Crosby's Golden Goal by Mike Leonetti

Mike Leonetti is back with yet another in his long line of hockey history inspired children's titles. This time his work was inspired by and titled with Crosby's Golden Goal

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Missing NHL hockey this season? Maybe Mike Leonetti's newest release Crosby's Golden Goal will help you rediscover your love for the game, all while spending some quality time with the children.

This book relives the excitement of Sidney Crosby's "golden goal" at the 2010 Winter Olympics through the eyes of a young hockey fan. Tyler has grown disheartened with hockey too, but for different reasons. But in this fine book he rediscovers the joy of hockey through Sidney Crosby''s famous gold medal goal.

Tyler's life has always been about hockey: hockey after school, hockey on weekends, hockey on holidays... hockey, hockey, hockey. So his parents are surprised and disappointed when Tyler abandons the game he loved so much. 

But in 2010 the Winter Olympics come to Vancouver. The country is desperate to win a gold medal in hockey. "Sid the Kid" Crosby is leading the men''s team, and all of Canada is counting on him to help win the first gold in men''s hockey on home soil.

Tyler''s dad gets tickets to the gold-medal game, and Tyler can barely contain himself while he watches the nail-biting final between Canada and the United States. Of course, Crosby scores the "golden goal" in one of the most exciting gold-medal games ever!

Seeing the joy Sidney Crosby has for the game, Tyler decides to return to the ice and just take time to enjoy the sport he loves.

This is just the latest in a long running series of children's books by Mike Leonetti. I use the term "children's book" loosely a little bit. Kids will love it, as will parents for that reason. But as an adult I adore these books. I have a huge collection of children's hockey books I'm just waiting to give to my new twin nephews, but the Leonetti hockey history series may just stay with me. I'll have to buy the twins new copies.

Leonetti chose Gary McLaughlin to illustrate this book. Excellent choice. McLaughlin is a news worthy illustrator, famous for his 6x12 portrait depicting every single Toronto Maple Leafs player ever. It's a little different style of art as has been prominently featured in the series in the past, but it works brilliantly.

I'm a huge fan of Leonetti's hockey history themed children's series. But this may be the biggest hit yet. Many of today's kids can actually relate to Sidney Crosby and his golden goal. They couldn't do that the same with Gordie Howe or Rocket Richard or Wayne Gretzky. That's why I think this book is a must have for the young hockey fan on your Christmas shopping list, as well as the for the parents!

Journeyman by Sean Pronger

Some players, such as the great defenseman Chris Pronger, are blessed with the opportunity to turn their amazing physical abilities and talent into a Hockey Hall of Fame career.

Most players are nowhere near as fortunate. They spend their careers riding buses in the minor leagues, spending their meal allowances at McDonalds and staying in no-name motels. If they are really lucky they get a chance to play in the NHL, often with a weak, new expansion team where they experience more losing than winning. Maybe they can parlay that into appearances with a stronger NHL team, though more likely serving as a healthy scratch than not.

Those players are affectionately termed as journeymen. Players such as Chris Pronger's brother, Sean Pronger.

In 12 professional seasons Sean Pronger played with 16 different teams in 5 different leagues spanning 3 countries and 2 continents. In fact, in only 3 of those seasons did he stay with the same team for the entire season.

The older Pronger personifies the term "journeyman" but he was one of the lucky ones. He got into 260 NHL games, mostly with Anaheim and Columbus in their early days.

Through it all Sean Pronger has seen pretty much everything and anything in the world of hockey. He has been penning a well received column for The Hockey News' website about what it is like to be a hockey journeyman. Now, with the help of Sportsnet's Dan Murphy, he is taking his stories to bookshelves everywhere in his autobiography, Journeyman

Pronger's tales promise to be a popular hit this hockey book season. True hockey fans will love this inside look into what life is really like for most pro hockey players. And the collection of hilarious stories will entertain everyone from page one through page 320.

For all the hijinx and hilarity I believe this book will be a smashing success because first and foremost Pronger is genuine and honest. Murphy did a great job in capturing Pronger's true voice in writing this book.

2012 is an excellent year for funny hockey biographies. Sean Pronger's Journeyman is the best of the bunch.

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Read a free excerpt from Penguin's website.

Hockey Night In Canada's Favorite Books

Many of the hockey personalities over at the CBC/Hockey Night In Canada shared their favorite hockey books over the years. Here's a clip from their website:

Ron MacLean

"My favourite hockey book is Hockey Dreams: Memories of a Man Who Couldn't Playby David Adams Richards, from Miramichi, New Brunswick. It starts off with the story of a drifter out in British Columbia during the '72 Summit Series and he's running into folks everywhere who detest the Canadians and his basic premise is these S-O-Bs don't love hockey and he has a good reason behind it. David has always had the line, 'When are we most Canadian? When we drop the puck,' and I thought that book really got us to the place most of us beer leaguers or rink rats are in, so I really admire that one."

Elliotte Friedman

"I don't know if anybody's going to find this book, but when I was a kid and I was learning how to play, and I'll admit I wasn't great, my father got me a book called Sittler at Centre. It was Darryl Sittler's book on how to play centre, and it included some of the notes that [legendary NHL coach] Roger Neilson gave him, on how to be a responsible player. It had a lot of drills -- what he did during the summer, and all the kinds of things he felt were important to be a good centre in the National Hockey League. And I ripped the spine off of that book, reading it so much. That's my favourite hockey book ever."

Dick Irvin

"I'll excuse myself with my six books, but I must say I got quite a thrill the other day when my 10-year-old grandson came and took one of my books because he was writing a school project biography on his great grandfather, my dad [former NHL player and coach Dick Irvin Sr.], and I showed him a section of one of my books about my father.

Here's the full article.

Stanley Cup: 120 Years of Hockey Supremacy by Eric Zweig

Stanley Cup: 120 Years of Hockey Supremacy is the definitive book on the history of the Stanley Cup and the championship teams that have won it.

In honor of the 120th anniversary of the first winner of the Stanley Cup, author Eric Zweig has collected the details of every cup winner from 1893 to present. Hockey fans can chart the course of hockey history and revisit the dynasties and Cinderella stories of each and every decade. Zweig presents each Stanley Cup winner in an illustrated two-page spread, detailing playoff brackets, club rosters and playoff statistics, as well as providing stories and sidebars outlining the incredible journey each team took to achieve hockey supremacy.

Presented between seasons are highlights of some of hockey's best and most controversial playoff moments, such as Brett Hull's "no goal" in the 1999 final or Bobby Baun's overtime winning goal for the 1964 Stanley Cup.

Also included in this expansive volume are personal stories of some of the NHL's best playoff games as recounted by Hockey Hall of Fame legends Bobby Orr, Dave Keon and Ken Dryden, to name a few. Complete with a foreword by Phil Pritchard, the Keeper of the Stanley Cup, and packed with information and over 200 photographs, Stanley Cup is a must have for any hockey fan.

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Every few years we see such a book - same format, layout, idea and everything. Long time hockey book readers will recognize that. Regardless, there is enough interesting stories and a fresh new presentation here to make this book worthy of a good look through. Eric Zweig is the perfect storyteller to breath fresh air into this tried and true hockey book format.

Sudden Death: The Incredible Saga of the 1986 Swift Current Broncos

This a long over due book. Sudden Death: The Incredible Saga of the 1986 Swift Current Broncos tells the story of heartbreaking tragedy that shook a Canadian town and the whole hockey world to it's core.

On December 30, 1986, the Swift Current Broncos set out for Regina to play the Pats. A few kilometres east of Swift Current, their bus left the highway and four players died in the crash. Trent Kresse, Scott Kruger, Chris Mantyka, and Brent Ruff (younger brother Buffalo Sabres legend Lindy Ruff) were killed. The rest of the team, led by future NHL star Joe Sakic, played out the season despite the loss. In a move to memorialize the fallen players, the WHL now awards the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy to the league's Player of the Year.

Two seasons later the Broncos won the 1989 Memorial Cup. Graham James, general manager and head coach, was the hottest thing in hockey. But few were aware of what was going on behind the scenes. In 1996, having moved on to the Calgary Hitmen, James was charged with sexual assault when Sheldon Kennedy, who had been in the crash and was part of the Memorial Cup–winning team, brought forth allegations.

This book tells the stories of those involved in the crash, in the championship, and in all that followed.

 Buy The Book - Amazon.ca - Chapters - Amazon.com The book, published by Dundurn, has three authors with unique perspectives.

Leesa Culp was one of the few witnesses to the crash of the Swift Current Broncos. She has been published by The Hockey News, the Penticton Herald, and the Sudbury Star.

Gregg Drinnan has been a sports journalist for 40 years and has been sports editor at the Kamloops Daily News since 2000. I have interacted with Gregg numerous times and I can tell you few know the WHL better than him.

Bob Wilkie played three seasons with the Swift Current Broncos and was on the team bus when it crashed in 1986.

The Big Game by Gilles Tibo and Bruno St-Aubin

Notable children's writers/illustrators Gilles Tibo and Bruno St-Aubin have teamed up to give us the new hockey themed children's book The Big Game. It's a beautiful book with a nice story - kinda Robert Munsch-like.

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Nicholas has his parents, his coach, the other spectators, and even his sister doling out advice on how to take on the top team in the league. But with opinions coming at them from all sides, Nicholas and his teammates can't decide who to listen to.

Between periods, Nicholas comes up with an ingenious plan to save the day — and stop every shot on goal! When he shares his winning strategy with the rest of his team, they can't help but come out on top.

Featuring Nicholas, the star of the bestselling Where's My Hockey Sweater? and The Best Goalie Ever, fans will love this new story that puts him back on the ice!

About The Authors

Gilles Tibo is a compulsive writer. As one of Canada's most important authors and illustrators he has penned over 160 children's books. He is a two-time winner of the Governor General's Award and the Mr. Christie's Book Award, and a two-time nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen Prize. He lives in Montreal, Quebec.

Bruno St-Aubin works on his art from his home studio. He has illustrated over sixty children's books, and his favourite activities when he is not illustrating include soccer, cross-country skiing, cycling, jogging and playing hockey. He lives in Quebec.

Over At The Rink: A Hockey Counting Book

Count all the ways to have fun at the hockey rink!

Over at the rink
Where the anthem's sung,
The whole town gathered
For some hockey fun.

Set to the catchy rhythm of the traditional counting song "Over in the Meadow", Over at the Rink: A Hockey Counting Book describes a delightful jaunt to the local ice rink. The story of the game is counted up to ten, when the players finally hoot, "Let's play again!"

Scot Ritchie's expressive, humourous illustrations capture the excitement of the day, perfectly complementing the rhyming story. This is one title that will have young readers yelling, "Let's read it again!"

Buy The Book: Amazon.ca - Chapters

Hockey Now! by Mike Leonetti

2012 brings us the seventh edition of the always popular Hockey Now! series by Mike Leonetti.

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70 NHL stars are featured in a book jam-packed with glossy in-action photos, solid biographies and interesting sidebar information.

All the usual suspects are featured - Sidney Crosby, Steven Stamkos, Zdeno Chara, the Sedin twins, Evgeni Malkin and Jonathan Toews who is prominently featured on the cover.

First time additions include Jamie Benn, Jordan Eberle, Loui Eriksson, Gabriel Landeskog, Max Pacioretty, Jason Pominville, Carey Price, Pekka Rinne and Ryan Suter.

This is always a safe holiday gift to buy the hockey fan of any age on your shopping list.

J.R. Jeremy Roenick's Autobiography

Jeremy Roenick, one of the premier hockey players of his generation and one of the greatest American stars the NHL has ever known, shares his life story in this frank and unflinching autobiography - J.R.

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After making his debut as an 18-year-old with the Chicago Blackhawks, Roenick thrilled fans with his flashy style, take-no-prisoners approach, and jaw-dropping skills. A native of Boston, Roenick went on to play for four more franchises—including the Philadelphia Flyers and Los Angeles Kings—during his incredible 18-season career. By the time he was through, Roenick had racked up 513 goals—the second most of any American-born player—and 703 assists.

Now a tells-it-like-it-is commentator for NBC and the NHL, Roenick takes readers on a behind-the-scenes, warts-and-all tour through his illustrious career, both on and off the ice. Written with Kevin Allen.

My take - Oh good ol' J.R. Either you love him or hate him. If you love him, you'll love this book. I'll admit I was always impressed with Jeremy Roenick the hockey player, but the ego I've never cared for. Since that personality is front and center in his book, I wanted to be open about that before presenting my review.

Essentially Roenick is the American version of Don Cherry. Hey, it works for Grapes - he has bestselling books as part of his hockey empire. Roenick is following in the footsteps, trading the colorful suits for bold shirts.

Roenick is sure to present his stereotypical self in his book. I think he is genuine in everything says, though he probably exaggerates for effect. He openly admits he is obnoxious  I would use the term unnecessarily controversial. He looks to rock the boat with this book - ask Patrick Marleau and Wayne Gretzky. Why? Book sales. Controversy sells everything, even hockey books. And in 2012 we've seen very little controversy on the hockey bookshelves, so J.R. gets lots of the headlines.

“The modern athlete has become too worried about saying anything that is going to rile up the other team,” Roenick writes. “Modern stars worry too much about being diplomatic. F— diplomacy.”

He uses locker room language whenever possible (parents beware) and that not to my liking personally. It screams typical jock book, which is perfectly fine because that's how many people like their hockey books.

Through all of the filibuster and other F-words are some good hockey stories. I especially enjoyed his comments on Mike Keenan ("the last great asshole coach") and his early days in the league. He is a fiercely proud American and some his stuff about the rivalry with Canada and the Olympics are great. And of course his endless clashes with rivals and teammates. He is still not holding back on some of these guys. Why he feels the need to call them out all over again is a moot point. Ultimately it is both interesting and disappointing at the same time. Too much of that though and it becomes tiring.

J.R.'s autobiography subtitle is "The Fast Crazy Life Of Hockey's Most Outspoken And Most Colorful Personality." The book definitely lives up to that billing. Love him or loathe him, Jeremy Roenick has a bestseller on his hands here.

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Brass Bonanza Plays Again: How Hockey's Strangest Goon Brought Back Mark Twain And A Dead Team

And now for something completely different:

Let's take a look at the wonderfully offbeat Brass Bonanza Plays Again: How Hockey's Strangest Goon Brought Back Mark Twain and a Dead Team--And Made a City Believe by Robert Muldoon.

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What happens when a major league pro sports team leaves a city? The Hartford Whalers left on April 13, 1997—leaving behind devastated fans. The players left, too—except one who stayed and suffered like the fans.

Tiger Burns is an unlikely hero—even for a hobbit-sized, smash-faced, hockey goon with 600 fights. Standing 5’3”, with one-eye, cauliflower ears, and a full-rigged ship tattoo on his chest, his most unusual feature is this: he loves Hartford and its team, the Whalers. In a league where players date super models, ice princesses and Miss Americas, he is a misfit. But in a league of Los Angeles, New York and Boston so is Hartford.

Brass Bonanza Plays Again tells the riches-to-rags story of Mark Twain’s hometown, once the nation’s richest, now the butt of jokes. It relates the true saga of a small city’s beloved team moved away, like Brooklyn’s Dodgers. And it weaves the tragicomic tale of the muscle-bound gnome who blows the jump-the-shark game against arch-rival Boston on April 11, 1990, lives homeless under a bridge, only to rise up and lead a dead team, out of the stands onto the ice.

Tiger rallies not only a dead hockey team, but awakens the ghosts of Hartford’s past. He brings to life a ragtag band of 19th century legends and is saved by a guardian angel Rube Waddell, one of sport’s “goats” from the 1905 World Series. Can a one-eyed, homeless underdog make a faded city believe and rescue a star-crossed spirit? In Brass Bonanza Plays Again, we have Rocky (on Skates!) meets Field of Dreams.

Rocky came out of a Philly row house, Rudy out of an Indiana steel mill, and now Tiger Burns comes out from under a Hartford bridge to bring a dead team to life. A book of provincial aspirations and condescension, Brass Bonanza Plays Again tells the story of this small city, midway between New York and Boston, long considered just a urine-stop or ass-wipe between Wall Street and Cape Cod.

The New York Times recently printed an essay “In Search of the Great American Hockey Novel” lamenting that hockey, unlike other sports, has yet to be celebrated in a notable work. “Where is the Chekhov of the Chicago Blackhawks?” the Times asks. “Who is the Stendahl of the stick to the groin?” To that, we humbly say: read on.

The Puck Hog 2: Haunted Hockey In Lake Placid by Christie Casciano

" If I had one lasting impression from The Puck Hog, it was that I only wish it had been on the shelf of my local Brooklyn library when I was looking for a hockey book one winter's afternoon in 1939."

Those powerful words come from none other than Stan Fischler, hockey's maven. I'm pretty sure Fischler has read every book on the subject of hockey. Oh yeah, and he's written a few dozen, too. So Fischler knows something about hockey books.

Clearly Fischler has taken to Christie Casciano's series of books called The Puck Hog. Back in 2010 she released the original book in conjunction with the AHL's Syracuse Crunch. Well the whole gang is back in 2012 with The Puck Hog Volume 2: Haunted Hockey in Lake Placid.

Buy The Book: Amazon.com

Sophie, Eddie and the whole team have graduated to Squirts level and are travelling to Lake Placid. The team is extra excited as several Canadian teams are making the trip south, and the gang is eager to show their stuff against the best. But as the team gets ready for the big showdown with the Canadians, mysteries arise and a totally different kind of Miracle On Ice is needed in Lake Placid this time around.

Casciano has clearly found a great calling with the Puck Hog franchise. She has followed up the original with another winner, but this time really expands the boundaries of the children's themed hockey boo. This is great as it opens up endless possibilities.

"On many of my school visits, children asked whether I was going to write a second book and there was a lot of encouragement to continue the adventures of The Puck Hog team. So I carefully listened to suggestions of school and hockey kids, collaborated with the husband, along with our two hockey players and decided to create the adventure in Lake Placid," Casciano says.

"For the second book,. I wanted to challenge myself and take my writing outside of my own experiences. We blend hockey, history and mystery this time around! The first story centered around a selfish hockey player. This next one tackles the problem of the pushy parent. So hopefully kids will be sharing this one with their parents!"

Great lessons to be learned all around from a great book. The title gets an obvious push in the Syracuse area and New York State, but you online book orderers should not discount this book when placing your Christmas orders. It isn't the most banner year for children's hockey books. But this one is an excellent choice for the young reader in your family.

I'm a big fan of family-friendly activities. Books and hockey top my list. Christie Cansciano brings the best of both worlds in The Puck Hog Volume 2: Haunted Hockey in Lake Placid.

Derek Sanderson Story To Be Made Into A Movie

Great news for Derek Sanderson and author Kevin Shea - their new book Crossing The Line is going to be turned into a movie.

We’re apparently not alone in thinking that the life and times of Derek Sanderson would be fodder for a good biopic. We got word Monday that actor/director/producer Edward Burns is working with “Akeelah and the Bee” writer/director Doug Atchison on a film about the flamboyant former Bruins player.

Here's the full story. Here's the link to the Crossing The Line book review.

Interview With The Author: Todd Denault

I recently had the great opportunity to interview with none other than Todd Denault, author of the bestselling book A Season In Time: Super Mario, Killer, St. Patrick, The Great One and the Unforgettable 1992-93 NHL Season.

This is Todd Denault;s third book release. A Season in Time: Super Mario, Killer, St. Patrick, the Great One, and the Unforgettable 1992-93 NHL Season is a celebration of the twentieth anniversary of one of the greatest seasons in hockey history. And congratulations are in order, as the book as made Chapters' bestsellers list.

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

Here's the full book review. What follows is the interview. I hope you enjoy it.

There are a lot of great seasons in National Hockey League history. Why did you pick the 1992-93 season to relive?

As someone whose childhood coincided with the 1980's, I now look back and feel extremely fortunate to have grown up in that era. To have watched the careers of Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux in their entirety, watched Canada Cups, witnessed the Battles of Alberta and Quebec, and most of all to have lived through that whole high scoring time ... simply put, in my opinion, it was truly hockey's golden age.

In retrospect, the 1992-93 season was the concluding year of that unforgettable era. The 24 NHL teams that season combined for a record 7,311 goals, 14 players cracked the 50 goal barrier, and 21 players reached the 100 point mark. As a means of comparison  in the last season, 2011-12, the now 30 NHL teams combined for 6,545 goals, only 2 players scored 50 goals, and only one managed to tally 100 points. To me, at least, the game just seemed so much more exciting than it is today.

Also, from a historical perspective, 1992-93 was the last season before the game went in a different direction, both on and off the ice. On the ice, the following season, 1993-94 witnessed the onset of the "Dead Puck Era," while off the ice we saw the stirrings of the current labour problems that continue to plague the sport to the present day. Beyond that, it was also a season that saw a lot of endings ... the spring of 1993 saw Wayne Gretzky play in his last Stanley Cup Final, the Montreal Canadiens win the - up until now - their last Stanley Cup, and by extension it was the last championship won by a Canadian based franchise. Add to that a memorable, record breaking regular season, followed by one of the most unpredictable and exciting playoffs in league history and I think that there's a story to be told.

Lemieux's battle against cancer. Gretzky's near-Hollywood perfect ending. The emergence of Eric Lindros. The Leafs renaissance. The Canadiens capture Canada's last Stanley Cup. In your mind, what was the biggest story of the 1993 season?

In many ways the answer to your question depends on your geographical standing. If you're from the Pittsburgh area, obviously Mario is the story of that year, whereas if you're from the province of Ontario then the Leafs are the story of that season, both then and now. Beyond that however, I personally think that when most people reflect back on that season, they immediately think of Montreal winning ten straight overtime games in the playoffs In hockey, there are a lot of unbreakable records, or significant achievements that will never be equalled. What the Canadiens did that spring, I think it's safe to say will never be repeated.

Who was the best player of the 1992-93 season? Lemieux? Gretzky? Roy? Gilmour? Yzerman? Selanne? 

Part of what made 1992-93 so memorable was the sheer amount of significant players enjoying special seasons. As for the best player during that season, I don't think you can answer with anybody else's name other than Mario Lemieux. Now if you asked me which player was the most important to his team that year, than I would answer with Doug Gilmour. And when it comes to the playoffs you can't say anybody but Patrick Roy.

Montreal won the Stanley Cup in 1993, the last Canadian team to do so. That is still a huge mark of pride in Montreal obviously, but can the same be said throughout the rest of Canada?

I'm not sure if it's a mark of pride outside of Montreal but 1993 is a year that sticks out in the minds of hockey fans across Canada, because subsequently every time a Canadian based team has appeared in the Stanley Cup final we are constantly remembered that the 1992-93 Canadiens are the last such team to take home the ultimate prize. That they were that last team stands as an achievement that will remain important and relevant until some other team from Canada skates around holding the Stanley Cup aloft.

How much did Montreal and Toronto's success play in making this "a great season?" Is it possible to have a great season with neither team heavily involved in the Stanley Cup race?

I think the possibility of Montreal and Toronto playing in the Stanley Cup Final played a significant part in making the season a special one, and their dual success that spring definitely helped to make the season much more memorable, both at the time and in the two decades since. With that being said I think that it is possible to have a great season with neither team being heavily involved, but as history has shown it's much harder.

What was the most underrated story of the 1992-93 season?

Clearly, the surprising playoff success of the New York Islanders, a franchise that ironically has yet to win a playoff series since. What the Islanders accomplished that spring - including arguably the greatest playoff upset in recent Stanley Cup history - was completely unforeseen, especially after the incident involving Dale Hunter and Pierre Turgeon in the team's first round playoff conquest of the Washington Capitals. One could make the argument that the 1992-93 Islanders, and not the four Stanley Cup teams, represents Al Arbour's greatest coaching performance.

As you retraced the season in your research, what storyline(s) did you find surprised you in retrospect more than you expected to?

I guess I really wasn't aware of the various "conspiracy stories" that surround the Marty McSorley "illegal stick" incident. Of course, we all know the accepted version of events. But the perspective of some of the Kings players and surrounding staff was quite eye-opening and I thought it was critical to include that in the finished book. Were there shall I say neferious tactics afoot? Did the Canadiens perhaps gain an advantage by taking an advantage of a situation? Is the whole thing just sour grapes? I guess it depends what side of the fence you're sitting on.

In your opinion, how did we go from the high flying 1980s and early 1990s to the Dead Puck Era of 1995 to 2005?

A few reasons. 1) Rapid Expansion - Lacking in talent, many of the teams resorted to defensive systems that while not stylistic were highly effective, witness the success of the 1995-96 Florida Panthers. It soon seemed that more attention started being paid to keeping the puck out of your own net as opposed to putting it in the other team's net. 2) A Golden Age of Goaltending - the very next season saw the emergence of both Martin Brodeur and Dominik Hasek, which along with rapidly expanding equipment helped pave the way for a glut of 1-0 games. Consider that of the top 250 "officially recorded" goalie save percentages  in NHL history, only a single one predates the 1993-94 season. 3) The Lack of Enforcement by NHL Officials - in the rulebook, clutching and grabbing are penalties but when the referee's don't call them ...

Oh, and how I miss the days when a player would come charging down the wing, cross the blueline and unleash a slapshot from just below the red dot that beat the goaltender. I can't remember the last time I saw a player successfully pull that off.

Book related question - What new hockey book released in 2012 are you looking forward to the most?

There's definitely a lot to choose from but without question "Crossing the Line" by Derek Sanderson and Kevin Shea is at the very top of my list. The combination of Sanderson's unique story and the writing expertise of Shea, a person I consider one of Canada's finest hockey writers, is sure to give us all an entertaining, and informative read.