Pucks and ice, sticks and nets, cheers and boos, ice hockey is one of the most popular sports in the world. Since the game was created in the 1800s in Canada, there have been many talented players who have risen to the top of the ranks. In this high-interest book, readers will learn about some of the greatest athletes ever to wield a hockey stick. Full-color photographs of the sport's greats will grab fans' attention. Stimulating facts about hockey, from its role in the Winter Olympics to the long history of the National Hockey League, will thoroughly appeal to all levels of readers.
"A must-have for hockey lovers." -- Library Journal Profiles, stories, artifacts and archival images of every player in the Hockey Hall of Fame. The greatest individual honor that can be bestowed upon a professional hockey player is to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Hockey Hall of Fame Book of Players celebrates each and every one of the 276 players who have been so honored since the Hall of Fame's first class in 1945. Here are just a few of the Hockey Hall of Fame's most famous inductees: Wayne Gretzky Gordie Howe Bobby Orr Maurice Richard Guy Lafleur Patrick Roy Tim Horton Johnny Bower Ken Dryden Mark Messier Brett Hull Steve Yzerman Joe Sakic Scott Niedermayer Eric Lindros Teemu Selanne Dominik Hasek. Hockey Hall of Fame Book of Players also features artifacts and memorabilia from the Hockey Hall of Fame's extensive archive, including Wayne Gretzky's record setting 802nd goal puck, Jacques Plante's game-changing mask, and Mario Lemieux's 1987 Canada Cup jersey. Complete with more than 450 photos and full of artifacts, stats, facts, quotes and other interesting stories and snapshots from each star's career -- Hockey Hall of Fame Book of Players is the definitive book on the stars who have been awarded hockey's most prestigious honor.
Ice hockeywhich has been evolving for thousands of yearsis not now, nor has it ever been, a sport for the timid. Armed with pounds of padding, wooden sticks, and goal-driven intensity, the players of this sport are indeed a forcea fast and often fierce force. Readers of this book will learn about the history and evolving rules of the game, how it came to be organized into leagues, and who the movers and shakers in the icy and often adrenaline-riddled rink are.
Wearing the C insignia on the uniforma badge of honor reserved for team captainsis professional hockey's highest honor, and this study discusses how many of the NHL's all-time greatest players were captains. This exciting new bookan entertaining and enlightening blend of hockey stories and leadership lessonsreveals the secrets of hockey's greatest captains by asking questions such as What does it take to lead a team to championship? What are the keys to overcoming unexpected adversity? and How does a captain manage strong egos from diverse backgrounds into a unified, focused team? To get the inside story, author Ross Bernstein interviewed more than 100 of the all-time greatest captains, assistant captains, and head coaches, including Wayne Gretzky, Scotty Bowman, Phil Esposito, and Joe Sakic. An ideal book for any hockey fan, this work recounts some of the greatest moments in NHL history.
The hockey stars of the 1950s and '60s--Rocket Richard, Gordie Howe, Dave Keon, Bobby Hull, Jean Beliveau, Terry Sawchuk, Tim Horton, and others--were some of the most passionate players in National Hockey League history. These skillful and often colorful athletes played exhilarating hockey and were national heroes in a time when only six teams and fewer than 150 players battled for the Stanley Cup. Hockey's Original Six celebrates the most dynamic players and exciting moments of the era in more than 120 photographs from the legendary Harold Barkley Archives, including a number of never--or rarely seen--images. From 1942 until the early '70s, Barkley was the Toronto Star's leading sports photographer. He pioneered the use of electronic flash to capture stop-action hockey, and his dramatic work--both black and white and vibrant color--define the pre-expansion period. Two informative essays by Mike Leonetti-hockey historian, archivist, and prolific sportswriter--set Barkley and the photos in context, and short image captions illuminate the players and their feats. Jean Béliveau--hockey legend and elder statesman--provides a personal and insightful foreword. Combining iconic images and hockey lore, Hockey's Original Six is the perfect gift for sports fans, history buffs, and art collectors.
#1 National Bestseller This hockey generation's brightest talent has been plagued by concussions. Now, the very style of play that has brought Crosby such success may be heralding the end of his career. Sidney Crosby is arguably the best player ever to put on skates. You could argue that Bobby was better, or Wayne, or Gordie. But it would be hard to argue that any of those guys changed the game as much as Sid. No defenceman came along in Bobby's wake to play like him. There will never be another 99. But in Crosby's case, the entire league was re-made in his image. The game can be divided into two eras: before and after Sidney Crosby arrived in 2005, breaking Mario Lemieux's rookie scoring record. Says NHL star Matt Duchene, who entered the league in 2008, just three years after Crosby: "Just in the time that I was going from peewee and bantam to junior, there was a whole other game before and after. You didn't have a choice really--you had to adapt and adopt the way he did things or get left way behind." In an effort to keep up with Sid, the game changed. It's faster now, more skilled. There are more highlight-reel goals, and fewer fights. And in many ways, Crosby has thrived. Three Stanley Cups. Two Olympic gold medals. A World Cup. And enough individual trophies to fill a truck. But then, if Crosby hadn't changed the league, he might expect a longer career. Today, Sidney Crosby is the first generational superstar whose every shift could be his last. He invented a faster game, and the faster game has taken its toll on its creator. Crosby has suffered several concussions, and missed most of an entire season with symptoms. He plays the game fearlessly, but he also plays it without a bodyguard. The irony is that he created a league that made it harder for him to thrive. And the tragedy may be that he has created a league that will bring his career to an end in one fell swoop, in front of millions. Telling the story of a generational talent and the way he has revolutionized the game, Gare Joyce will also bring into focus crucial questions about the way the game is played today, assessing fighting and concussions in the light of the way these issues impinge on arguably the greatest player ever to skate.
The Great Book of Ice Hockey is a must for anyone who loves sports trivia. The book is a compendium of interesting facts and sport stories about the great game of ice hockey, with information about the early days before the National Hockey League (NHL) all the way to the stars of today. There are random facts about leagues, rules, coaches, players, and inside stories about the early days of the game. The answers to hundreds of trivia questions lie in these pages. Learn about foreign leagues, junior hockey, and superstars like Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals, and of course "The Great One," Wayne Gretzky. You can find interesting facts about the builders of the game, including Maurice "Rocket" Richard and Coach Jack Adams, both of whom have NHL trophies named in their honor. You will meet scoring leaders, winning coaches, amazing goalies and ice hockey royalty. Whether you're a long-time fan of ice hockey, or if you're just looking for answers to troublesome trivia questions in your latest game of Trivial Pursuit, "The Great Book of Ice Hockey" is the book for you. Presented in a clear and engaging manner, this collection of sports trivia will give fans of ice hockey a new and entertaining set of random facts to liven up a boring day or fill the time during intermission.
