Hockey Card Stories by Ken Reid

Hockey Card Stories: True Tales from Your Favourite Players
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From The Publisher: Hockey Card Stories reveals what was really going on in your favourite old hockey cards through the eyes of the players depicted on them. Some of the cards are definitely worth a few bucks, some a few cents — but every story told here is priceless. Sportsnet’s Ken Reid presents the cards you loved and the airbrushed monstrosities that made you howl, the cards that have been packed away in boxes forever, and others you can’t believe ever existed. Whether it’s a case of mistaken identity or simply a great old photo, a fantastic 1970s haircut and ’stache, a wicked awesome goalie mask or a future Hall of Famer’s off-season fashion sense, a wide variety of players — from superstars like Bobby Orr, Denis Potvin, and Phil Esposito to the likes of Bill Armstrong who played only one game in the NHL — chime in on one of their most famous cards.

Joe's Note: Noted hockey author Stephen Brunt sums it up best on the back of the book when he says "My mom threw out my hockey cards, so I couldn't write this book. But thank god Ken Reid did."

This is a fantastic anthology of hockey biographies. Reid takes the tried and true (if tired) hockey book formula of collecting short biographies and stories of players from the past, but breathes new life into by centering it around a hockey card. We all collected hockey cards as kids and Reid takes us back with a nostalgic trip down memory lane.

From there Reid's witty and cheery writing style instantly captures the reader, making this a hard book to put down. Whether you ready about Bobby Orr, Rogie Vachon or Denis Potvin, or some lesser-knowns you likely never heard of like Mark Lofthouse or Bob Paradise, this is just a fantastic read from cover to cover. He shares not only the players' thoughts about the featured hockey card, but about his career and often a funny story.

Reid's passion for this project is immediately obvious. He's got a hit on his hands here. I am fully expecting Hockey Card Stories 2 down the road (not to mention a baseball spin-off).

By the way, the cover of this book, designed like an old school hockey card wrapper, is just fantastic. Good job by ECW Press all around here. It's too bad they couldn't include a stiff stick of that pink gum that only a kid could chew. That would have made this book epic!

Ice Storm: The Rise and Fall of the Greatest Vancouver Canucks Team Ever

Ice Storm: The Rise and Fall of the Greatest Vancouver Canucks Team Ever
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From the publisher ... "An incendiary inside look at the Canucks' meteoric rise to the top of the NHL and their dramatic post-riot fall to mediocrity—all at a time when new efforts are being launched to save the once-great team.

In 2008, the Vancouver Canucks were Team Modern, revolutionizing the NHL under their new GM, former player agent Mike Gillis. Cool, calculating, and unsparing with the media, the onetime number one draft pick of the old Colorado Rockies swept away the tangled psychological past of the Canucks with bold innovation, remodeling Vancouver as a destination city for NHL star players. To do so, he built the Canucks from a non-playoff team in 2008 to the best in hockey from 2010-2012. He modernized the players' diets and psychological approach, he rebuilt the dressing room, and he sought sleep consultants to help with the Canucks' punishing travel schedule. More than that, his winning team lifted Vancouver from eighth overall in NHL revenues to second by 2013. When the team took to the ice for Game 7 of the 2011 Cup Final, it seemed there was nothing the Canucks couldn't overcome with their "Canucktivity" approach. The hockey world was at their feet.

But things changed in Game 7. Physically exhausted and bullied by the Bruins, the Canucks succumbed 4-0. To cap the greatest season in team history, Vancouver rioted. Gillis tried a number of aggressive moves to get back to the Final, from switching Luongo for Schneider to trading players, but nothing worked. From there, the dominoes fell: Alain Vigneault was dismissed, John Tortorella hired; Tortorella raged, fans bayed for Gillis' head; and finally, Gillis and Tortorella were both fired. In spring 2014, tried-and-true Canuck hero Trevor Linden was installed as president, with former teammate Jim Benning by his side as GM. No one was quite sure if this was an improvement, but at least the hysterical screaming had stopped.

How did it happen? Ice Storm follows the journey that led the Canucks from the top of the mountain to the bottom of the abyss in six short years.

Joe's Note: I must admit that I am an unapologetic Vancouver Canucks fan at heart and always will be. The years building to the 2011 Stanley Cup final were the best years of my hockey fan life. And then it all blew up, mostly because of injuries. After that the team quickly floundered, thanks largely to mismanagement. What had been the greatest moment in Canucks' fans lifetimes has quickly soured.

I have every assurance that Dowbiggin has fairly and properly chronicled all the events here. He even gives Mike Gillis a little more credit than almost any of us would, and probably deservedly so. That inside look at Gillis, as well as other situations such as committing to the Sedin Twins and the whole Luongo fiasco, are what will make or break this book. Whether the author has spent enough time exploring those angles is key.

I say this having not actually read the book. I can't. I won't. At least not yet. That is no slight to Mr. Dowbiggin or this book in any way. Dowbiggin has a good track record with his many other book projects and I respect his work immensely.

As I said earlier, I am a die hard Canucks fan. And I am not yet ready to relive these events. But I have bought the book. And I will put in my always growing pile of books to read one day down the road. But I am not ready to crack the spine just yet.

Teemu

2014 Hockey Book of the Day today has to be this Finnish release which is making headlines across the hockey world today. Teemu very honestly and openly discusses his unhappiness with coach Bruce Boudreau and how his career ends. Read through Juha Hiitela's twitter timeline for lots of details. Book will be released in English in 2015 sometime.https://twitter.com/jhiitela

The Ultimate Cookbook For Hockey Families

Anyone with a kid or kids in minor hockey knows how hectic life can be. So why not get some meal ideas from 25 pros such as Kyle Turris, Jay McClemment and Cassie Campbell!

The Ultimate Cookbook for Hockey Families
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From The Publisher: Hockey families across Canada face a familiar dilemma: How do you cook for kids who are on the ice six nights a week and eat dinner at different times each evening? Breakaway: The Ultimate Cookbook for Hockey Families provides the answer: simple, easy, nutritious meals that kids will eat. This book is filled with tips and tricks to relieve the stress on busy hockey parents, whether they’re juggling meals at home or trying to come up with something nutritious on the road. In this book, hockey stars like Ottawa Senators centre Kyle Turris, Toronto Maple Leafs assistant captain Jay McClement, and Olympic gold medalist Cassie Campbell offer their recipes and their secrets for how they prepare for the big game and how they feed their muscles afterwards. With hockey embedded in the design and in every recipe, tip, and trick, this book aims to delight and inform aspiring hockey players, figure skaters, and the whole family support team.

Super Scorers, Great Goalies And Dominant Defensemen by Eric Zweig

An eye-catching trilogy of kids hockey books (sold separately) by Eric Zweig and the Hockey Hall of Fame. Always a fun read with the kids:

Hockey Hall of Fame Kids series
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Here's more directly from the author: Got back from our trip on Monday to find a box full of my newest hockey books for children. A set of three done for Firefly and their Hockey Hall of Fame series. If you have a boy or a girl within a few years either side of 10, these books are a great way to introduce them to the greats of the game. Focusing mainly on players who played in the 70s, 80s, and 90s (ie, Hall of Famers the parents -- and even grandparents -- of 10 years olds are most likely to have seen play!), there are also "Blasts from the Past" featuring earlier stars, "Modern Matches" pairing Hall of Famers with the stars of today, and photos and memorabilia from the Hall of Fame Archives. I wrote them, so what am I going to say, but honestly, they're really great and very well designed, as are all books from Firefly! Short, easy-to-read text and colourful photos and illustrations. Most book store web sites say they're available beginning today (September 2), so what are you waiting for?

50 Greatest Red Wings by Bob Duff

50 Greatest Red Wings
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From The Publisher - Howe, Yzerman, Fedorov, Lidstrom, Lindsay and Shanahan. Bob Duff's 50 Greatest Red Wings is the definitive list Hockeytown's heroes. Including members of the famous Production Line and The Red Army, 50 Greatest Red Wings features full statistics and in-depth player analysis. With rarely seen photos and astonishing anecdotes this book is essential to any hockey collection.

The Big Book of Hockey Fun by The Hockey News

The Hockey News: The Big Book of Hockey Fun
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From The Publisher: The Hockey News’ latest book, The Big Book of Hockey Fun, is the perfect pickup for the purest fans in the hockey world: kids. Written by THN’s stable of experts, along with some of the industry’s top hockey writers, the book features a variety of stories, told through detailed accounts and vivid first-hand recollections. It also includes plenty of puzzles and pictures for young fans of the world’s greatest game.

Joe's Note: This looks like a great stocking stuffer for the younger hockey fan on your Christmas shopping list.

Hockey Confidential by Bob McKenzie

Hockey Confidential by the original hockey insider Bob McKenzie
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Joe's Note: This may be my most anticipated new hockey book of 2014. Bob McKenzie first book, Hockey Dad, was a wonderful surprise and allowed us to see a different side of our favorite TV/internet hockey insider. Now he's back with the book many of us were expecting from him in the first place - a book about being a hockey insider. Only I suspect it will surprise us with more wit and humour rather than too many surprise secrets.

From The Publisher: Over 500,000 hockey fans follow Bob McKenzie on Twitter and millions more on TSN-no one has the access or breadth and depth of experience when it comes to hockey.

Now in his very first book on the NHL, Bob goes behind the scenes, covering the inside stories, the lesser-known personalities and the events that shape Canada's game. He talks to Bobby Orr about Connor McDavid (touted as "the next Crosby"), reveals the actual stats that NHL coaches and scouts use, and explores what it's like to be Don Cherry's son. Entertaining, insightful and a damn good read, Hockey Confidential is a must for every hockey fan.

Straight Up And Personal: The World According To Grapes by Don Cherry

Don Cherry can be called A LOT of things. Best selling author is one of them.

He's back in 2014 with Straight Up and Personal: The World According to Grapes
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Here's more from the Publisher: Known for his opinions--and unabashed expression of them--Don Cherry has been causing debate for decades. Topics on "Coach's Corner" sometimes veer away from sports and on to other matters that are near and dear to Cherry's heart: the war in Afghanistan and politics, among many others.

In Straight Up and Personal, Cherry shares his thoughts on a broader range of issues than he ever has before. He shares some of his personal experiences on and off the ice, and offers the lessons he's learned along the way. This is Don Cherry: straight up and personal.

Joe's Note: For the legions of Don Cherry followers, this will no doubt be a must read. It sounds like he branches out quite a bit, straying from hockey and covering, as Cherry often does, whatever he feels like talking about.

Conversations With A Rattlesnake by Theo Fleury

Theo Fleury is back. He had a best selling, tell all autobiography back in 2009 (has it been that long already?!) called Playing With Fire. Co-written by the excellent Kirstie McLellan Day, the book was dark, scary and downright uncomfortable at times - expertly capturing the traumatic life Theo Fleury has been forced to endure.

Now comes his new book, Conversations with a Rattlesnake: Raw and honest reflections on healing and trauma. Key words here are raw and honest. Expect more sad and shocking news about Theo Fleury's life here.

Fleury of course puts these books out to help other victims like him, so that maybe in some small way he can help them. I sincerely hope that one day Fleury can put out a book that sends the message that he has found peace. That could be the best message he can send to other victims.

Conversations with a Rattlesnake: Raw and honest reflections on healing and trauma
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From The Publisher: Following the release of his mind-blowing first book, Playing with Fire, Theo Fleury joins forces with world-renowned therapist Kim Barthel in a new book, Conversations with a Rattlesnake, coming out November 2014. The book is a raw and honest conversation, loaded with personal insights and cutting-edge information about healing from trauma and abuse.

Fleury calls Barthel the “Wayne Gretzky of therapy” and within their emotionally safe relationship he bares his soul so that others can learn from his mistakes, triumphs and new learnings. Fleury’s story will inspire not only those overcoming their own trauma but friends, parents, teachers, coaches, therapists and health practitioners—anyone who is in the critical position of supporting someone who needs to share their own story.

Co-author Kim Barthel provides an in-depth explanation of early childhood attachment and addiction that ties into the reasoning behind our behaviours and the science of how our brains work. Barthel explains how understanding groundbreaking scientific and psychological research can eliminate the unnecessary and damaging shame that so often accompanies abuse and trauma. Her dialogue with Fleury illuminates self-awareness, mindfulness and the power of relationships. Fleury’s life experiences and Barthel’s informed interpretation combine to provide a unique look at the healing process that is easy to read, entertaining and transformational.