The Montreal Canadiens by Claude Mouton

Claude Mouton’s The Montreal Canadiens: An Illustrated History of a Hockey Dynasty is a richly detailed and visually stunning chronicle of the NHL’s most celebrated franchise. Originally published in the late 1980s, the book serves both as a definitive historical account and as a tribute to the Canadiens’ unmatched legacy of excellence. Mouton — the longtime public address announcer at the Montreal Forum and a central figure within the organization — brings an insider’s warmth and authority that make the book far more than a mere compilation of facts and photos.

According to Goodreads readers, Mouton’s work stands out for its comprehensive coverage and striking photography. Every page immerses the reader in the Canadiens’ history — from Howie Morenz’s dazzling artistry in the 1920s and Maurice “Rocket” Richard’s fiery dominance in the 1940s and ’50s, to the dynastic power of the Béliveau, Dryden, and Lafleur years. Mouton pairs crisp, informative text with rare archival images that capture both the grandeur of championship moments and the quiet humanity behind them.

What truly elevates this book is its tone — reverent but not sentimental, proud but not boastful. Mouton writes as someone who lived the Canadiens’ story from the inside, yet never loses his sense of wonder at what the team represented: not only victory, but identity, tradition, and excellence. His narrative moves smoothly across eras, reminding readers that the Canadiens’ greatness was built on continuity — a shared belief in doing things “the Montreal way.”

Readers describe the book as a “must-have for Habs fans” and “a gorgeous tribute to hockey’s greatest team.” In the end, Mouton’s Illustrated History is more than a coffee-table book — it’s a museum in print, preserving the spirit and splendor of a dynasty that defined the sport. 

The Chicago Black Hawks Story by George Vass

In The Chicago Black Hawks Story, veteran sportswriter George Vass captures the proud, colorful history of one of hockey’s most storied franchises with a warmth and nostalgia that instantly transports readers to another era. Written in 1970, the book traces the team’s journey from its rugged beginnings in the 1920s through the glory years of Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita, Glenn Hall, and Pierre Pilote — a period when hockey in Chicago pulsed with energy, passion, and civic pride.

Vass writes with the romantic tone so characteristic of old-school hockey journalists — part historian, part storyteller, and unabashed fan. His prose celebrates the game’s characters as much as its champions. He paints vivid scenes of smoke-filled dressing rooms, train rides between snowbound cities, and raucous nights at the Chicago Stadium when the crowd’s roar seemed to shake the rafters. The book isn’t burdened by analytics or cynicism; instead, it’s driven by affection for the players and an unshakable belief in hockey’s purity and spirit.

What makes The Chicago Black Hawks Story so endearing is its innocence. Vass writes from a time when hockey was more intimate — when fans felt they knew their heroes, and the game still belonged to the working class. His admiration for Hull’s power, Mikita’s ingenuity, and Hall’s stoicism feels genuine, never distant or clinical. He weaves their stories with those of early pioneers like Charlie Gardiner and Max Bentley, showing how every era built upon the one before it.

Reading Vass today is like opening a time capsule — a reminder of how sports once felt simpler, more human, and more romantic. The Chicago Black Hawks Story is a love letter to hockey before the modern age, penned by a writer who truly loved the game and the people who played it.

The Habs: An Oral History of the Montreal Canadiens 1940-1980

Few hockey teams in the world inspire the same reverence as the Montreal Canadiens. In The Habs: An Oral History of the Montreal Canadiens 1940–1980, broadcaster and historian Dick Irvin Jr. captures the mystique of this storied franchise with a blend of authenticity, insight, and affection that only someone deeply embedded in the team’s culture could provide. Through hundreds of first-hand interviews, Irvin reconstructs four decades of triumphs, rivalries, heartbreaks, and dynasties, producing a living, breathing portrait of the Canadiens in their golden years.

The book’s strength lies in its oral history format. Rather than imposing his own voice, Irvin allows the players, coaches, executives, and journalists of the era to tell their own stories. We hear from legends like Maurice “Rocket” Richard, Jean Béliveau, Henri Richard, Ken Dryden, Toe Blake, and Scotty Bowman — each offering their perspective on what made the Canadiens unique. These voices don’t just recount games or statistics; they reveal the inner workings of a dynasty built on discipline, loyalty, and an almost spiritual connection to the city of Montreal. The result is an unfiltered chronicle that feels both intimate and epic.

What makes this book so successful is the author himself. Dick Irvin Jr. is not merely a journalist reporting on history; he is part of the Canadiens’ legacy. The son of legendary coach Dick Irvin Sr., who led the team from 1940 to 1955, Irvin Jr. grew up around the Montreal Forum, surrounded by players who became his family’s friends. Later, as a broadcaster for Hockey Night in Canada, he spent decades covering the Canadiens firsthand. This lifelong proximity gives him unmatched access, credibility, and empathy. He understands not just the details of the team’s history, but the emotions behind it — the pride of pulling on the CH sweater, the pressure of representing Quebec, and the heavy expectations that came with being part of hockey’s greatest franchise.

Irvin’s writing reflects that deep respect. He never sensationalizes or overanalyzes; instead, he curates memories with the patience of a craftsman and the heart of a fan. His interviews uncover moments of vulnerability — a glimpse into Rocket Richard’s fiery competitiveness, Béliveau’s quiet leadership, or Dryden’s introspective view of fame. The collective voices paint a picture of a team that was both human and mythic, showing how the Canadiens defined excellence in the NHL for generations.

The Habs: An Oral History is more than a hockey book; it is a cultural time capsule. It captures how the Canadiens helped shape Quebec’s identity in the postwar era, and how hockey became a unifying force in a province undergoing profound social change. By preserving the memories of those who built that legacy, Irvin has created a vital document of the sport’s most cherished dynasty.

In the end, no one else could have written this book. Dick Irvin Jr. didn’t just study the Canadiens — he lived their story. His work stands as both a tribute and a testament to the enduring power of the Montreal Canadiens and the generations who carried their torch.

The New York Times: Sports of the Times (2003)

I recently picked up this gem for $1 at a Rotary Book Sale in Nanaimo, British Columbia. From 2003, it is The New York Times: Sports of the Times, edited by William Taaffe and David Fischer.

Part scrapbook and part coffee table book, this title is a glimpse into sporting history. Drawn from 150 years of archives from the New York Times (and arranged one day at a time through a full calendar year), each day features the original story, along with archival photography. All the greatest moments and athletes are here, from Paavo Nurmi to Muhammed Ali to Michael Jordan. 

And yes, Wayne Gretzky (though strangely not his final NHL game ever, when playing for the Rangers), among other hockey stars. New York is a great hockey town, but rarely is hockey the top story in the sporting section. Sixteen times hockey is the headline featured. I have included photos of all sixteen stories below. 

Since I still have not found enough plutonium for my time machine disguised as a DeLorean to travel back in time, this is an excellent way to relive history in the moment. Too often history is revised over time, and sports is no different. Now you can experience the great sporting moment through the newspaper's rich reporting at the time it actually happened. The original reports capture the language, tone and atmosphere of the moment - not written with hindsight, but as the event unfolded. This immediacy gives the readers an authentic sense of cultural context. 

Here are quick snap shots of the hockey stories covered in Sports of the Times. Enjoy.