Le Québec mis en échec by Bob Sirois

This is Bob Sirois. The proud native of Montreal played 286 games in the NHL in the 1970s, primarily with lowly Washington. He scored 92 goals and 212 points. In his only two full NHL seasons he challenged the 30 goal mark, scoring 24 and 29 in back to back seasons. He was a great skater with a good shot, but an injuries really prevented him from becoming a full time NHL player.

Sirois has written a book (written in French and only available in Quebec) called Le Québec mis en échec (Quebec Bodychecked). He asserts his belief that Francophone hockey players are discriminated against at hockey's highest levels.

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Graeme Hamilton of the National Post talked to Sirois about the book.

"A book published Monday by former National Hockey League player Bob Sirois, examining four decades of professional drafts, comes to the explosive conclusion that francophone Quebecers are systematically thwarted by an "anti-francophone virus" plaguing the NHL.

Francophone Quebecers are wrongly disparaged as too small, too lax on defence and not suited to the robust "Canadian" style of play, Mr. Sirois writes in the book. "Myths, prejudices, stereotypes and favoritism make up an integral part of every draft session in the National Hockey League."

The book contains highly detailed with charts detailing the fate of every Quebecer drafted by NHL teams over the past 40 years. The author's findings are that proportionate to their share of the population francophone Quebecers were less likely to get drafted than anglophone Quebecers and Francophones were generally selected lower in the draft.

I agree that there is a general reputation of the QMJHL that they produce highly skilled but often soft and one way players. Why is that? Hamilton's article does not really talk about it, and I can only assume the author does as I have not read this book.

What Hamilton does highlight is Sirois' high criticism of the Montreal Canadiens for employing so few Francophone players in recent. He suggests two solutions are to return the NHL to Quebec City and to ice an all Quebec team in international tournaments such as the World Junior Championships.

Sirois is a proud Quebecer and very successful businessman nowadays. I have no idea of his political views, but the solutions offered sound politically motivated, as we've seen in the past from Quebec.

I have not seen the book, but I hope Sirois offers a more in depth look at systemic issues in Quebec minor and junior hockey as well. What can the QMJHL do to improve? Perhaps various levels of government should be better investing in Quebec youth hockey in terms of facilities and coaching? Do population trends factor into this equation?

Cries of NHL racism are far too convenient for the sovereigntists in Quebec. As too are cries against Hockey Canada for discriminating against Quebecers at the World Juniors (and I guarantee you'll hear more of the same when the Olympic team is announced later this year). Quebec does represent itself at the U17 World Championships, and have won three times since 1986, and only once since 1995. Would competing at the U20s produce better results? Not without serious systemic remedies.

There seems to be some expectation that the Montreal Canadiens must have some level of Quebec grown content. It would be great if they did, but there should be no such expectation. Winning should be the expectation, regardless of where the players come from.

The Canadiens lack of success in recent has more to do with interest in hockey in Quebec and the resulting production of future players. The kids will come out in droves if Les Habitants are winning, regardless if the star player is from Turku, Togliatti or Trois Rivieres.

From The Broadcast Booth by Brian McFarlane

The hockey history community, make the hockey community in it's entirety, owes Brian McFarlane a great debt of gratitude. Few people have done as much for hockey history than he has.

Nearly 80 years old, McFarlane has put in a life time (actually 50 years) of broadcasting hockey, most famously with Hockey Night in Canada and with NBC, where he was famous for Peter Puck. He has also been prolific in print, writing over 50 hockey books.

Sometimes his books tend to be repetitive in terms of content and stories. That is fine, as it keeps hockey history alive to new audiences every few years. But if you're a long time reader like me, perhaps you lose a bit of appreciation over the years.

My favorite Brian McFarlane book was by far 2001's Brian McFarlane's World of Hockey. He was open and a great story teller in the surprisingly entertaining book all about himself. It was more autobiographical, sharing his own life on the ice, in the broadcast booth, and away from the rink. I was instantly a Brian McFarlane fan again. Did you know his dad was the original Hardy Boys writer?

So when I received word that McFarlane would be releasing From the Broadcast Booth: A Career in the World of Network Hockey in 2009, my hopes were high that we would get another gem from the legend.

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The book is not quite like his World of Hockey release. Instead of a true autobiographical format, this new book reads like your sitting down with him having a few pops while he tells one great story after another.

They are not always his stories, either. He often solicits the voice of former players, coaches and broadcasters for their input. The result is a real jewel for hockey history fans, as we get a lot of newly told, first hand accounts of some of the great but long gone names in hockey.

It's kind of "Strange But True Hockey Stories" meets "World of Hockey" - great hockey stories told with more of a personal touch. It works well, although it was still not a book that I could just sit down and read from cover to cover. It's still more of a typical McFarlane book where you can pick it up, read a few passages, be entertained and learn something fascinating about the game we all love.

Also check out Brian McFarlane's own website - It Happened In Hockey.com.

The Hockey News: Greatest Jerseys Of All Time

In 2008 The Hockey News came out with a brilliant special edition magazine The Greatest Masks of All Time. The beautiful periodical was a combined photo essay of all the great goalie masks over the years, coupled with in depth articles about the goalies. It was beautifully done.

THN is back in 2009 with a similar project called The Greatest Jerseys of All Time. Available on news stands on October 19th, 2009, this promises to be a must have for all hockey fans, and a great stocking stuffer idea for those shopping for a hockey fan.

The 170 page collector's magazine looks at the classics from hockey's earliest years, such as the Seattle Metropolitans on the cover, to all the modern designs and alternate jerseys of today's 30 NHL teams.

THN accessed the Hockey Hall of Fame's amazing 1600 archived jersey collection for the photo shoot. The magazine also tells many interesting stories about the sweaters and people who wore them.

Are you looking for that Christmas Gift for your out-of-town friend? Too late to deliver that book you though they might like?

Give them a subscription to The Hockey News! You can order it online via Amazon, and have news of the gift delivered immediately to their email inbox. They will start receiving their subscription shortly afterward.

You can always order Amazon gift certificates too!

Read more...

7 Pre-Game Habits Of Pro Hockey Players by Brett Henning

Do you remember the name Brett Henning?

He was a member of the original Team USA national development team and starred at the 2000 World Junior Hockey Championships. He played junior hockey in Canada and college hockey at the famed University of Notre Dame, earning NHL draft selection by the New York Islanders in 1999.

A serious neck injury forced him out of hockey before he could give the NHL a try, but he's back, sharing what he's learned in hockey with players of all ages in his new book 7 Pre-Game Habits of Pro Hockey Players.

You may be wondering how he's qualified to talk about pro hockey players. His hockey resume is impressive, but he never made the pros. Did I fail to mention his father was Lorne Henning, the New York Islanders great turned NHL head coach? He is currently the assistant general manager of the Vancouver Canucks.

You see, Brett Henning grew up with pro-hockey. He has lived professional hockey right from birth, and with one of the most unique vantage points possible. As a five year old he was on the ice learning the art of saucer passes from Uwe Krupp and even fighting moves from Mick Vukota.

Henning was on his way to his own NHL career, playing junior in Canada and college in the US, before 2 herniated discs in his neck derailed his career. He had to deal with the loss of his passion and his dream, yet in this "lesson in humility" he learned so much, and he wants to share it with hockey players of every level. He wants to help you become the best player on your youth or rec team. He wants to help you get attention from the US college scholarship people, or maybe, just maybe, get you noticed by NHL scouts.

In fact, his principles could be used to some degree in every day life to some degree, making this book interesting for more than just aspiring hockey players and their parents.

Through his seven principles he can teach any player - even NHL players - to be better. He champions visualization, breathing, controlling of emotions, proper stretching, reflex and concentration games, nutrition and routine. Henning explains why each is important as well as giving step by step pointers, particularly with the mental preparation.

This book isn't nearly as dry as I just made it sound. The author shares his own stories and inspirational stories of others - both hockey and other celebrities - in a light hearted, at times humorous and always encouraging fashion. It is an at-times charming read, although it gets quite technical when it comes to the stretching and nutrition sections.

The book is an interesting read, but you have to go into it with an open mind and willing to try new things. The author is convinced these techniques will help, but beyond his voice there is no real reason given why the reader should buy in immediately. With that in mind it would a great idea if the author included some first person accounts from current or past NHL stars who practiced these same techniques.

I really like the book's last chapter, a short and succinct look at the top mistakes amateur hockey players make. Even if this is all you take from the book, these are easy ways to become a better player and enjoy the game more. Enjoy the game, and enjoy the experiences the game gives you, both on and off the ice are great messages from the author.

The book has a Ryan Walter/Tony Robbins feeling to it. That is a good message to get across to people of all ages, as long as it not oversold.

The author told me he wanted to create a reference hockey players of all ages can use to become better players and to make some people laugh along the way. Mission accomplished, Mr. Henning. This is a good book for an open minded reader who is willing to dedicate himself or herself to the suggested techniques. I believe the player will benefit on the ice, and perhaps even more importantly carry it over off the ice.

For now the book is only available at the author's website. You can order the paperback version for $19.99, or immediately download the ebook for $9.99.

For more information, Brett Henning tells us more in the following YouTube video:

Interview With The Author: Mike Leonetti

Author Mike Leonetti is back with his line of hockey history books aimed at children. In 2009 he has teamed up once again with illustrator Greg Banning to bring us The Rocket, the story of Maurice Richard.

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The book is also available in Canada in French: | Amazon.ca - Chapters|

I had the chance to interview the prolific author Leonetti about his new book:

1. You are a well established hockey author who has really embraced writing books aimed at children and youth. Why are you so interested in this audience?

When I was youngster I loved just about any book on hockey but in those days there was not much directed at children and youth. I think my kids’ books fill that void today very nicely. The books help to get kids (especially boys) reading at a young age because they like the subject matter. The sooner kids start reading the better off they will be and it will help them improve their communication skills from an early age.

2) You have a very successful line of hockey history themed children's books. It is an odd mix - stories for youngsters about hockey players who in some cases retired decades ago. What made you decide to go this route?

My wife, Maria, is an elementary school teacher and one day I asked her if she had a copy of Roch Carrier’s The Hockey Sweater in her classroom. It was a book I heard lots about but had never read. She brought it home and after I read it, I decided Toronto Maple Leaf fans (of which I am one) deserved to have a children’s story about their team and a hero. I chose Darryl Sittler and highlighted his ten point night versus Boston on February 7, 1976.

The success of that book and its format was the inspiration for all the others – highlighting a hero from the past with a true event from his career and a small life lesson included as well. It has been a successful formula.

3) Did you have any trouble finding a publisher to buy into the idea?

At first, yes. I sent out the original manuscript for My Leafs Sweater (the Sittler story) to nine publishers and they all flatly rejected it without the slightest interest. I was doing some adult hockey history books with Raincoast Books out of Vancouver at the time and found out they also had a children’s line of books as well. I sent the story to my editor at the time, Brian Scrivener, and much to my happy surprise they said they would publish it. The series stayed with Raincoast until they stopped front list publishing. I am happy to say Scholastic Books has been publishing the stories for the last two years.

4) You obviously have found great success with this franchise. What is the secret to the success? Is it the first person narratives of an aspiring kid who parallels the legend in some way?

I believe people and kids especially want to believe in heroes. They want to be inspired by these great players and they also love the memories that go with a particular star (e.g. Bobby Orr’s famous overtime Stanley Cup winning goal). We all want to be like our hero in some way. Using a first person narrative adds a personal touch and the life lesson included with each book makes each story unique. I usually have some connection between the main character in the story and the hockey hero (e.g. getting his hockey card, a signed photo, watching them on Hockey Night in Canada, etc) to make the bond between the two stronger. All these factors add up to the success of the series.


5) How important to you is it to promote hockey history to future generations?

I’ve always loved history because the past helps us to understand where we are today. I think by focusing on hockey heroes from the far (and in some cases near) past, the series gives youngsters an idea of how hockey developed to the point where the game is today. It also gives the reader a chance to learn about some glorious achievements that have not been experienced by the current generation (e.g. a Canadian based team winning the Stanley Cup). The heroes of the past (like Gordie Howe and Maurice Richard) helped to make the NHL what it is today. I think it’s important to keep their accomplishments alive.

6) I bet you hear from a lot of parents who truly enjoy reading these books to their kids, as it is a trip down memory lane for them.

One of the nice things about these books is that they appeal to a wide audience. Grand parents, parents and kids alike all get some value out of the stories. One of the best letters I received was from a woman who said her husband cried when he read My Leafs Sweater. It brought back memories of going to Maple Leaf Gardens with his father and how they walked down the corridors and looked at the photos on the wall. He then read the story to his kids and shared that memory with them.

7) All your kids books are beautifully illustrated - either by Greg Banning, Shayne Letain or Sean Thompson. How important is their contribution to the success of the franchise?

I’m glad you asked that question. The illustrations are absolutely vital to the success of the series with Greg Banning’s work being especially strong due to his realistic style. I think Sean and Shayne had a different approach that worked well for awhile but when we switched to Greg’s realism, it made the books work even better. The illustrations bring the story to life especially when you consider that the artists have to create a main character with a family – not an easy task yet they all did it superbly!

8) Your newest release is The Rocket, about Maurice Richard, but also his brother Henri. Were they the greatest set of brothers in hockey history?

I would say the Richard’s are the most successful brother combination in NHL history. Between them they won a total of 18 Stanley Cups – a truly remarkable total. I am so pleased that I was able to give Henri a little bit of recognition in this story – he definitely deserves it. He did attend many of the Rocket’s games as a little boy with his father. I also like the Mahovlich (Frank and Peter) and Hull brothers (Bobby and Dennis) having watched them play some great hockey for their respective teams.

9) You brilliantly introduce the Rocket through the eyes of a couple of kids who constantly have to deal with being compared to a big brother. Did you play hockey, and were you constantly compared to him too?

Thanks for the compliment. As the oldest of three, I was never in the position of being compared to an older sibling. I am eight years older than my brother and sixteen years older than my sister so I focused on setting a good example for them (especially since my Mom and Dad were immigrants to Canada and did not speak much english during my early years). With such a large age difference we each had different friends and interests which did not pose a problem. I am happy to say all of us have done very well. I will also tell you that I was one of the best ever road hockey players to come out of Whitmore Avenue in Toronto!

10) What were some of your favorite hockey books growing up?

I would go to the library and get every hockey book I could find. I have many of them now at home in my own library and the ones I liked the most as a kid were:

Hockey Night in Canada by Foster Hewitt, Hockey is a Battle by Punch Imlach, Hockey Dynasty by Jack Batten, The Men in the Nets by Jim Hunt, A Boy at Leafs Camp by Scott Young, Number 9 Gordie Howe by Jim Vipond, and Bobby Orr and the Big, Bad Bruins by Stan Fischler. A variety of books (Headline Hockey and Rocket Richard to name a couple) written by Montreal based author Andy O’Brien were also very well liked. There are many others I could mention but these come to mind most often.

11) We've also seen books by you on Gordie Howe, Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky and Paul Henderson. Who will we see in the future?

Without trying to dodge the question let me say that the plan will be to issue a new story each year. It is also quite likely that we will continue to focus on heroes of the past but we might try to do a current player at some point. Players from the ‘Original Six’ teams will likely be prominent but heroes from other teams will be also be given ample consideration. I won’t reveal any names right now but I hope that will keep some intrigue as to who will be next.

2009-10 NHL Guide & Record Book

Ah yes, the NHL Guide & Record Book, the annual must have hockey book every hockey fan must have.

The 2009-2010 NHL Official Guide and Record Book is here. 656 pages with detailed year by year data on over 2,000 active players, plus complete statistical historical records plus all time records, club rosters and entry draft information plus so much more.

Also, take a look back at some NHL Guide & Record Book cover images over the years.

Goaltenders: The Expansion Years (1967-1979) by Sebastien Tremblay

For many fans, the love affair with goaltenders started in the 1970s thanks to all those colorful masks.

Gone were the barefaced greats of the 1950s and 1960s, replaced by heavily padded, awkward looking robots with concealed identities. Most of these goalies would never reach the stratosphere where Jacques Plante, Terry Sawchuk or Gump Worsley resided, but they would have their own legion of devoted fans.

One of the biggest fans of the post-expansion goaltender ranks has to be Sebastien Tremblay. Savvy web surfers will of course recognize Tremblay's name for his incredible website www.goaltenders.info, the Internet's number one stop for all things goaltender related, especially from a historical perspective. His research is unmatched and his passion is obvious.

Now Tremblay has turned his passion to the printed world of books, releasing Goaltenders: The Expansion Years (1967-1979) in September, 2009. The book is currently available at www.goaltenders.info or at Lulu.com, where it is also available in ebook form.

The book profiles every goalie to play in the National Hockey League during the era in which the league grew from 6 to 17 teams. Each goalie, 129 in all plus 13 benchwarmers, is profiled from their days as amateur players up to their time in the N.H.L. The profiles are amazingly in-depth, with Rocky Farr getting as much attention as Ken Dryden. For me personally, it is these biographies that are the true jewel of the book.

Others will suggest the statistical register is the gem. Tremblay's diligently researched and painstakingly cross-referenced compilation includes complete game by game results for every goaltender for every year. That resulted in 16,367 log entries! He also features complete goaltender statistics, including, for the first time ever, save percentages. What an amazing undertaking that must have been. We all owe Tremblay a tremendous thank you for this tedious work.

The self-published book is a little bulky at 408 pages, more than half of which is the statistical compendium. There are nearly two dozen black and white in-action photos, with plans to add to that collection in future editions, although the template lay-out which currently displays the generic "photo unavailable" image is a little annoying as is.

This book is a must have for all goaltender enthusiasts of the expansion era from 1967 through 1979. The biographies and statistical compendium are amazing resources, with researchers owing Tremblay a debt of gratitude.