Today, I'm looking at Boy on Ice: The life and death of Derek Boogaard, by John Branch.

First and foremost, this book was written after Boogaard's death. However, Derek's family was willing to help write this story.

It's a story of Derek's rise to fame as an enforcer, his time at the top, and how he fell just as fast, if not faster, from his perch. It's a scary tale of what can happen when someone has access to painkillers and other drugs, and an especially scary tale of what does happen when the system is not able to keep up with a player's desire to obtain more of what he believes he needs.

Derek's rise to fame with Minnesota is well chronicled. Same with his use and eventual abuse of painkillers. It boggled my mind time and again as to just how he was able to get so many prescriptions without someone stopping to say "Hey, wait a minute."

It's the tale of a 28-year old who wanted so desperately to be accepted on the ice as a member of the NHL, and yet, when given a role to play, no matter how good at it, Derek had trouble playing this role.

It's a sad tale of the NHL and the drug abuse system that Derek was able to work his way through the cracks and continue his actions.



Link to Powell's City of Books:

http://www.powells.com/book/boy-on-ice-the-life-death-of-derek-boogaard-9780393351910/1-0


Link to Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Boy-Ice-Death-Derek-Boogaard/dp/0393351912/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1450658219&sr=8-1&keywords=Boy+on+Ice+The+Life+%26+Death+of+Derek+Boogaard


Link to Barnes and Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/boy-on-ice-john-branch/1118484490?ean=9780393351910

I'm back with a new review! Today, we're looking at A Matter of Inches, by Clint Malarchuk, with Dan Robson.

No doubt, everyone is familiar with Clint Malarchuk, the NHL goalie, because of one incident. He's the goalie that suffered a near fatal skate cut across his throat on Wednesday, March 22nd, 1989. It took 300 stitches to close the wound. But he was playing hockey again just 10 days later.

There's a lot more to Clint than just the one incident. He's had to deal with severe OCD his entire life. While playing WHL hockey in Portland, it helped drive him to be the best possible player. This worked in his favor as he was drafted by the Quebec Nordiques.

The book details the ups and downs of his career. It's a no-holds barred, down and dirty look at the dark side of someone's mind. It's going to take you places that you may not like, it may awaken things you haven't dealt with in your own life. Speaking for myself, I know that I was brought nearly to tears because of things he talks about. It hits close to home. We're talking someone that has literally been to the very edge, and come all the way back. It's inspirational, devastating; it leaves you wanting to keep reading to see how it all works out in the end.

I highly recommend this book. It's going to change your view of goalies, hockey, and life in general. For more information about Clint Malarchuk, go check out his webpage at www.malarchuk.com


Link to Powell's City of Books, located in Portland, OR:

http://www.powells.com/book/a-matter-of-inches-9781629370491/17-0

Link to Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/Matter-Inches-Survived-Crease-Beyond/dp/1629370495/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449969731&sr=8-1&keywords=A+Matter+of+Inches

Link to Barnes and Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/matter-of-inches-clint-malarchuk/1120425829?ean=9781629370491

...and here we are, in the middle of November. Hockey is well into the season, wherever you may be. I am hoping to be able to put up some more reviews in the near future, but nothing is set in stone as of yet.

Hopefully, more reviews will be coming soon... hang in there, readers!

It's been awhile. My wife and I have found a business opportunity that has us driving dogs around the lower 48 US states.

Now, while we're still driving, I'm able to review the books with the aid of a new Kindle.

So, new books are arriving soon, and I will post them from wherever I happen to be.


Stay tuned!

I'm back with a new review! Today I'm looking at Frozen in time: A Minnesota North Stars History, by Adam Raider.

The North Stars entered the NHL as part of the Great Expansion in 1967, becoming one of six teams to join the league. While the team never won a Stanley Cup during its tenure in Minneapolis, they had two improbably runs at the title in 1982 and 1991.

This book was a fun look at the team and their history. First, the lean years as they tried to establish themselves against stronger competition. Rivalries were forged, especially against the Chicago Blackhawks. These would produce some of the best games in North Stars history, both wins and losses.

The merger with the Cleveland Barons is discussed, as are various other highlights in small sidebars throughout the book.

There is a chapter titled Fan Favorites, highlighting some of the best loved, most memorable players to suit up for the North Stars, followed by a chapter of the "best of the rest." For the stats gurus, there is a section with all the players who ever suited up, and their point totals, as well as the entire draft history of the team.

Finally, there is a postscript to the North Stars, a section about the rebirth of the NHL in Minnesota. They talk about the Wild, and their slow but steady rise in the NHL, and how Minnesota deserved to be in the NHL a second time.

All in all, it's a wonderful book. Very well laid out, easy to keep up with, definitely worth reading.

Special thanks to University of Nebraska Press for making this book available for reviewing!

Link to Amazon:   http://www.amazon.com/frozen-time-minnesota-north-history/dp/0803249985/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=utf8&qid=1415140356&sr=1-1&keywords=frozen+in+time+north+stars


Link to Powell's City of Books:   http://www.powells.com/biblio/62-9780803249981-0


Link to Barnes & Noble:   http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/frozen-in-time-adam-raider/1119277681?ean=9780803249981


Link to University of Nebraska press:  http://nebraskapress.unl.edu/product/frozen-in-time,675997.aspx

A lot has happened since my last post. Family has come first, and as a result my hockey book reviews have fallen by the wayside. I have published my first novel, although it's not hockey related. Cascade Caper is available on Amazon.com

I am hoping to be able to resume hockey book reviews soon...

Patience is the key word at this point.

 After a very long delay, we're back at it! Today I'm reviewing The wait is over: The New York Rangers and the 1994 Stanley Cup, by John Kreiser.

The 1994 Rangers were a team built for one mission: winning the Stanley Cup. Every transaction, every player movement from the minors to the pros and back was made with a definite goal in mind. However, the biggest trade was made a couple of years earlier. That was the trade that brought Mark Messier to the Rangers. He proved more than capable of leading this club through the season and into the playoffs.

The book is laid out somewhat simplistically. It takes the reader very clearly through the season, past the multiple deals at the trade deadline and to the end of the season. Then there is a chapter for each round of the playoffs, and highlights are given. Box scores are also provided for statistics. The chapter about the Finals is a little longer, and highlights each game as it unfolded.

Finally, there are two chapters definitely worth reading. They are about Mark Messier and Brian Leetch, and their respective contributions to the winning season. The last chapter is the aftermath, including the lockout, and the eventual raising of the championship banners.

All in all, for the Rangers fans out there, this is an excellent look back at the 20-year anniversary of the championship. Definitely a must-read for Rangers fans everywhere!

Link to Powell's City of Books: http://www.powells.com/biblio/62-9781613216859-0

Link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Wait-Over-York-Rangers-Stanley/dp/1613216858/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1400103982&sr=1-2&keywords=the+wait+is+over

Link to Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-wait-is-over-john-kreiser/1116430934?ean=9781613216859

Special thanks to Lauren at Skyhorse Publishing for making this book available for reviewing purposes!