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Howie Meeker's Hockey Basics

Margaret Atwood. Pierre Berton. Lucy Maud Montgomery. Farley Mowatt. These authors are easily recognized as Canada's best.

We can include in that group Howie Meeker. I kid you not.

In November, 2005, the magazine Literary Review of Canada commissioned the ultimate list of Canadian literature. The top 100 titles were recognized for "Canadian importance and influence" rather than literary quality. The titles were ranked chronologically.

Howie Meeker's Hockey Basics, published in 1973, was included by the panel, the only hockey book to make the list. Here's what the LRC had to say about Meeker's text:

Meeker’s book was hugely influential in shaping the way Canadians play hockey today. A former NHL player, Meeker was a commentator for Hockey Night in Canada in the early 1970s—a sort of anti–Don Cherry who decried the goonery in the game and the lack of basic playing skills. When Meeker was a commentator for the 1972 summit series with the Soviets, his arguments were borne out when the best hot-dog talent in the NHL very nearly lost to a disciplined Russian team. The shock prompted a searching reappraisal of how hockey was taught to youngsters, and Meeker’s book, written in the aftermath of the 1972 series, became the blueprint for how to do so.

Okay, a hockey book (or 5) making the top 100 I can understand. But Meeker's instructional manual seems like an odd choice.

It's all about timing. This book came out in the aftermath of the 1972 Summit Series. Previous revolutionary instructional books, most notably Lloyd Percival's The Hockey Handbook, were dismissed as radical. But after seeing what the Soviets, devoted Percival disciples, were capable of, the country was ready for Meeker's entry. People ate up the book and the spin-off television segments.

A whole generation of Canadians grew up with the hockey drills as taught by Howie Meeker. That is why this coaching manual, one of 100s over the years, is the only hockey book to make the Literary Review of Canada's 100 most important books in Canada.

Whatever happened to Butt?

My question: Whatever happened to the two kids on the cover, Andy and Butt:

Cyclone Taylor: A Hockey Legend

So on a recent trip to Kamloops, BC, I walk into a thrift store. Why? Because I'm cheap. But also because I love hunting for hockey book. Trust me, thrift stores are a great place to find some unexpected treasures, and at the cheapest of prices.

In this store I found a copy of Eric Whitehead's 1977 book Cyclone Taylor: A Hockey Legend. I think the book cost $5, but thinking I already had the title in paperback back home, I put the book back on the shelf. But at at the last minute I decided hey why not and picked it up.

It's a good thing I did, because it turned out to be a gold mine.

On the inside title page is the following inscription:

"Jan 22, 78.
For Denome + John Kerr
Fred W (Cyclone) Taylor"

Yep. Autographed by Cyclone Taylor himself.

I would not have the foggiest idea on how to verify if the signature is authentic. Assuming it is legit, I would have no idea how much such an item might be worth in the collectibles market. I suspect a tad more than five bucks.

Perhaps one of my readers can shed a little more light on the value of such a unique and I'd assume rare autograph.

The Legend, The Book

Cyclone Taylor was hockey's first national superstar, known to Canadian hockey fans on both coasts and everywhere in the early 1900s. Whitehead's book brilliantly looks back at Taylor's career and life. While many Canadians may recognized the name Cyclone Taylor, very few know much about him. This book is an excellent resource not only about Taylor, but about early 1900s hockey and other legends.

Hockey Days by Howard Shapiro

Are you looking for a good, short, hockey book to read to your kids? Then you definitely have to consider Howard Shapiro's Hockey Days.

They say don't judge a book by the its cover. That would be good advice for Hockey Days. That sounds mean I know. But the cover illustrations greatly pale to quality graphics inside the book. This is a highly professional project and it deserves a better first impression. I asked several kids and they all concurred, with thoughts ranging from indifferent to turned off.

Which is unfortunate because Shapiro's heartwarming story shares an important message for juvenile readers, and adult readers will enjoy reading the title with them.

Like so many families, a young street hockey-crazed boy named Tom and his father are brought together by sport. Through his father's reminiscing Tom learns the values of teamwork, friendship and always giving it your all. Though the book is about hockey, he is really talking about the grander stage called life.

And that is a great lesson all kids should be hammered with, over and over. Many adults, too, for that matter.

Tom also gets to spend some real quality time with his dad, something which seems hard to do in today's busy life. And by doing so not only are Tom and his dad brought closer together. It also inspired Tom to carry on his dad's traditions, and therefore keeping him closer to his heart.

It is a really well written short story, although I must admit everyone in my household kept stumbling on the term DEK hockey. Even I was not 100% certain that was the brand name of that orange street hockey ball, as mine lost the brand name markings a few years and 100s of street hockey games ago.

Hockey Days is the third independently published title for the Pittsburgh-based accountant Shapiro. He has another hockey book coming out in the second half of 2008 - Hockey Player For Life. Check out the author's website so you can download your very own hockey stick bookmark.

Shapiro's writings are complimented with the illustrations of Kelly Brownlee and the foreword by recording artist Tom Cochrane.

Old Timey Hockey Tales

Freelance illustrator Robert Ullman contacted me in the spring of 2008 about his inaugural issue of "Old-Timey Hockey Tales."

Hockey Tales is a brilliant concept. Ullman tells the story of hockey legends, but presents it it in comic strip-style print. In issue one he looks at the tragic legends of Bill Barilko, Terry Sawchuk and the Rocket Richard riot. He keeps his biographies short and to the point, but somehow captures the legacies of the said players perfectly. He combines that with expert illustration, making for a most unique project.

Where Mr. Ullman is an accomplished cartoonist, and has found success with this cartoon format in other genres, notably bikini clad cartoon-cuties. Yet I can't help but think he's missing a golden opportunity here.

He is issuing Hockey Tales as a slight comic book (issue one has only 8 pages, 12 if you include bonus illustrations on the cover pages), almost newsletter style. What he needs to do is build up a variety of hockey history comic strips and approach a publishing house. With 50-75 legends profiled (or more!) Ullman could have the top hockey history book on the market in any of the upcoming book seasons. So many hockey history books regurgitate the same stories, but Ullman's presentation would make for a huge, huge hit.

Until then, we will have to enjoy Ullman's offerings issue by issue, at the small price of $2 (plus shipping). And it's only available through his website.

New Don Cherry Book Coming

Doubleday Canada has landed what will sure to be one of the top selling hockey book of 2008.

DON CHERRY'S HOCKEY STORIES AND STUFF, written with veteran sports journalist Al Strachan, will arrive in bookstores across Canada in late October, 2008.

This will be Cherry's second book release, with his autobiography penned a lifetime ago in 1983. This follow up book is very much long-awaited.

"This is the book that Canadian hockey fans have been waiting for," says Maya Mavjee, Publisher of Doubleday Canada. "Everybody here is thrilled to be working with Don Cherry on this book."

"Like any good Canadian, I've spent more Saturday nights with Don Cherry than I can count," says Martha Kanya-Forstner, editorial director of Doubleday Canada. "All the stories he has to tell are entertaining, and many of them are unexpected. Don's excitement at the prospect of sharing them with readers is infectious."

Cherry needs no introduction. The minor league player turned major league coach turned television character and Canadian icon is more recognizable than most Canadian Prime Ministers.

His new book will give his legions of fans the opportunity to share his favourite stories from his incredible career in hockey.

"I'd like this book to be just like we're sittin' down tellin' stories in my own language," says Cherry. "I'll be criticized because for some reason people are not too thrilled with the way I speak... So don't blame Random House or Al Strachan for the way the book is presented," continues Cherry. "I wanted the book to be like a couple of guys sittin' down with a few pops
tellin' hockey stories."

For Writers and Publishers

Would you like your hockey book reviewed and promoted at Hockey Book Reviews.com?

Whether you are self-publishing or a large publishing house, all new hockey books are welcomed.

You can contact website creater/editor Joe Pelletier at teamcanada72@gmail.com.

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Joe Pelletier
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Terrace BC Canada
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