Hockey Book Reviews.com

This is a replica jersey of the 1939 World Champion Trail Smoke Eaters. That jersey may have saved the life of the Canadian prisoner of war in World War II. Prior to the start of World War II the Smokies went on a barnstorming tour of Europe and then represented Canada at the World Championships. Upon their successful return to British Columbia, Smoke Eater Mickey Brennan gave his well worn sweater to fan Steve Saprunoff as a souvenir. Saprunoff later enrolled in the Canadian Air Force, and was called into action in Europe in World War II. He always wore his trusty Smoke Eaters jersey on missions. Even on the day in 1944 his plane was shot down in German territory and he became prisoner of war. Obviously, being a POW is not an envious position to be in. But Saprunoff was fortunate to have the Smoke Eaters jersey with him, as it earned him a German friend. The prison guard recognized Saprunoff's Smoke Eaters' jersey. It seems that the guard had seen the Smoke Eaters pla...

Every year a hockey book seemingly comes out of the blue and surprises me. In 2008 that hockey book is Dave Holland's Canada On Ice - The World Hockey Championships, 1920-2008 . Even though the book has been out since March, somehow I didn't even know about the book until Holland himself contacted me in September. There's a pretty good chance you don't know about it either. It is a wonderfully produced self-published effort, though the big book chains don't care or carry it. It is not available at Chapters or Amazon Canada's website. It is available at Amazon.com for $30, or through the book's companion website - Canada On Ice . You will need PayPal to purchase the book there. When Holland contacted me about his book I was downright giddy. I'm a huge international hockey/Team Canada fan, as you all know. While Canadians seemingly have an unquenchable thirst for hockey, the World Hockey Championships have never really be Canadian fans' cup of tea. Th...