No comments about Stole This from a Hockey Card: A Philosophy of Hockey, Doug Harvey, Identity And Booze.

No comments about The Edge Courage And Inspiration From The Ice.

No comments about Brendan Shanahan: The Power Forward (Sport Snaps) (Sport Snaps).

1 comments about Total Gretzky: The Magic, The Legend, The Numbers.

1. A champion is a lot of things for a fan, or just for anyone who claims to know him... He is mostly a great sign of ability,virtue, coherence, but what happens when a champion isn't simply the best athlete in his sport, but also an excellent prove of how to live a life?

No comments about Star Power: The Legend and Lore of Cyclone Taylor (Recordbooks).

2 comments about My Life in Hockey.

1. JEAN BELIVEAU FORMER NHL SUPERSTAR DOES A GREAT JOB TELLING US ABOUT HIS LIFE IN AND OUT OF HOCKEY. I REALLY ENJOYED THIS BOOK AND FOUND HIS STORY AND HIS EXPERIENCES BOTH ENTERTAINING AND INTERESTING. I GREW UP BEING A BLACKHAWK FAN. I REALLY PULLED AGAINST MONTREAL FOR I FELT THEY HAD WON MORE THAN THEIR SHARE OF STANLEY CUPS. BUT WHEN YOU SAW JEAN PLAY, YOU COULDN'T HELP TO SEE AND ADMIRE HIS TALENT AND DEDICATION. SOME OF THE BEST PARTS OF THIS BOOK ARE JEAN'S THOUGHTS ABOUT ROCKET, HOWE, HULL AND MANY MANY MORE. I RECOMMEND THIS FOR ALL HOCKEY FANS AND ESPECIALLY THE ONES WHO SAW JEAN PLAY.



2. Mr. Beliveau provides a strong insight into a game that has ceased to exist anymore. Todays NHL (27 teams and more on the way) bears no resemblance to Mr. Beliveau's era when there were six teams and approximately 150 players, travel was by train and a 'players union' was the owners idea of having all team members in one place at the same time. The book is divided, roughly, into three equal parts; Mr. Beliveau's junior years in Quebec with the Citadels and Aces; his years with the Canadiens organisation, and; his insights into how the game has changed to its present form. As a participant, Mr. Beliveau reminisces fondly over his career and the many individuals (on both sides of centre ice) with whom he has played, including an excellent analysis on Bobby Orr's impact on the game. As an observer, Mr. Beliveau presents spirited and informed opinions on the many changes the game has endured since expansion 30 years ago, including thoughts on the WHA influence on the NHL.

   Hockey books are a dime a dozen, and I've read my share, but few I've read in recent memory contain an insight to the game, both past and future, that this one does.

5 comments about Keenan: The High Times and Misadventures of Hockey's Most Controversial Coach.

1. Very interesting read with several heretofore unknown (to me) biographical information and anectdotes about one of the most successful and controversial figures in hockey's recent history. A good narrative of Keenan's highs and lows throughout his travels in the AHL and NHL coaching ranks.
   
   Being a Blackhawks fan during the era Keenan coached in Chicago, however, I noticed that several inaccurate details that appeared. For example, Gordon writes that during the 1988-89 season, goalies Darren Pang and Alain Chevrier were highly inconsistent, contributing to the team's awful first half. In fact, it was Pang along with rookies Jimmy Waite and Ed Belfour who were backstopping the Hawks to their first-half failures, and the teams resurgence in the second half of the season coincided with the acquisition of Alain Chevrier. Also, goalie Jacques Cloutier is noted at one point as being a "mid-season" acquisition; he was actually acquired just after training camp in 1989. These are just a couple of examples which do not reflect well on the author (or editor or proofreader) detailing basic facts.
   
   Also curious was the insinuation that defenseman Doug Wilson was some sort of softie who wasn't willing to make the "committment" to winning. Strange, as anyone who watched the Hawks during his career knows that the majority of the time when he was out of the lineup, the team struggled much more defensively, and I am not aware of any other of Wilson's coaches or teammates making any such assertations or insinuations.
   
   Overall, not a bad read at all, if you are willing to be tolerant or remain ignorant of the smaller stuff.



2. I became interested in rereading this book after Mike Keenan's recent appointment to the ailing Florida Panthers. His story reads like a greek tragedy in that his fanatical drive continually prevented him from seeing and learning from his mistakes. Players and management either loved him for his discipline, or hated him for his sadism, unpredictability, and indecorous behavior with the press. Jeff Gordon does a wonderful job of detailing Keenan's strides and missteps without skewering him with a pitchfork. This book is also well-written and as fair of an account of Mike Keenan as a readers are likely to find. I highly recommend it.



3. A definite Hat Trick!! Gordo knows what he's talking about.



4. Really enjoyed this book. Could not put it down once I started reading it. Found it to be very fair overall. Not a slam against Keenan at all. You learn a lot about Keenan as well as life in the NHL. Get this book!



5. If I were Gordon's editor, I would give new meaning to the phrase "healthy scratch".

2 comments about The Game I'll Never Forget: 100 Hockey Stars' Stories.

1. interesting stories and fun to read. a little strange to have mario on the front cover, and gretzky on the back cover, yet no story from either of them. :o(



2. I REALLY ENJOYED THIS BOOK WHICH COVERS 100 NHL PLAYERS WHO TELL US THE SPECIAL GAME THEY REMEMBER THE BEST. FROM HULL, RICHARD, LEMIEUX, AND PLANTE TO MANY MANY MORE WHO TELL US THEIR STORIES. THE STORIES ARE 2 PAGES EACH WITH SOME GREAT PHOTOS. I RECOMMEND THIS FOR ALL HOCKEY FANS. A MUST READ.

2 comments about Gordie Howe: My Hockey Memories.

1. I read this book back in November of 1999. The co-author Frank Condron did an excellent job with Gordie Howe in putting this historical book together. On top of the simple fact that a picture is worth 1,000 words. The whole book is a Hockey Pictoral Treasure. Mr. Condron did an excellent job of writing this book. What I mean by that is. Simply because you don't feel your reading Gordies words. Its like Mr. Howe is right next to you and he is pointing at each picture as you turn every page. Also it is quite obvious after all the press, awards and fame, Gordie Howe is still a gentleman.



2. This work represents the finest photo collection of GORDIE HOWE'S career to date. If YOU are old enough to remember the epic battles between the Montreal Canadians and the Detroit Red Wings of the 1950's-60's, YOU can relive these times in photo concepts - eg. Howe's 545 goal in the Montreal Forum eclipsing Rocket Richards's record and the 15 minute standing ovation by Montreal fans; Howe's commentary on the Montreal dynasty once Jacque Plante and Jean Bellevue arrived on the hockey scene; the skilled fis-ti-cuffs of Gordie Howe against bad boy, Lou Fontinato of the New York Rangers; and Howe's best picks of NHL players he most admired! ... BUY TWO AND MAKE A FRIEND!

No comments about Young Guns: Meet the Future Stars of the NHL: Meet the Future Stars of the NHL.