Today, we take a peek at My Toughest Faceoff, by Brent Peterson, with Jim Diamond.

Brent Peterson was a standout in junior hockey, ironically for my very own hometown Portland Winterhawks, in the Western Hockey League. He had a 12-year NHL career, where he developed into a very good penalty killer and shut-down forward, skilled at winning face-offs. After his playing career ended, he would return to Portland as an assistant coach, eventually taking the head coaching position and leading the Winterhawks to the pinnacle of junior hockey, the Memorial Cup, in 1998.

After that season, he would successfully interview with the expansion NHL Nashville Predators and become an assistant coach under Barry Trotz. He would lend his expertise to help the incoming players develop their skills

As the months and years went by, Brent and his wife noticed that things were getting more difficult in life, even to the point of falling once or twice on the ice during practice.

When he revealed to his fellow coaches, and then the team, that he had Parkinson's Disease, you can just feel the anguish in each person as they discover what Brent had been keeping a secret for more than a couple years. While this annoucement would ultimately keep him from seeking a head coaching position in the NHL, and also keep him off the bench in Nashville, the Predators were more than pleased to create a position for Brent, allowing him to stay on with the team.

At one point, early after the diagnosis, Brent had a long discussion with Michael J. Fox about Parkinson's and how it affected his life. In turn, Brent would go on to counsel former NBA star, and, ironically, Portland Trailblazer Brian Grant when he was diagnosed with Parkinson's.

Ultimately, he was considered and approved for what is known as DBS, Deep Brain Stimulation. He describes this process in great detail, the ups and downs. It's fascinating to read about the scientific progress that has been made in Parkinson's research, and the development and creation of the Peterson Foundation for Parkinson's and their subsequent donations to Vanderbilt University's facilities.

It is said that when one door closes, another opens. After reading this book, it is clear that while the head coaching door has closed for Brent, he is now firmly entrenched in the research for Parkinson's. While there is no cure for Parkinson's, he is helping to lead the fight to try and discover one.

This book is a tale of ups and downs, and of inspiration. It is a tale of one man's fight against an insidious disease, and his will and tenacity against it. I would highly recommend it to anyone who either has Parkinson's themselves, knows someone with it, or is a caregiver to someone with it.

One final note: I would like to personally thank Mr. Brent Peterson for providing me contact information so that I could receive a personalized copy of this book. Words cannot say enough to his generosity, and I hope that he eventually receives this message.

Link to Powell's City of Books: http://www.powells.com/biblio/61-9781482652383-1

Link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/My-Toughest-Faceoff-Parkinsons-Disease/dp/1482652382/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1367381846&sr=1-1&keywords=my+toughest+faceoff

Link to Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/my-toughest-faceoff-brent-peterson/1114850844?ean=9781482652383

Today, we're looking at The Hershey Bears: Sweet Seasons, by Tim Leone.

Hershey, PA is one of the oldest hockey franchises out there, in existence for longer than many NHL teams. When their Hersheypark Arena opened in December of 1936, it was considered state of the art, and a marvel of the hockey world and beyond. I particularly love the photos from high up at one end of the rink, showing the entire arena. You can really get a feel for how big, yet cozy, Hersheypark Arena really is.

The Harlem Globetrotters played there, Wilt Chamberlain had his 100 point game in Hershey, and the Hershey Bears won an astounding eight Calder Cup Championships.

This is a wonderful book, spanning decades of history in the AHL. Many players came and went through Hershey on their way to and/or from the NHL. Bob Hartley was a member of the team before moving on to coach the NHL's Colorado Avalanche. Ron Hextall played goal for the Bears before going up to the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers. Tim Tookey, Mitch Lamoureux, and countless others have come and gone through Hershey.

Hersheypark opened December 19, 1936, and the Bears played their last game there in 2002. No doubt about it, this book sums up that time frame succinctly. It truly stands the test of time to the testament of the longevity and championship caliber of the Hershey Bears.

Link to Arcadia Publishing: http://www.arcadiapublishing.com/9780738513331/The-Hershey-Bears-Sweet-Seasons

Link to Powell's City of Books: http://www.powells.com/biblio/62-9780738513331-0

Link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Hershey-Bears-Seasons-Images-Sports/dp/0738513334/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1367286830&sr=1-1&keywords=the+hershey+bears

Link to Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hershey-bears-sweet-seasons-pennsylvania-tim-leone/1100094189?ean=9780738513331

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

Today, we're looking at The Bruins in black and white: 1966 to the 21^st Century, by Richard A. Johnson and Brian Codagnone.

Boston has been one of my favorite teams for years, because of the history and the players that have played for the club, especially in this time frame that the book covers.

This book starts out as the team is into a stretch of 8 straight seasons without making the playoffs. On the other hand, there are also pictures of a very young defenseman who will eventually help turn the club around; one Robert (Bobby) Orr. With the addition of Phil Esposito and Derek Sanderson, the team soon begins a resurgence and wins the Stanley Cup in 1970 and 1972. Unfortunately, because of the WHA and players defecting to that league, as well as the surging Montreal Canadiens, Boston was unable to create a true dynasty.

At the end of the 70s, Ray Bourque's arrival is heralded, and the 80's begin. In the middle of the decade, a lopsided trade is briefly mentioned; Barry Pederson to Vancouver for Cam Neely and a 1^st rounder, who would turn out to be defenseman Glen Wesley.

All in all, Boston's history is rich and full of tradition. The team, at one point, had a streak of 29 straight years in the playoffs, the longest such streak in North American pro sports history.

I really enjoyed the pictures of big names from Boston's history from 1966 on to the 21^st century. I would highly recommend this book to any hockey fan from the northeastern United States as well as any fan of the Bruins. You will no doubt love a trip down memory lane, and a chance to learn more about the history of one of the NHL's Original Six teams, and a strong, lasting franchise.

Link to Powell's City of Books: http://www.powells.com/biblio/61-9780738534886-0

Link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Bruins-Black-White-Century/dp/0738534889/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366755940&sr=8-1&keywords=the+bruins+in+black+and+white

Link to Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-bruins-in-black-and-white-richard-a-johnson/1112860291?ean=9780738534886

Arcadia Publishing: http://www.arcadiapublishing.com/9780738534886/The-Bruins-in-Black-and-White-1966-to-the-21st-Century

Special Thanks to Arcadia Publishing for making this book available for review.

I have returned! I will admit, it was nice to get away from home for awhile... but I really missed out on two home playoff games that sounded like a good time.

Down in Anaheim, along the road close to the Honda Center, they've got photo banners of select Ducks players on the lightposts. Nice touch!

I've got new books at home, waiting for me to start reviewing, and that will start this week. So be sure to look for new reviews coming soon!

As most of you know, I have been able to post a review about once a week or so.

That's going to change for much of the remainder of April. I'm going out of town and will likely not be posting any reviews during that time.

When I return, things will get back to normal, and I should be able to jump back into more reviews. I ask patience while I am gone, but look forward to getting back to more hockey books with you, the readers.

Thanks to each and everyone of the readers who follow my reviews, and a special thanks to all of the authors and/or companies who have provided books for reviewing purposes. See you all on the other side!

Today's book review is The Ultimate Bad Boys by Stan Fischler.

This is a little bit of a departure from most book reviews that I have done. Instead of a story-type approach, this book instead starts out with a series of interviews with well-known “tough guys” in the NHL, keeping in mind that the book is dated at about 1999. Each of the players speaks candidly about subjects such as growing up, playing hockey at various levels, who they have fought against and opinions on the toughest people they have faced. In my opinion, these interviews make the book worth reading.

2^nd, there is a section where three well-known hockey writers rank the so-called “tough guys” in various categories, and then show them by total points. Granted, the totals are subjective, but I believe that the way each writer defends his position gives you, the reader, a chance to make a judgment on those rankings.

There is a brief section on the current “heavyweight champ” Tony Twist, as well as a section on the TKO Quartet, four of the toughest people playing in the 80s and 90s; Marty McSorley, Bob Probert, Joey Kocur, and Tie Domi. I readily agree that, in their prime, any of those four could be considered the best fighters on any given night.

There is a section on single games that have become known for major or multiple fights, as well as “the All-Time dirtiest, toughest team.”

This book can readily appeal to the fan of the fights, as well as to everyone else, because not only are these players capable of knocking others out, so many of these fighters can actually play the game as well.

Link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Bad-Boys-Greatest-Fighters/dp/1894020359/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1364861729&sr=1-1&keywords=the+ultimate+bad+boys

Link to Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ultimate-bad-boys-stan-fischler/1003050845?ean=9781894020350