Since I've gone and spent my birthday money at Powell's Books in Portland, OR... I now have a hockey book or two that I can start reading to review.
I can promise that it will be happening soon. I've got a couple of interesting titles that should be coming soon, probably within a week or so.
So stay tuned to see what I've got cooking. In the mean time, Happy Holidays, and Merry Christmas.
Cheers!
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Monday, December 10, 2012
First, let me apologize to my readers for not getting my review up sooner. Fighting bronchitis is never fun, and having to rest takes time away from reading.
That being said, let's take a look at Empire of Ice, by Craig Bowlsby. Now, first of all, this book is set around the turn of the century, in the heady days of the early 1900s. Hockey has a completely different look to it; goalies don't drop to their knees to make saves, players play the entire game, and there's a seventh man on the ice, a position known as a Rover.
The book is laid out pretty straightforward. Each chapter covers a season. The ups and downs, franchises that start, fail and move, everything. Player movement, around this league, as well as players brought in from "back east, in what is the precursor of the NHL."
Each season is detailed with important moments and games. There are plenty of stats to look at as well. There is also a detailed playoff look for each season, with those stats listed. Finally, the chapter concludes with the Stanley Cup playoff, a West meets East affair, with the best team from the Pacific Coast league, meeting up with the winner from the east league, the NHA, and eventually the NHL.
American teams make their mark on the league, with the Portland (Oregon) Rosebuds being the first United States-based team to challenge for the Stanley Cup, and the Seattle Metropolitans the first U.S. team to win the Cup.
All in all, I'd definitely call this a wonderful read. The history alone makes it fun and interesting, while the way that the game adapts over time is also fun to see. You can literally see the game changing as the chapters go by.
Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Empire-Pacific-Hockey-Association-1911-1926/dp/0969170564/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1355197501&sr=1-6&keywords=empire+of+ice
I am indebted to Mr. Bowlsby, the author, for sending me a copy of this book for reviewing purposes. Thanks!
That being said, let's take a look at Empire of Ice, by Craig Bowlsby. Now, first of all, this book is set around the turn of the century, in the heady days of the early 1900s. Hockey has a completely different look to it; goalies don't drop to their knees to make saves, players play the entire game, and there's a seventh man on the ice, a position known as a Rover.
The book is laid out pretty straightforward. Each chapter covers a season. The ups and downs, franchises that start, fail and move, everything. Player movement, around this league, as well as players brought in from "back east, in what is the precursor of the NHL."
Each season is detailed with important moments and games. There are plenty of stats to look at as well. There is also a detailed playoff look for each season, with those stats listed. Finally, the chapter concludes with the Stanley Cup playoff, a West meets East affair, with the best team from the Pacific Coast league, meeting up with the winner from the east league, the NHA, and eventually the NHL.
American teams make their mark on the league, with the Portland (Oregon) Rosebuds being the first United States-based team to challenge for the Stanley Cup, and the Seattle Metropolitans the first U.S. team to win the Cup.
All in all, I'd definitely call this a wonderful read. The history alone makes it fun and interesting, while the way that the game adapts over time is also fun to see. You can literally see the game changing as the chapters go by.
Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Empire-Pacific-Hockey-Association-1911-1926/dp/0969170564/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1355197501&sr=1-6&keywords=empire+of+ice
I am indebted to Mr. Bowlsby, the author, for sending me a copy of this book for reviewing purposes. Thanks!
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