Today has us looking at The Hartford Whalers by Brian Codagnone.

Originally, the Whalers were part of the new WHA, the World Hockey Association. They set up shop as the New England Whalers, and played in Boston. Unfortunately, they had trouble finding playing time, having to settle for times behind the established Boston Bruins, the AHL's Braves, and all the other events taking place in that arena. The team would spend some time in Springfield, before settling in Hartford.

Many illustrious names passed through the Whalers uniforms in the days of the WHA; Larry Pleau was one of the biggest, along with Al Smith and Ted Green. Two of the best known players, though, were Jack and Steve Carlson, who would go on to motion picture fame as part of the infamous hockey movie Slapshot.

In 1973, the New England Whalers won the very first Avco Cup, signifying the WHA Championship. Later on, after moving to Hartford, the team was unable to match that level of success, yet they still had many more big names playing on their roster, none bigger than the legendary Gordie Howe, who joined his sons Mark and Marty after their previous WHA team went under.

The Whalers would be one of the lucky four teams to merge with the NHL in 1979, and soon developed a fierce rivalry, both geographic and on-ice, with Boston and both New York clubs.

The 1986-87 was a crowning moment in team history, when the Whalers won the Adams Division. Pictures and profiles of key players are shown in this book. Some of the biggest names in Hartford hockey history are shown. Ron Francis, one of the biggest names, was traded to Pittsburgh in what is called “one of the darkest days of the franchise.”

On a personal note, I found one of my favorite players from my local junior hockey team pictured in the book as well; Glen Wesley, a defenseman that Hartford acquired from Boston.

While “the Whale” is gone, having moved to Raleigh, North Carolina in time for the 1997-98 season, they are not forgotten. When the Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup in 2006, many green Whalers jerseys could be seen in the crowds, showing that the spirit of the Whalers is still truly alive.

I would recommend this book to anyone who has lived in the Northeast part of the United States and remembers the Whalers, but also to anyone who follows hockey in general. Pucky the Whale is alive and swimming in Hartford, and everyone who reads this book will likely feel that way as well.

Special thanks to Arcadia Publishing for making this available for reviewing!

Link to Powell's City of Books: http://www.powells.com/biblio/61-9780738555010-0

Link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Hartford-Whalers-CT-Images-Sports/dp/0738555010/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1362706699&sr=1-1&keywords=the+hartford+whalers

Link to Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hartford-whalers-connecticut-images-of-sports-series-brian-codagnone/1100604768?ean=9780738555010

Link to Arcadia Publishing: http://www.arcadiapublishing.com/9780738555010/The-Hartford-Whalers