that will never allow you to build a backyard rink, this wonderful little book should be read. In a age where youth sports are increasingly dominated by organization and structure and where the attraction of video games keeps kids inside on even the nicest of days, this book takes us to a place where play is unstructured, where one can lose themself in the early morning hours or under the stars, where family and friends can gather to play, skate and even sometimes compete, where the rituals of building, maintaining and disassembling the rink mark the passage of time.
   
   Ultimately this book is as much about a family and a bond between them as is it about ice skating or hockey. Read, enjoy and take something away from the experience.



5. A good easy read. A must have for hockey fans in New England and for builders of backyard hockey rinks. Not a big reader, but I couldn't put this on down. Very well written.

5 comments about The Kid: A Season with Sidney Crosby and the New NHL.

1. This book is great. I really enjoyed reading about some of the behind the scenes and locker room stuff that was going on during Sid's first NHL season.



2. Obtained and read The Kid over Christmas break. While I can do without the "Hockey is Canada; Canada is hockey" elements of the book, it was a fast and fun read. I came away from the book with both a better sense of who Sidney Crosby is as a person and a sadness at the witness the book plays to age catching up with the magnificent Mario Lemieux.
   
   This book would make a good gift for a fan of the Penguins, or hockey in general.



3. I have read a lot of biographies about hockey players, including Sidney Crosby, and while most are informational, few are what you might call "page turners". The Rookie is a suprising exception to that! Richer has done a wonderful job of bringing Sidney's amazing early career to life with the perfect mix of hockey detail and personal account. Some books of this type present material that is second- or third-hand at best but Richer committed to getting the real story first-hand. Her balanced approach to Sid's meteoric rookie season will appeal to hard-core hockey enthusiasts, devoted Sid the Kid fans, and curious people watchers all.



4. An objective review of this book from me is impossible. But a fair one, the book more than deserves. Late in the text, Ms. Richer gives a speech, or at least an anecdote, some advice she was given as she wrote this book, on objectivity in writing: "But objectivity ... is not necessarily a worthy goal. To be objective in the literal sense would be to remove all emotion from the coverage, and sportswriting at its best can only be worthwhile by embracing and exposing emotion and all the things that fuel it. Fairness ... is the tone you want to strive for." So I give Ms. Richer and her book a fair deal, but not an objective one, as I am emotionally attached to the subject matter.
   
   I lived in Pittsburgh for over 30 years and am a die-hard Penguin fan. I know the entire cast of characters in this book, what they look and sound like, including the indefatigueable Tom McMillan, Penguins Vice President of Communication, who is a major player in the story. I can hear Mike Lange's voice calling out the plays, and Phil Bourque's commentary, on the air or not. I can picture the Igloo (the Pens' home arena) with snow on it, or the rolling hills of Upper St. Clair (Ryan Malone's home neighborhood). From Molinari to Mario, Sewickley to the Steelhead Grill, whether you are from Pittsburgh or not, you too will settle into this story as if you were hearing it from a friend in your own neighborhood.
   
   Shawna Richer gained the enviable assignment of chronicling Sidney Crosby's first year in the NHL with the Pittsburgh Penguins. This is a significant season for two reasons - Sidney Crosby is not just another hockey player, and this wasn't just the mere beginning of another hockey season. Crosby, a native of Nova Scotia, was the most anticipated rookie since 1984, when Mario Lemieux was taken first overall (also) by the Penguins, the same draft in which Crosby's father was selected. The NHL was also making a debut of sorts. After an owners' lockout of the players had cancelled the previous season in its entirety, the revamped league was back for business.
   
   A new collective bargaining agreement had finally been reached by the owners and the player's union. The owners had conceded to revenue sharing which would allow small market teams to survive financially. The players conceded to a salary cap, which would allow owners to survive financially. The league would benefit from the parity that this arrangement breeds - all 32 teams able to compete with each other, year after year.
   
   League executives restructured and reinforced the rule book during the unfortunate lull. Their intent was to free the game from the stifling "clutch and grab" style of defensive hockey and allow for a faster, more skilled, offensive game. Showcase the league's more talented players. Give the old fans something to cheer about, and try to lure new fans to the speed and grace of the game. As a player with "once-in-a-generation" ability, 18 year old Sidney Crosby would be shouldered with the mantle of the "new NHL". From the time before he was even drafted, Crosby had been labeled as "The Next One", and after a full lost season, the league looked to him to win fans, old and new, to the game. Even though he didn't ask for it, the youngster understands his role and carries it out with a gentle passion as fierce as the one he brings to the ice.
   
   Ms. Richer tells the story well. The Pittsburgh Penguins, like most of the small market teams in the NHL, had been losing millions of dollars every year. Unable to pay premium salaries, one by one, their star players left or were traded. At the conclusion of the previous season, the Penguins had finished last overall. Under the new arrangements, the Penguins would be able to surround Crosby with veteran talent. And they did so, turning into a contender within a few weeks.
   
   The league literally took off and the fast, exciting pace of the games silenced every pre-season criticism of the rule changes. Crosby's season took off too, but had several unimaginable bumps. His coach was fired in December. There was a slight but sustained backlash from some fans and players against Crosby. In one six day span, both of his linemates retired, and the team was put up for sale by the owner, Lemieux. The same Mario Lemieux who was 1984's once-in-a-generation rookie was now, not only the team's owner, but one of the retiring linemates.
   
   Richer was there for everything and delivers each high and low in a straight, readable narrative. She quickly (p15) pays homage to Peter Gzowski's exemplary hockey book, The Game of Our Lives. (Anything written on the subject since 1981 should.) The Rookie is given a similar form by the author, announcing the time and venue of significant games, going through the Penguins roster with a short paragraph for each player, and weaving her experiences and inferences into the text.
   
   The book falls short of the insider's look and analysis I expected from the subtitle (A Season With Sidney Crosby and the New NHL). It seems like Ms. Richer is barely below the surface of Crosby the individual, the Penguins as a team, the "new" league as a whole, and Canada's reaction to all of the above. I, however, do not know what is acceptable to print about the inner workings of an NHL locker room, so it remains to accept Ms. Richer's coverage and interpretation of events.
   
   Even after the Penguins are disappointingly eliminated from playoff contention, Ms. Richer is able to keep the reader's interest with drama appropriate to the tale. How would Crosby handle playing on a loosing team? Would he be voted Rookie of the Year? Would he be able to achieve certain milestones like being named to the Canadian Olympic squad or reaching 80 points on the season? How would Sidney Crosby's first season and the "new" NHL turn out? You'll want to read this book to find out.



5. I loved this book! Richer provides great detail and has a keen aspect on every situation. I couldn't put this book down and finished it very quickly. I highly recommend this book to any Sidney Crosby fan that wants to learn more about him, or anyone that thinks he is just a hot-shot in order to find out how hard he has worked for this.

2 comments about Pelle Lindbergh: Behind the White Mask.

1. This was an excellent book. A must read for any sports fan. The story of someone who had all of his dreams come true and tragically had them all slip away. There is a lot about the story that I was unaware of. Pelle was a great person and amazing goalie. Who knows how many more cups the Flyers could have had if he was not taken away from us. I wish there could be a movie made about this story.



2. Sunday, November 10, 1985. Back then, I was a 14-year-old hockey player living just outside Buffalo, New York. It was early in the evening when my father walked into the living room where I was sitting and told me that Pelle Lindbergh, the goaltender for my beloved Philadelphia Flyers, was in the hospital following an accident.
   
   In those days there was no quick Internet link, no accessing the Flyers web page or the Philly papers for news. You simply had to wait for the news to come on the TV. Fourteen-year-old boys tend not to think the worst will happen to their sports heroes, and so with a naïve hope I waited and watched. Reports were slow, and ultimately it was announced that Lindbergh was brain dead. He was kept alive long enough for his father to arrive from Sweden a few days later. His life support was then shut off, his organs were donated, and he was gone forever. Hard as it was, the hockey world --- and my 14-year-old world --- had to move on.
   
   Bill Meltzer and Thomas Tynander teamed up to write PELLE LINDBERGH: Behind the White Mask. In Sweden, Lindbergh's home country, the book was a bestseller. The English translation is here now, and it provides incredible insight into his youth, his dream of playing in the NHL, his passion for speed, and the devastating effect his fatal accident had on everyone around him.
   
   Meltzer and Tynander show us a young Göran Per-Eric "Pelle" Lindbergh growing up as an active and hockey-obsessed boy in Sweden. His gifts were recognizable early on, though he lacked the drive in practices to push himself. Despite his disinterest in practice, Lindbergh excelled in games and ultimately secured a spot on the Swedish National Team. While this was an enormous success, Lindbergh wanted something more: playing in America's National Hockey League, which became a reality in 1979 when Philadelphia drafted him to play for the Flyers. This was a dream come true for Lindbergh since, as a boy, he idolized famed Philadelphia goaltender Bernie Parent, who became his friend and mentor. But their friendship went beyond the ice, and Lindbergh often called the aptly-named Parent his "father" in America.
   
   The following year, Lindbergh earned himself a spot on the Swedish Olympic hockey team, playing at Lake Placid. He was disappointed to come away with only a Bronze from the Games, but he took great pride in knowing that his was the only team that the U.S. "Miracle On Ice" squad did not defeat (they tied 2-2). Later in life, Lindbergh and Jim Craig, goaltender for the 1980 U.S. team, would become friends, joking with each other about that game. Do you recall that iconic image of Craig with the American flag draped over his shoulders as he looked for his father in the stands? It should tell you all you need to know about Lindbergh that Craig gave him that flag as a gift.
   
   Throughout PELLE LINDBERGH, what becomes abundantly clear is that, despite his own personal drives and passions to succeed and play in the NHL (specifically dreaming of playing for the Flyers), Lindbergh was a genuine and giving person not prone to brushing off his fans or his friends. He volunteered his time and money to hockey camps in Sweden, held up team buses to sign autographs, and was an easy-going friend and teammate who enjoyed a good laugh, even at his own expense. It easily could be said that Lindbergh simply loved life.
   
   Still, for the beauty with which Lindbergh pursued his life, there is to be found immense sadness and even anger at the unfortunate and preventable manner of his death. After a long night out with teammates, Lindbergh, who had been drinking, slammed his turbo-charged Porche into a wall. It was a rare thing for Lindbergh to drink, and even rarer for him to get behind the wheel afterwards. No one will ever know why he did what he did that night. Couple his impairment with his dangerous speeds --- he was routinely stopped for speeding, and people were scared to drive with him --- and it seems it was only a matter of time before this incredible talent would be laid to waste.
   
   And he was such a talent: he led the Flyers to the Stanley Cup Finals but lost to the powerhouse Edmonton Oilers, he was a First Team NHL All-Star, he was named to the All-Rookie Team, and he was the first European goaltender to win the Vezina Trophy honoring the top goaltender in the NHL. At the time of his death, he was showing signs of eclipsing his previous successes, which was recognized by fans who voted him to the All-Star Game posthumously --- the first time this ever happened in any major North American sport.
   
   PELLE LINDBERGH excels at stripping down Lindbergh's story and splitting it into its two key parts: the joy of his life and the tragedy of his death. The chapters rotate between his childhood and the night of November 10th and the events to follow, immersing you in a constantly rising and falling tale where you experience the delights of goals achieved with the heart-wrenching ache of a life lost. What it lacks for in smoothness and flow, it more than makes up for in honesty, forthright emotion and insight.
   
   Taken as a whole, this book is not about Pelle Lindbergh the hockey player per se (though that role is a key component), but rather about Pelle Lindbergh the boy, the man, the son, the friend and the fiancé. Coaches, players, friends and family all contribute to the legacy he leaves behind, sharing their laughs and their joys but also their frustration, sadness and anger at his unwillingness to use better caution behind the wheel.
   
   Flyer great Bob Clarke said at the time, "You don't replace a Pelle Lindbergh." And he's right. After all these years, his family and friends still lament his passing. In Philadelphia, goaltenders come and go --- some excellent, some not as much --- but there has always been a shadow in that crease seemingly moving of its own design, reminding us of the loss to the game.
   
   Closing PELLE LINDBERGH after its final pages will leave you wondering what could have been had Lindbergh not been taken from us so early, so unnaturally. If only...
   
   --- Reviewed by Stephen Hubbard