Hockey Book Reviews.com

It is only March, but I have found the 2008 hockey book of the year. It's too bad I just can't sit down and read it cover to cover. Author/university English professor Randall Maggs (brother of former NHL/WHA defenseman Daryl Maggs) and publisher Brick Books have combined to give us Night Work: The Sawchuk Poems . It is a book that will undoubtedly win countless of industry literary awards and should go down as one of the best hockey books of all time. "Poems," as I call it, is just that. Nearly 200 pages and over 70 individual pieces of poetry that combine to create one long, narrative piece of literary beauty. Yes, poetry. Hockey books don't tend to rank as literary gems because they're not intended to be. Almost without fail they follow the same formulaic approach, to appease the supposed lower end of the reading public spectrum. The stereotype of a hockey book reader is of the "dumb jocks" theory, more likely to read Slash's autobiography ...

From The London Free Press : Night Work: The Sawchuk Poems recounts the life, in and out of hockey, of arguably the best goaltender who ever played the game. He also was one of hockey's most tragic figures, dying in 1970 at the age of 40 after fighting with teammate Ron Stewart in the off-season. He suffered from untreated depression. Maggs is a professor in Newfoundland. His book is being published by Brick Books in London and will be released during the next few weeks. It's a unique look at Sawchuk's thoughts and fears and by extension, looks at the world of hockey in a much different light. The book brings Sawchuk back to life for long-time hockey fans, and introduces him to a new generation. Sawchuk's name will surface more often as New Jersey Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur closes in on Sawchuk's record for most shutouts. Sawchuk had 103 regular-season shutouts. Brodeur is at 96. Read the full article by Morris Dalla Costa, including a sample poem.