HOCKEY-From the Buddhist concept meaning Key to Happiness and Chilly Serenity during Bloody Brawls and Melees. How Hockey Saved the World is the greatest, if only, hockey protest book ever written. It is the often true story of how a middle-aged, overweight American got off the couch long enough to lose weight and learn to play hockey in order to find a magic puck that would end the NHL lockout, unseat President George W. Bush and end the Iraq War. A handbook on how to survive without professional sports while becoming a better parent, achieving world peace and playing hockey, however poorly. "A tongue-in-cheek view of politics and sports, delivering humor and laughs that recall the work of Mark Twain, Joseph Heller and Ambrose Bierce. -Cliff Bellamy, Durham Herald-Sun "[T]he author's subversive wit and genuine belief in the game's magic are oddly persuasive. An amiable meditation to warm even the iciest hearts." - Kirkus Discoveries After reading How Hockey Saved the World, and seeing the error of my ways, I will resign the Office of the Presidency effective January 15, 2009. -President George W. Bush
Gordie Howe, Maurice Richard, Boom Boom Gefferion, Mario Lemeiux, Sidney Crosby and Wayne Gretsky are familiar names to hockey fans, but mention Rudi Ball and you will get a quizzical look from people. Rudi Ball was a German Jew, who, thanks to hockey and the loyalty exhibited by his team-mates, was able to survive the Holocaust for one simple reason. He played that most beautiful of all games - hockey. Few people recognize the name, but he was the premiere European player of his time, and one of the best hockey players to ever lace up skates. Yet, his prowess on the ice was more than a way to exhibit his athletic abilities. It was his ticket to survival in a country where being Jewish was a death sentence in the 1930's and 1940's. His remarkable story is a testament to the power of hockey to bring out the very best in people. The Summit Series between Canada and the then USSR (Russia) proved in 1972 that hockey is not just a game, it is a war on ice, but when the war is over, the victors do not subjugate the losers. Rather, they line up and shake hands in recognition of a warriors' code that instils mutual respect and admiration for one another's drive, desire and determination. This is the story of one of those warriors, and how his fellow warriors stood by him, refusing to bow to tyranny. Wayne Frye is known in Canada for writing books on politics and gripping thrillers featuring hard-nosed private eye, Aaron Adams. Although a true story, Frye makes it more exciting than fiction. This true story about the Holocaust explores the evil of Adolph Hitler, and like The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, it puts the whole era on a very personal level
Played on frozen ponds in cold northern lands, hockey seemed an especially unlikely game to gain a global following. But from its beginnings in the nineteenth century, the sport has drawn from different cultures and crossed boundaries––between Canada and the United States, across the Atlantic, and among different regions of Europe. It has been a political flashpoint within countries and internationally. And it has given rise to far-reaching cultural changes and firmly held traditions. The Fastest Game in the World is a global history of a global sport, drawing upon research conducted around the world in a variety of languages. From Canadian prairies to Swiss mountain resorts, Soviet housing blocks to American suburbs, Bruce Berglund takes readers on an international tour, seamlessly weaving in hockey’s local, national, and international trends. Written in a lively style with wide-ranging breadth and attention to telling detail, The Fastest Game in the World will thrill both the lifelong fan and anyone who is curious about how games intertwine with politics, economics, and culture.
The city of Columbus, Ohio, had always struggled to support any professional sports franchise. It’s a town where Ohio State University reigns supreme, and everything else is less important. That was until 1991, when the Columbus Chill, a minor-league hockey franchise, arrived. Using Veeckian marketing tactics and on-ice shenanigans, the Chill became the talk of the city and gained a religious local fan base. Based on the success of the Chill, from 1991–99, the city of Columbus was awarded with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2000, the city’s own NHL franchise. Chill Factor follows the wild ride through the eyes of team president and general manager David Paitson, from the early formation of the minor-league franchise through the decision to rattle the status quo by going to the edge and beyond with a marketing and promotional plan that was both edgy and controversial. The success of the Chill after their first season gave the organization the impetus to challenge local civic and business leaders to build a world-class arena and emerge from the shadow of OSU. There were setbacks and triumphs on and off the ice, and eventually the realization that the Columbus of today would not be possible without the aid of the Chill. Chill Factor takes readers into the front office and onto the rink, giving every angle of how a small town was able to get behind a working-class team that fought both on and off the ice. This thrilling account will appeal to those who remember the Chill’s reign, as well as those who enjoy seeing the underdog climb the ladder to sports supremacy. Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Sports Publishing imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in sports—books about baseball, pro football, college football, pro and college basketball, hockey, or soccer, we have a book about your sport or your team. Whether you are a New York Yankees fan or hail from Red Sox nation; whether you are a die-hard Green Bay Packers or Dallas Cowboys fan; whether you root for the Kentucky Wildcats, Louisville Cardinals, UCLA Bruins, or Kansas Jayhawks; whether you route for the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, or Los Angeles Kings; we have a book for you. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.
Over its info-packed 304 pages, The Best Book of Hockey Facts and Stats records all the players and all the important games and series-including every Stanley Cup game and every All-Star game. Also included are details of all the trophies awarded to the best players, such as the Georges Vezina for best goalie, the Art Ross Trophy, and the trophy awarded in honor of Maurice "Rocket" Richard. Player listings are loaded with information: personal stats, such as where a player was born, his height and weight, and career scoring totals and trophies won to date, plus the complete story of the player's career. The Best Book of Hockey Facts and Stats features: The teams in the NHL The Stanley Cup winners Great players Great games Famous arenas Hockey statistics Hockey records The history of professional hockey. The Best Book of Hockey Facts and Stats not only chronicles the growth of this popular sport, the authors' entertaining and readable style reveals their passion for the great game of hockey.
What better way to introduce your child to the entertaining, action-packed world of hockey than through a new series of books aimed at the youngest of hockey fans? Published through the combined efforts of the NHL, the NHLPA and Fenn/Tundra, My First NHL Books introduce preschool readers to the essential early concepts of learning through the fun and entertaining themes of hockey. Count players, sticks and Stanley cups, explore the colours of the rainbow through team logos and sweaters; look for familiar shapes amongst pucks, scoreboards and nets, and work your way through an alphabet that includes everything from A is for Arena to Z is for Zamboni, and everything hockey in between.
#1 BESTSELLER The legacy of the greatest hockey series ever played, fifty years later, with stories from the players that shed new light on those incredible games and times. “Cournoyer has it on that wing. Here’s a shot. Henderson made a wild stab for it and fell. Here’s another shot. Right in front...they score! Henderson has scored for Canada!” These immortal words, spoken to hockey fans around the world by the legendary broadcaster Foster Hewitt, capture the historic final-seconds goal scored by Paul Henderson that won the 1972 Summit Series against the Soviet Union. Hockey fans know the moment well, but the story of those amazing eight games has never been fully told—until now. The series was the first of its kind, and one of the most dramatic sporting showdowns in history. With the Soviets dominating international hockey, this series was meant to settle the debate, once and for all, of who owned the game. It was Canada’s best against the Soviets for the first time. And in the shadow of the Cold War, this was about more than eight games of hockey. Expectations were high as the series began. This was supposed to be easy for Team Canada, but after the disappointing first four games on home ice with only one win, victory seemed out of reach. With the final four games in Moscow, Canada got a rare glimpse behind the iron curtain as the team, as well as three thousand raucous fans, arrived in the USSR. Amid the culture shock and strained relations, what followed was a tug-of-war battle that lasted to the dying seconds of game 8. Now, five decades after this historic event, it’s time to reflect on the greatest hockey series ever played. Veteran journalist and hockey analyst Scott Morrison uses a storyteller’s voice to reveal what it meant to hockey then, and what it means now. Filled with the memories of the players and others involved with the series, he shows how it changed the game, and challenged a nation’s sense of identity and place in the world.
A thought-provoking exploration of how basketball—and the values rooted in the game—can solve today’s most pressing issues, from the professor behind the popular New York University course NBA and WNBA superstars, Hall of Fame players, coaches, and leading cultural figures have all dropped by New York University Professor David Hollander’s course “How Basketball Can Save the World” course to debate and give insights on how the underlying principles of the game can provide a new blueprint for addressing our diverse challenges and showing what’s possible beyond the court. Now, in How Basketball Can Save the World, Hollander takes us out of the classroom to present a beautiful new philosophy with contributions by many of his past guests and based on values inherent to basketball, such as inclusion and the balancing of individual success with the needs of the collective. These principles move us beyond conflict and confusion toward a more harmonious and meaningful future: Positionless-ness: In basketball, players aren’t siloed into just one position or responsibility. In life, we can learn to be more adaptive to the challenges we face by embracing a positionless mindset. Human Alchemy: We talk a lot about team chemistry, but team alchemy means the creation of something totally new—a team far greater than the sum of its parts. Sanctuary: Basketball offers players a critical space to feel safe, free, and expressive. Fostering similar spaces in the real world can encourage people to be their best, happiest, and most productive selves. Transcendence: Basketball is about defying gravity, becoming weightless, and flying higher than anyone ever has before. By seeking out this principle, we can elevate ourselves and those around us to a new plane of experience. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran of the game or have never set foot on a court, How Basketball Can Save the World will empower you to become more resilient, tolerant, and wise in your relationship with yourself, others, and the world around you.
"Canadians are passionate about their healthcare system--and their hockey. While the Canadian medical system is a source of pride―based on ideals of universal coverage, public funding, and high-quality medical care--this treasured healthcare system is failing due to soaring costs, the challenge of an aging population, and poor care delivery. It needs a reality check ... Dr. Stephen Pinney pulls the curtain back on the existing Canadian healthcare system and exposes its fundamental flaws--flaws that are the inevitable result of the system's history and evolution. Hockey, Canada's game, offers a potential principle-based solution to this national dilemma. The book proposes a path forward that would allow Canadians to redesign their healthcare system in a way that matches their ideals. That redesign, Dr. Pinney proposes, should reflect ideas most Canadians know and accept: the principles inherent in a Stanley Cup--winning hockey team."--Provided by publisher.
Long considered Canadian, ice hockey is in truth a worldwide phenomenon--and has been for centuries. In Hockey: A Global History, Stephen Hardy and Andrew C. Holman draw on twenty-five years of research to present THE monumental end-to-end history of the sport. Here is the story of on-ice stars and organizational visionaries, venues and classic games, the evolution of rules and advances in equipment, and the ascendance of corporations and instances of bureaucratic chicanery. Hardy and Holman chart modern hockey's "birthing" in Montreal and follow its migration from Canada south to the United States and east to Europe. The story then shifts from the sport's emergence as a nationalist battlefront to the movement of talent across international borders to the game of today, where men and women at all levels of play lace 'em up on the shinny ponds of Saskatchewan, the wide ice of the Olympics, and across the breadth of Asia. Sweeping in scope and vivid with detail, Hockey: A Global History is the saga of how the coolest game changed the world--and vice versa.
