Skip to main content

Big Train by Richard Brignall

This is Lionel Conacher. The man they called "The Big Train" is truly a Canadian sporting legend. Lionel Conacher is arguably "Canada's Greatest Athlete" and is often referred to as "Canada's Jim Thorpe."

He is also the subject of Richard Brignall's new book Big Train: The Legendary Ironman of Sport, Lionel Conacher.

Buy The Book: Amazon.ca - Chapters - Amazon.com

He was a charter inductee in the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame (1951), and has been inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame (1963), the Hockey Hall of Fame (1994), and the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame.

In football, Conacher played for the Toronto Argonauts (1921-22) and won the Grey Cup in 1921. The previous year, he had won hockey's Memorial Cup as a member of the Toronto Canoe Club Paddlers. Conacher went on to a 12-year career in the NHL (1925-37), mostly with the Montreal Maroons, where he was a second-team all-star defenseman in 1932-33, and played on the Stanley Cup winning team of 1934-35. He first played on a Stanley Cup winner in his one season with the Chicago Blackhawks (1933-34), where Conacher was also a first-team all-star.

As a hockey player, not only was Conacher a solid defenseman, he was also known for his hard hitting and aggressive defense. He was always among the penalty-minutes leaders.

Conacher was a member of the Toronto Maple Leaf baseball team that won the Triple-A championship in 1926. And, in addition to being one of the greatest lacrosse players in the country, he was also an undefeated light-heavyweight boxer (and fought an exhibition bout against Jack Dempsey in 1922).

As an amateur wrestler, Conacher won the Ontario championship in the 125 pound weight class as a 16 year old in 1916. According to The Ring Magazine, he became a pro wrestler in Toronto in 1932, and toured Canada and USA and never lost a match. Lionel even boxed a 4 round exhibition fight with the legendary Jack Dempsey

After retiring from sports, Conacher was elected as a member of the Liberal party to the Ontario legislature in 1937 and to the Canadian House of Commons in 1949. He died in 1954, suffering a heart attack while playing in a softball game.

Conacher was voted Canada's Athlete of the Half Century by the Canadian Press in 1950 and is a top candidate for Canada's athlete of the 20th century when that poll is taken.

All in all, it makes for an amazing story, nicely written for the intended audience by Richard Brignall. The 112 book is put out by James Lorimer & Company as part of their RecordBooks series. The intended audience is young Canadians, with a recommended reading level of 4.8.

Sometimes I wonder how these books about long ago heroes connect with today's young readers, but I have no doubts that this book will inspire all of it's readers. The Lionel Conacher story is of a Canadian sports super-hero, something everyone can be proud of.

Brignall has previously released similar titles with Small Town Glory: The story of the Kenora Thistles' remarkable quest for the Stanley Cup and Forever Champions: The Enduring Legacy of the Edmonton Grads Women's Basketball Team. Also in 2009 he is releasing Fearless: The Story of George Chuvalo, Canada's Greatest Boxer

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Free Patrick Roy Books

Wiley is giving away two copies of Patrick Roy: Winning, Nothing Else . This offer is exclusive to readers of HockeyBookReviews.com ! All you have to do is email me the names of three other 2008 Wiley hockey book releases. Here's a helping hint - there are currently 5 2008 Wiley titles reviewed at HockeyBookReviews.com . It's just that easy! Then email your answers to hockeybookcontest@hotmail.com . As always, those with the correct answers are put into a draw, with two lucky winners being selected randomly. One entry per person. Contest is open to North American mailing addresses only. Winners will be announced on October 15th .

Interview With The Author: Kirstie McLellan Day

A couple of weeks ago I named Theo Fleury's book Playing With Fire as the Hockey Book Reviews.com 2009 Book Of The Year . It was a pretty easy choice this year, due to Theo's tragic story, the book's impact and bestselling status. But I was also full of praise for the book's authorship. It is Theo's story, but Kirstie McLellan Day is the book's unsung hero. She understood her subject probably more than she wanted to. By doing so, she kept the emotion and the anger in the text brilliantly. I recently had the chance to chat with Kirstie McLellan Day, seen below with Theo Fleury at a recent book signing. Here's the interview: From one author to another, what is it like to wake up in the morning, look at the bestselling books list in a variety of newspapers/media sources and see your book at the very top?! As you know Joe when you are a storyteller, your main goal is to have people listen to your stories. So it is really gratifying to hear that someone is tou...

Over The Boards by Hayley Wickenheiser

Hayley Wickenheiser, one of the most celebrated figures in hockey, has graced the world with her insightful memoir "Over The Boards: Lessons From The Ice". In this eloquent and deeply personal account, Wickenheiser takes readers on a remarkable journey through her storied career while imparting invaluable lessons learned both on and off the ice. From the outset, Wickenheiser's narrative captivates with its candidness and authenticity. She invites readers into her world, sharing the triumphs and tribulations that have shaped her into the iconic figure she is today. From her humble beginnings in small-town Canada to achieving Olympic glory on multiple occasions, Wickenheiser's story is one of perseverance, passion, and unwavering dedication to the sport she loves. One of the book's greatest strengths lies in Wickenheiser's ability to seamlessly blend personal anecdotes with profound insights into the game of hockey. Through her experiences, readers gain a deepe...