Good Hockey Books

March 22, 2009 12:35 PM

What are some good books about hockey?

I'm looking for recommendations for books that either give a good insight into the sport, are fun reads about the history of the game, or good player autobiographies (the hockey equiv. of "Ball Four" or "Me and the Spitter").

posted by drezdn to sports, hobbies, & recreation (8 comments total)

Ken Dryden's The Game is among the best player autobiographies in any sport - revelatory (though not in the same way as "Ball Four"), well-written and insightful.

I would also recommend Net Worth, which is ostensibly focused on the business side of the NHL, but provides an excellent behind-the-scenes look at all aspects of the game.
posted by Urban Hermit at 1:24 PM on March 22

Seconding The Game, excellent book.
posted by WilliamWallace at 1:59 PM on March 22

Brodeur: Beyond the Crease, is supposed to be pretty good.
posted by zephyr_words at 2:25 PM on March 22

"Game of Our Lives" by Peter Gzowski looks at the game's history while profiling the powerhouse Oilers of the early 1980's.

"Midnight Hockey: All About Beer, The Boys and the Real Canadian Game" has great insight into beer league hockey's rituals and rules.

"Open Ice: Reflections and Confessions of a Hockey Lifer" is a series of essays on various aspects of the game, often with a historical perspective.

"Meaning of Puck: How Hockey Explains Modern Canada" is an interesting take in that it tries to tie parallels between happenings in hockey and happenings in the wider world (eg. the Gretzky trade and the larger implications for the US-Canada trade relationship)

"Future Greats and Heartbreaks: A Year Undercover in the Secret World of NHL Scouts" is a very revealing look at the behind-the-scenes that leads players to the NHL (and I suspect would be interesting to fans of any sport, not just hockey.)

"Searching For Bobby Orr" was a bestseller last year and talked a lot about how the game has changed since the 1970's when Orr played.

As is the law for young Canadian men, I've read a *lot* of books about hockey in my life. Those are a few off the top of my head that I particularly enjoyed.

Oh, and Google searches for things like "best books about hockey" will provide lots of other recommendations as well.
posted by Jaybo at 2:40 PM on March 22 [1 favorite]

The Game is probably the essential book - Dryden is a very insightful, thoughtful man when it comes to his reflections on the sport. The follow-up, Home Game, is also an interesting read, although without the personal touch.

Between the Lines provides some interesting views on the game, written by one of the referees.
posted by never used baby shoes at 6:06 PM on March 22

Gordie: a hockey legend by Roy MacSkimming.
Sawchuck: the trials and troubles of the world's greatest goalie by David Dupuis
Glenn Hall: the man they call Mr. Goalie by Tom Adhartas.
All of these get beyond the and-then-and-then recounting of exploits. I like them all but I would take Glenn Hall book as top choice. He argues that Glenn Hall and not Jacques Plante or Terry Sawchuk was the best goalie.
I'd also nod to Golly gee it's me by Charlie Hodge if for nothing else than Howie Meeker's insights on the Leaf management in the forties.
And then read Conn Smythe's autobiography If you can't beat em in the alley for the opposite take.
And another vote for Searching for Bobby Orr, above.
posted by philfromhavelock at 6:12 PM on March 22

I quite liked reading The Best Game You Can Name by Dave Bidini (of rheostatics fame). It is full of fun anecdotes about hockey players. Sample chapter available on his website.
posted by maxpower at 8:25 PM on March 22

"Gopher Hockey by the Hockey Gopher" by Ross Bernstein. An inside-the-fiberglass-head view of arguably the greatest hockey program in America.
posted by wenestvedt at 9:04 AM on March 23