Open Ice


Book Description

Hockey has been Nick Taglio's life since he was five years old, so when a massive concussion benches him--possibly for good--everything seems to fall apart, including his schoolwork, his family relationships, his friendships, and his love life.




All the Way


Book Description

"It seemed as though nothing could stop Jordin Tootoo on the ice. The captain of Canada's Under-18, a fan favourite on the World Junior squad, and a WHL top prospect who could intimidate both goalies and enforcers, he was always a leader. And when Tootoo was drafted by Nashville in 2000 and made the Predators out of camp in 2003, he became a leader in another way: the first player of Inuk descent to suit up in the NHL.




One Night Only


Book Description

Get to know the men who fulfilled their childhood dream From the beer league to the minor league, hockey players from coast to coast often say theyÍd give anything to play just one game in the NHL. One Night Only brings you the stories of 39 men who lived the dream „ only to see it fade away almost as quickly as it arrived. Ken Reid talks to players who had one game, and one game only, in the National Hockey League „ including the most famous single-gamer of them all: the coach himself, Don Cherry. Was it a dream come true or was it heartbreak? What did they learn from their hockey journey and how does it define them today? From the satisfied to the bitter, Ken Reid unearths the stories from hockeyÍs equivalent to one-hit wonders in the follow-up to his bestselling Hockey Card Stories.




Fast Ice


Book Description

The speed and skill of a new hockey generation Ñ in photos and stories From the incredible debut of Auston Matthews to the unparalleled speed of Connor McDavid, the NHL is experiencing a rebirth that is based on speed and skill, not size, fighting, or intimidation. Fast Ice: Superstars of the New NHL features profiles of more than 50 of todayÕs greatest stars. Included are veterans like Sidney Crosby and arch-rival Alexander Ovechkin, but the heart of the book is the youth movement that has given fans new optimism for an exciting future. Written by bestselling author Andrew Podnieks and featuring dozens of full-colour photographs, this is sure to be a compelling addition to the hockey loverÕs library.




My First Goal


Book Description

Every player who ever scored in the NHL has a different story about his first goal. For some, like Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe, or Phil Esposito, their first goal was just one of many they would score in their long and illustrious careers. For others, their first goal was also their last. Sports journalist Mike Brophy has interviewed fifty players about their first NHL goal, and the result is a wide-ranging wealth of personal stories that include high-profile former NHLers and many of the game’s best players from today. Some players, such as Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews, scored in their first NHL game. Others were not so lucky. Jim Vesey, for example, scored his only NHL goal into an empty net. With lots of direct quotes from the players themselves and Brophy supplying the tantalizing background information and career highlights, this book is a treat for hockey fans young and old.




Hawkeytown


Book Description

The Chicago Blackhawks played an abbreviated but unforgettable 2013 season. It began with a 5-2 victory over the defending Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings, continued with a record-setting 24-game run to start the season without a regulation loss and ended with a mighty march toward a second National Hockey League championship in four seasons. Hawkeytown: The Chicago Blackhawks' Unforgettable 2013 Season captures all of those thrilling moments through news reports, columns and photos that originally appeared in the Chicago Tribune. From a long labor dispute that finally ended in January to the gritty and inspired performances of forward Patrick Sharp, goaltender Corey Crawford and team captain Jonathan Toews, among others, Hawkeytown is a special keepsake for any true Hawks fan.




Shift


Book Description

Kevin Wilkins was on the verge of superstardom. He was peaking as an athlete, enjoying a meteoric rise to the upper echelon of professional hockey. But with his sights set on success and all of its glitter, he lost sight of the things that had been of central importance: his marriage, his family, his values, and the pure joy of the game. As his personal life unraveled, it began spilling over into his game, triggering a search for what had been lost. Shift is the story of Kevins journey back to himself. He is challenged to overcome his own recent history, his insecurities, and his greatest fears. But the incentive is substantial: true intimacy, a clear mind and conscience, comfort in his own skin, and the ability to surrender to and savor the moment he is in. With the help of an ailing old friend, he resets his focus, attempting to restore the most important relationships in his life including the one with himself. Shift was inspired by the graduate research of the author. While there are innumerable examples of elite performers who self-destruct in the face of success, developing a sense of entitlement and becoming intolerably self-centered, there are other examples of those who remain humble and well-grounded. These people inspire and enrich the lives of those around them. They are able to enjoy sustainable performance and a purity of experience that eludes many of us. Matt Brown sought out such examples and attempted to tap their wisdom. This story is an amalgam of their insights.




Royal Canadian Jihad


Book Description




McCown's Law


Book Description

Hockey’s most controversial authority gives you everything you need to know to be Canada’s best-informed armchair coach. Sports talk-radio personality Bob McCown knows what he’s talking about, and he’s not afraid to say what’s on his mind. Depending on your own strongly held opinions, some of Bob’s will have you cheering in agreement while others will tempt you to throw the book out the window (if you weren’t enjoying the damn thing so much). McCown’s Law will be fuelling and informing heated discussions at the bar for years to come. A sample of Chairman Bob’s opinions: -The Leafs haven’t won the Stanley Cup in 40 years for a perfectly logical reason: they have the crappiest players. -It’s time the law put hockey’s most violent offenders in something more restrictive than the penalty box. -Let’s leave Olympic hockey to the men. -Eric Lindros won’t end up in the Hockey Hall of Fame, but he still deserves to be mentioned right alongside the all-time greats. -Slovakia, not Canada, may just be the greatest hockey nation on Earth. -The Ottawa Senators. Are these guys a bunch of chokers or what?




Break the Ice


Book Description

He's the cocky celebrity goalie who wants a fresh start. She's the ruthless assistant coach who wants him off her team. Working together to win a championship will be no easy score. Why would star goaltender Daniel Evans join the struggling Toronto Towers? Assistant coach Lauryn Jackson is skeptical of his motives and overrated skillset. Daniel just wants to get on the good side of Lauryn's skirt-suit and stilettos, but she doesn't have time for his smug, perfectly scruffy face. She's determined to lead the Towers to victory in her own way, but the men in power have different plans. Lauryn soon realizes she could use Daniel's influence to her advantage. As the Towers chase an elusive championship title, the tension and attraction build between Daniel and Lauryn. Their undeniable connection forces them to confront their deepest fears and desires. Break the Ice is a pro-hockey contemporary romance, written by a former sports journalist. The banter is as sharp as skates. The steamy scenes are more intense than power plays. And the laughs hit like unexpected slap shots. This heartwarming, long-form novel is the first book in the Game Over series, and can be read as a standalone. What makes this hockey romance unique? - The female protagonist is a member of the hockey team — not a figure skater, a public relations manager, or a player’s sister. Break the Ice’s female lead is a coach! - In this universe, the NHL doesn’t exist. Instead, the fictional North American Hockey League is the pinnacle of pro-hockey, and is more progressive about employing women and people of colour. - It's not just about love and dating. It's about how to land your dream job. It's about how to communicate effectively. It's about how to manage anxiety. Additionally, Break the Ice explores these key concepts: - Ambitious women navigating a male-dominated industry. - Building a chosen family. - Challenging white privilege in Canadian hockey culture. Not a hockey fan? Not a problem! This novel includes footnotes to empower readers with relevant hockey knowledge! Content warning: This novel contains mature themes and content that may be distressing to some readers, including but not limited to: explicit language, sexual scenes, descriptions of violence and injury, psychological trauma, alcohol use, and references to mental health struggles. Reader discretion is strongly advised. For more information, visit the author's website: jestongio.com