Book Review: Hockey Quotes by J. Alexander Poulton

 

J. Alexander Poulton is a hockey book machine. He has mass produced almost 50 titles, most about hockey. They almost always follow the same small, paperback format. They are always affordable, and while they aren't going to win whatever hockey's version of a Pulitzer prize is, they can be fun reads.

One of my favorites is Hockey Quotes. It is compilation of quotes from and about the hockey world, nothing more nothing less. It's a fun little diddy to pick up now and again and flip through, whether you are looking for a little hockey wisdom or humor. 

Coaches are always very quotable. Perhaps it is because a big part of their job is to talk to the media. But I've always enjoyed a few zingers from the coaches. Here's a few included in the book

"I know my players don't like my practices, but that's okay because I don't like their games." - Harry Neale.

"I've got nothing to say, and I'm only going to say it once." - Floyd Smith.

"There are still two or three guys who aren't willing to pay the price to win a game. This is not Wal-Mart. There are no discounts in this league." - Ron Wilson.

"Your playing gets worse and worse every day, and now you're playing like it's next week." - Herb Brooks.

"I'm not the greatest coach in the world. But if you look around this room you'll see that I don't have the greatest players, either." - Boom Boom Geoffrion. 

"You've got to get players to do what they don't want to do," Ken Hitchcock.

"Maybe one of the qualities of being a great coach is being a jerk. There are quite a few of them around." - Larry Robinson

NHL's Greatest Players - 1936 Edition

This is the March 14, 1936 edition of Liberty magazine. It features a generic Montreal Maroons player on the cover. 

I'm going to pretend it is Cy Wentworth because the Maroons captain was joined by Clem Loughlin (Chicago Black Hawks), Red Dutton (New York Americans), Sylvio Mantha (Montreal Canadiens), Frank Patrick (Boston Bruins), Hap Day (Toronto Maple Leafs), Doug Young (Detroit Red Wings), and Bill Cook (New York Rangers) as distinguished panelists decide who are the best players in hockey.

Here's who they came up with:

Goaltender: Tiny Thompson of the Boston Bruins.

Defense: Eddie Shore of the Boston Bruins and Ching Johnson of the New York Rangers

Center: Frank Boucher of the New York Rangers

Left Wing: Paul Thompson of the Chicago Black Hawks or Busher Jackson of the Toronto Maple Leafs. They should have used a shoot out to decide ties.

Right Wing: Charlie Conacher of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Oh yeah, here's a look at Cy Wentworth.

Soviet Life Magazine

What the heck is this?

It is the February 1984 issue of Soviet Life magazine, an English language magazine for the North American audience. This issue has Wayne Gretzky, Vladislav Tretiak and their fine feathered friend on the cover. 

I turned to the Facebook group "Hockey Books" for more information. List member Andrew Braverman knew all about it the periodical.

Braverman said: "In October 1956, the Soviet and US Governments agreed to allow each other to publish a magazine in their own nation, but limited circulation to 30,000 copies per issue. The Soviet Government published a magazine entitled The USSR, while the US Government published Amerika. A few years later The USSR changed its title to Soviet Life.

Soviet Life was generally not a political magazine, in the sense that it rarely delved into the political issues of the day, nor did it talk about political theory, etc. Instead it focused on Soviet culture (including national minorities), science, education and health care. The last issue of Soviet Life was published on December, 1991."

 

Follow @HockeyBooks on Instagram

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Joe Pelletier (@hockeybooks)

Follow @HockeyBooks On Instagram

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Joe Pelletier (@hockeybooks)

Follow @HockeyBooks on Instagram

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Joe Pelletier (@hockeybooks)

Thunder and Lightning: John Ferguson's Autobiography

I think I camp differently than most people.

Most people like to get out to the campgrounds for a chance to embrace the great outdoors. That is the last thing I'm looking to accomplish when I go camping.

I am an avid hiker and trail runner. Nature, vitamin N as I call it, is very much something I crave. Living in remote northern British Columbia, it is not something I find hard to find.

So when I go camping, I'm looking for quiet time and a chance to read. I can go out for a four day trip and take a couple dozen books, minimum. Running books, travel books and especially my hockey books. 

On this most recent camping trip I found myself lost in an oldie of a hockey book that many people might not even know exists. It is hard to find nowadays, and is called Thunder And Lightning. It is John Ferguson Sr.'s autobiography, written with Stan and Shirley Fischer.

In his day Fergie was both feared and affable on and off the ice. Some consider him the first goon, which isn't accurate on a few fronts. There was lots of goons before him, and he was more than a goon. Fergie could play. But he could also beat the tar out of opponents and often did.

His autobiography was an enjoyable read, covering his youth, minor league and NHL days with the legendary Montreal Canadiens. He also was part of the coaching staff of the 1972 Summit Series team and manager in New York with the Rangers and in Winnipeg with the original Jets.

Through all that time Fergie saw a lot. And he never was shy to share his opinion on most of what he saw. I thoroughly enjoyed reading his impressions of superstars, tough guys and crazy characters he encountered on and off the ice. 

It is interesting to hear him talk about both teammates and opponents. Everyone from Jean Beliveau and Serge Savard to Gordie Howe (who he never fought but truly respected) to Howie Young (who he despised more than anyone else). 

His insights as a manager on the Rod Gilbert and Phil Esposito dynamics in New York or what went wrong with Dale Hawerchuk in Winnipeg.

He also comments on his son, who, at the time of publication, had just been signed as minor league depth by the Montreal Canadiens at the time of publication. Of course many years later he became better known as a hockey manager himself.

If you can find a copy, I'd recommend it. It is an interesting look back at hockey from the 1960s through to the 1990s.