Hockey Book Review: THN's Top 60 Since 1967

A decade ago The Hockey News celebrated their 50th anniversary by forming a panel to name the top 50 players in National Hockey League history. The result: a whole lot of conversational debate, a classic special issue magazine-turned-expanded book, and, I'm guessing here a bit, magazine/book sales out the ying-yang.

Fast forward to 2007 and THN needs to celebrate their 60th anniversary. How do they do it? By forming another panel to name the top 60 players, of course. But in order to make it different they only look at players after the NHL's first expansion in 1967, skip the special issue magazine and immediately release the book Hockey News Top 60 Since 1967: the Best Players of the Post-Expansion Era. Last step: cue the debate.

Now of course you're immediately saying, "Okay Joe, tell us who the 60 are." Well, I won't quite do that. You gotta go down to the bookstore and check it out yourself.

But I will tell you what I learned firsthand this past summer when I tried naming my top 36 players in the history of the sport. Lists like this are supposed to create controversy and conversation, there in turn selling more books. Everyone wants to chime in with their opinions, and no two people will ever have identical lists. It's all part of the fun.

The only comments on the list I will make at this time are:

• I'm surprised Brett Hull and Stan Mikita were ranked as low as they were.
• Judging Sidney Crosby's place on this list is incredibly tough. He belongs, but do his 2 seasons really place him ahead of Hall of Famers?
• Unlike before, this list isn't strictly about NHLers. That being said, only one WHA player was included, and no Soviets or international players.
  
• The more you study the list, the more you realize the names that aren't there. Mike Gartner, Teemu Selanne and Adam Oates are three that entered my mind quickly.
  

The panel consisted of Mike Brophy, Brian Burke, Jacques Demers, Jim Devellano, Kevin Paul Dupont, Jason Kay, Harry Neale, Jim Rutherford and Al Strachan. The panel is not nearly as strong as the 50 man panel from ten years ago, but their results are strong.

THN writers-extraordinaire Adam Proteau and Ken Campbell write the biographies, although undoubtedly the whole THN staff contributes. It can be tough to write yet another profile of Wayne Gretzky or Guy Lafleur, but I felt each writer did really solid jobs given the space allotted. I pretend to consider myself a well-researched historian when it comes to such players, and I was able to learn a few things. That's probably a really good sign.

Brett Hull scores with the book's foreword. He's open and insightful with his opinion of the era and of his dad, the Golden Jet Bobby Hull. It's short but a nice read.

When I first got the book, I must admit it did not meet my expected first impression at all. The hard cover book is small at 23.5 x 16 cm, much smaller than the normal magazine-size format THN has always used in the past. But it grew on me quickly, and the geeky side of me thinks that in this case different is cool. I like it.

What I am having trouble adapting to is the black and white photos. THN is known for splashy, colorful photos, and lots of them. In this project, done in tandem with publishing giant Random House, they give each player just one photo, and it's black and white. I'm sure that's a sound business decision, but it's disappointing. This isn't suggesting that the book is bad, but it isn't what most people may be expecting.

There is something about this book's layout that I really do like, but I can't quite figure it out. I think it must be the choice of font or maybe they've played with the margins marginally (no pun intended), but the book's typeface though small is really nice.

How this book will stack up against its epic predecessor from a decade ago will be interesting to watch unfold. One thing is for sure: A whole lot of debate will ensue shortly.

Overall Book Rating: 3/5 Second Liner

Hockey Book Review: Maple Leafs A-Z

Yesterday I talked about Raincoast Books lucrative children's hockey book franchise. The beautifully illustrated and well written stories are amazing power sellers. Previous titles include Gretzky's Game, The Greatest Goal, The Goalie Mask, Number Four, Bobby Orr!, A Hero Named Howe and the incredibly successful franchise starter My Leafs Sweater. All of these books were written by Mike Leonetti.

In 2007 Raincoast returns with two titles. They branched out and let Chris Mizzoni have a try with what is sure to be a hit in Clancy With The Puck. As I reviewed yesterday, this is a special title.

And of course Raincoast returns with another Leonetti effort in Maple Leafs A-Z. And why not? The Leonetti/Raincoast formula has worked magnificently in the past, and the marketplace is all theirs.

Except this book is a miss.

Now I don't doubt for a second that this book will sell more copies than most books this season. Greg Banning returns and his artwork is amazing. The franchise's reputation precedes itself, particularly with collectors and public and elementary school library systems. And the #1 rule about publishing hockey books is Maple Leafs books sell. Lots.

My number one complaint about this book: A - Z doesn't make much sense. Now I'll give Leonetti leeway with Max Bentley for the X entry, but E is Ted Kennedy and U is for Mats Sundin? Or H is for Busher Jackson or I is for King Clancy? Every kid I showed this book to drew the same conclusion. "That makes no sense."

Another common complaint: the kids this book is aimed at don't have a clue who anyone other than Sundin is. T is for Darcy Tucker and W is for Kyle Wellwood and M is for Bryan McCabe. I'd have to travel back in time and find myself if I wanted to find an 8 year old who knew who Dave Keon, Happy Day, Red Kelly, Syl Apps or Joe Primeau were.

Now who am I to criticize the Raincoast franchise on this subject. After all, I am the Hockey History Blogger and I think it is great that a) hockey history books are aimed at children and b) there are enough children out there to keep churning out more titles.

But I do find it hard to believe most kids want to connect with players of yesteryear they never heard of. They don't care about Turk Broda, they want Vesa Toskala. Who cares about Borje Salming, where's Tomas Kaberle? Tim Horton is some donut guy, he never played for the Maple Leafs.

Leonetti's previous children's titles all told a well written story, be it about the first goalie mask, the famous goal that beat the Russians, the 10 point game or of the career of #99. But this book just offers the briefest of biographies. It lacks Leonetti's trademark enthusiasm. Only Banning's artwork saves this book.

Overall Book Rating: 1/5 Back Up Goalie

Hockey Book Reviews: Clancy With The Puck

Raincoast Books 2007's entry in their annual children's hockey book marketplace is sure to be a huge, huge hit, as always.

The amazingly beautiful new title Clancy with the Puck continues the publisher's popular children's book franchise, following previous releases such as Gretzky's Game, The Greatest Goal, The Goalie Mask, Number Four, Bobby Orr!, A Hero Named Howe and the incredibly successful franchise starter My Leafs Sweater.

It's actually quite ingenious. These books follow the same formula: A good story, beautiful artwork and the high quality production that is Raincoast's trademark. They tend to be of historical reflection, which interests parents and allows for a great family moment to pass on the joy of both reading and hockey. The books are always popular under Christmas trees for years to come. And the publisher still has every public and elementary school library in Canada to sell at least one copy to. Raincoast's incredibly successful children's franchise will likely churn out new titles every year for some time to come.

2007 is a bit an experiment for Raincoast. While all the previous holdings were written by super-writer Mike Leonetti, new writer Chris Mizzoni steps in on this title. He also illustrates the book. Leonetti does return with a new children's title for 2007, Maple Leafs A-Z, which will be reviewed shortly.

Mizzoni doesn't miss a step, and Raincoast spares no resources, as the two teamed up to produce the most beautiful hockey book I've perhaps ever seen. The artwork and color is simply amazing, and appeals to both adults and children. For the very young the artwork tells its own story, allowing youth to fall in love with books and with reading and making their own stories up as they flip the pages.

Because of the artwork and production, I so wanted to love this book and give it the instant classic designation before I even read the story. And that's where I'm troubled just a touch by the book.

Mizzoni copies the classic Casey at the Bat, the 1888 baseball/literary classic by poet Ernest Thayer. Our hero on the ice is named Clancy Cooke, and is based loosely on the real life "King" Clancy. Our overconfident protagonist cockily lives through great success, but when the Stanley Cup is on the line he comes up just short.

Only as an adult did I understand the greatness of the original Casey, but as a youth I never did. I only really enjoyed the Walt Disney adaptation which ends with a happy ending. Mizzoni's Clancy sticks with the original stencil, basically ending the book with the surprise failure.

I wondered how today's kids would take to this book, so I took it to them. The results were consistent: the beautiful artwork instantly grabbed their attention, and the happy story sucked them in only to be shocked by the ending. Most kids didn't get it, and the few that were more didn't like the character after all. He was too "arrogant" said one girl.

So I'm afraid I can't quite give this book the Hall of Fame status that I want to. Mizzoni's poetry is really clever, although occasionally a bit too wordy for youngsters. As great as the artwork is and as captivating as the story starts out, the sudden and unexpected ending leaves can leave a young reader no longer in love with the book.

One more note, the book also comes with a DVD that brings the story to life on your TV or computer screens. I found the kids were more receptive to the story in this medium, although that may be a sign of the times. The animated short is narrated by legendary Hockey Night In Canada commentator Bob Cole. It may have just been me or my copy, but I did find the DVD difficult to get out of the plastic pocket. Be sure to help your child get the disc out on the initial viewing.

Bottom line, you have to check out this book. It is that beautiful! I know it is proudly displayed in my office.

Overall Book Rating: 4/5 All Star

WHA Indianapolis Racers Book Coming

I got an interesting email from Timothy Gassen this weekend.

Gassen is a hockey fan with a unique interest. He's combined his memories to write "a personal history of the Indianapolis Racers" hockey team. The book is entitled Red, White and Blues.

Gassen is in the process of sending me a review copy of the book, so I don't really know much more than what is said at his website, whaRACERS.com.

But I thought there would be interest in this title. After all, the games two highest scorers started their careers in Indianapolis - Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier.

Their time in Indy is greatly overlooked, almost forgotten about really.The book promises "for the first time, the real story behind Wayne Gretzky and his mysterious million dollar signing with the Racers as a 17-year-old rookie in 1978, and the details of his fateful journey to the Edmonton Oilers — and the Hall of Fame."

The book also promises a firsthand and "complete Racers franchise history, told by the players, coaches and fans themselves."

Gassen, who is a columnist over at InsideHockey.com, has a small publisher. The 152 page paperback book with 32-page photo section will be sold in "fine bookstores throughout North America," but as of right now books are sold at whaRACERS.com. While there appears to be no links available at Amazon or Chapters.ca at this time, the books are available immediately through Gassen's site.

I will have a book review up as soon as possible.

Hockey Book Reviews: Oldtimers

I wasn't just pleasantly surprised by the book Oldtimers: On the Road with the Legendary Heroes of Hockey. I was blown away by it.

I had always dismissed "Oldtimers" whenever I saw it on the bookshelves. The book covers the Oldtimers Hockey Challenge tour, as they travel across Canada and Alaska. I have seen the tour firsthand, both on the ice and off it, and I wasn't sure I wanted any deeper knowledge.

I've witnessed the hard drinking, prank playing ways of their life, and quite frankly found it sad. Here were players I grew up idolizing. I'd go to the game to honor them for who they were, to remember them, to remember my youth. But then I'd see who they have become: middle-aged hangers-on who are desperately trying recapture their youth.

Even sadder was the plight of some of the older legends. These players tour to raise monies for local charities, but also as a form of income. Its kind of sad that legends like Johnny Bower travel to the tiniest of towns in the coldness of winter to hock autographs.

Not all of the players are in it for the money. Some of the more recent retirees, the Russ Courtnalls, Bob Rouses and Gary Nylunds played in the big money era. Though they weren't at the top of the pay scale, they certainly did not need the puny appearance fees. Were they just desperately hanging on to the game they loved, the only life they knew?

So why were they there? Why were well-off Hall of Famers like Lanny McDonald and Marcel Dionne, or independently wealthy hockey players turned businessmen like Tiger Williams or Paul Reinhart there?

So I originally didn't even give this book a chance. I've seen books like this before, where the author glamorizes the drinking and endlessly rollicking hockey lifestyle I have no interest in, and the sob stories of these players problems. I'd much rather read something else, I thought.

I made that decision even though I knew Gary Mason was the author. Being based in British Columbia I've had the great fortune to enjoy Mason's insightful sports columns with the Vancouver Sun before he moved to the Globe and Mail in 2005 as the BC Affairs columnist. Mason is a masterful storyteller and is effortless to read.

Mason travels with team, and at times even plays, with 3 questions in mind: Why do these players put themselves through this?; why do we fans buy into these oldtimers tours as much as we do?; and how has hockey life changed over the years, particularly with the big dollars now at stake?

Mason does spend a lot of time experiencing and reporting about the drinking, the party and the pranking, and is guilty of at times glamorizing it. He does so not only because it is a huge aspect of this tour, but to show the reader that this is hockey life, like it or not. Mason demonstrates just how this lifestyle brings this group of individuals into a team in a hurry. While I still find it a bit sad that 45-50 year olds like Tiger Williams stay up until 5am drinking only to get up by 9 to catch the next flight or bus, Mason ties it all together to provide a fascinating look into what life in the National Hockey League was for these guys.

Mason also delves into the careers and lives of many of the legends. Most of the stories have some aspect of sorrow in it, differentiating the men on the ice from the men off of it. There's Gary Nylund's regret, Marcel Dionne's bitterness, Wayne Babych's injuries, Reggie Leach's drinking, Peter and Anton Stastny's brave defection. Mason masterfully uses the this literary formula to make the reader feel for the player, but usually does not overdo it.

This book is a great peak into the life of a National Hockey League employee. Along the way, we also learn a bit about life in remote Canada and Alaska and a lot about several former players. It also provides a look into ourselves and our country. It's fascinating, usually entertaining, and always insightful, perhaps too much so for us hero worshipers.

Mason's writing captivated me instantly and when I had no choice but to put the book down, I found myself making time to pick it back up. While the book flows nicely and quickly, Mason also divides each each chapter succinctly which makes the book equally enjoyable even if just read in passages.

Don't make the same mistake I did. Don't pass this book by again.

Overall Book Rating: 4/5 All Star

Hockey Book Review: A Canadian Saturday Night

The hockey book writing machine better known as Andrew Podnieks churned out another gem with the 2006 Greystone Books release A Canadian Saturday Night: Hockey and the Culture of a Country.

The author of nearly 50 titles takes a look at how tightly connected hockey is with all aspects of Canadian culture. He examines how hockey, which began as "a geographic and meteorological fact," developed into such a significant part of our everyday lives. Even those Canadians who do not enjoy the sport can not escape it. Hockey is the quintessential Canadian experience.

Podnieks does not approach this book with any grand thesis or encyclopedic chronicling. Instead he provides an admittedly subjective history of random things that have transcended the game itself to shape us culturally, socially, politically and mythologically.

Podnieks goes on to dedicate a full page of text and unique and beautiful color photos of great Canadian experiences such as yelling "car," humming the Hockey Night In Canada theme song, collecting hockey cards, and driving by piles of Zamboni-left snow on the hottest day of summer while munching on a donut from Tim Hortons.

Other subjects include the game's language (hat trick, chiclets,) the game's celebrities (Stompin' Tom, Peter Puck, Don Cherry and the Hanson brothers), the game's defining moments of different generations (1972, the Richard riot, Gretzky's wedding) and the game in its simplest form (puck, stick, skate, outdoor ice).

The book can be read from cover to cover but it is best served as a brilliant though small coffee table book. With the museum-like archiving of how the game has become part of the fabric of daily life in Canada, the book is just dying to be flipped through.

It is written with obvious personal reflection, attempting to be at times heart-tugging and at times funny. Once or twice that humour fails as Podnieks jabs at American hockey fans, many of whom would love to read this book to better understand how the game can be a nation's unofficial religion.

As a coffee table book, I really liked this offering. The pictures are intoxicating while the subjects will touch various readers on an individual basis. That being said the coffee table book also begs to be expanded into a literary masterpiece that it is not.

Perhaps that is another project for the extremely busy Mr. Podnieks.

Overall Book Rating: 2/5 Role Player