Today, I'm looking at University of Maine Ice Hockey, by Bob Briggs.

The University of Maine main campus is located in Orono, Maine.

The first games were held in 1906, outdoors in the frigid Maine winters. Among the first brother combinations to play hockey for Maine were the Lambe Brothers, Emerson and Reginald. They would terrorize the outdoor hockey rinks with their aggressive play. Other brother combos include David and Jack Capuano, Peter and Chris Ferraro, and John and Jim Tortorella.

Unfortunately, hockey would be discontinued after the 1923-24 season. The winter season was just too much for people to spend a lot of time outside watching a sport, due to frigid temperatures, and the windchill.

Between the 1930s and the 1960s, however, hockey was kept alive as either a winter program or an intramural sport.

Hockey made a grand comeback in 1976, when Harold Alfond donated a large sum of money to develop a new indoor arena for hockey. The Black Bears first hockey game in the new arena, named for Alfond, was held on November 18, 1977. The program lost their first three home games, before winning in a 4-1 match against rival Colby. The program would eventually move into the Shaun Walsh Arena in time for the 2005-06 season, so named for the former coach of the Black Bears.

Hockey is the only sport to win a national championship at Maine, and the Black Bears have won it twice; in 1993, and in 1999.

Maine alum John Tortorella won a Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004, and is now the head coach in Vancouver. Eric Weinrich wasn't able to play for the 1988 Maine squad, due to being added to the United States Olympic squad.

Goalies Garth Snow and Mike Dunham both would go on to NHL careers, and Snow is the General Manager of the New York Islanders.

But probably the best known alums in recent school history would likely be the Kariya brothers. Steve would lead the way to the 1999 National Championship, and would be a Hobey Baker finalist, for best college player of the year. Martin won several awards in his 4-year tenure with the Black Bears, and in 2007 was skating with the Blues in the Finnish League.

However, it is probably Paul Kariya that is the best known of the three. He has played for five NHL teams, and is one of three Maine players to have his number retired.

All in all, I would say that this book really opened my eyes to a new hockey program. Many Maine players went on to the NHL, and they proudly wear the history of Maine Black Bears hockey.

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

Link to Arcadia Publishing: http://www.arcadiapublishing.com/9780738555157/University-of-Maine-Ice-Hockey

Link to Powell's City of Books, Portland, OR: http://www.powells.com/biblio/61-9780738555157-0

Link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/University-Maine-Hockey-Images-Sports/dp/0738555150/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1375066903&sr=1-1&keywords=University+of+Maine+Ice+Hockey

Link to Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/university-of-maine-ice-hockey-bob-briggs/1100602753?ean=9780738555157

Today, I'm reviewing King of Russia: A year in the Russian Super League, by Dave King, with Eric Duhatschek.

Dave King had already been an NHL head coach in Calgary and Columbus, so he had experience. He was on his way to Finland, to be a head coach in that country. But he decided to join Metallurg Magnitogorsk in the Russian Super League, and in doing so he became the first Canadian coach to take the reins of a Russian team.

What follows is an unbelievable yet totally true tale of the ups and downs of the Russian hockey league system in 2005-06.

There are a couple of familiar names on the roster, most notably Evgeny Malkin, who would eventually go on and play for the Pittsburgh Penguins. With a roster made up of primarily Russians, the language barrier would be truly difficult at best, almost impossible were it not for a couple of former NHL players who have some English skills.

The book is laid out in a straightforward, almost diary or journal fashion. It's easy to follow, and along the way Dave King talks about everyday life in Russia, the people, the lifestyle, and how he manages to manage living in a completely different culture on a daily basis.

It's a fascinating look behind the scenes at what eventually became the KHL. I found it a pleasant insight, as well as a wonderful look at everyday life. You don't have to be a hockey fan to follow everything; it's very well laid out, in a low-key, somewhat simplistic yet detailed fashion. Very enjoyable, and worth the time to sit down with it.

Link to Powell's: http://www.powells.com/biblio/61-9780771095702-0

Link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/King-Russia-Russian-Super-League/dp/0771095708/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374795703&sr=1-1&keywords=King+of+Russia%3A+A+Year+in+the+Russian+Super+League

Link to Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/king-of-russia-dave-king/1113003952?ean=9780771095702

Double review day!! I'm posting my review for Crossing the Line: The outrageous story of a Hockey Original, by Derek Sanderson, with Kevin Shea.

Where to begin? I had heard stories and rumors about Derek Sanderson, from becoming the highest paid athlete in the 1970s, to losing literally everything and living in a cardboard box, and making his way back up. But where do you start to be able to tell the true parts from the blown-up stories?

This is the place, directly from the horse's mouth, so to speak. He speaks candidly about the path through juniors, to the OHA, and eventually being signed by the Boston Bruins. He a teammate of Bobby Orr, and was on the club that won the 1970 Stanley Cup.

Through it all, though, money was an issue. The issue was that Derek seemed to do whatever he wished, and didn't seem to worry about whether there would be more in the future. One tale stands out: he goes into a Rolls-Royce dealership dressed very casually, kicks a few tires, and seriously wants to buy one. The salesman barely looks at him. So, Derek yells for a manager, states that he will be back at 5pm with cash to buy the car, and doesn't want “that man” to get the commission.

Sanderson was also an instrumental part in the early days of the WHA, the World Hockey Association, or as many still refer to it, the rebel league. The Philadelphia Blazers were willing to throw a huge amount of money, 2.5 million dollars, to sign him. Unfortunately, that didn't last long, and they bought him out.

Derek speaks candidly about his drug and alcohol problems as well; how they started, grew into demons, and interfered with his playing career. He would end up broke and living under a bridge in a box in Central Park in New York.

He would eventually work his way back up, and found a job working with, of all things, a financial advisor. He even started a sports branch, so that he could keep athletes from ending up like he did. Glen Wesley, and Bobby Orr were his first two clients. That helped bring in more clients quickly; after all, if it was good enough for Bobby Orr, then others could definitely trust his judgment.

All in all, I’d definitely recommend this book. It's a tale of someone who had it all, lost it all, and managed to get back to where he could begin to have most of it all over again.

Link to Powell's City of Books: http://www.powells.com/biblio/72-9781600786808-0

Link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Crossing-Line-Derek-Sanderson/dp/1600786804/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374361205&sr=1-1&keywords=Crossing+the+Line%3A+The+Outrageous+Story+of+a+Hockey+Original

Link to Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/crossing-the-line-derek-sanderson/1110072111?ean=9781600789243

Today, I'm looking at Skating Engineers: Hockey at RPI, by Kurt Stutt.

RPI, or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, is located in Troy, New York.

Hockey at RPI started with rather humble beginnings in 1903-04. They played one game, and won it. However, the 1911-12 season was the first to be played on campus, and while hockey was played throughout the 1920s and into the 1930s, after the season ended in 1938, hockey was abandoned due to problems maintaining the ice sheet.

Not to worry, hockey returned for the 1949-50 season, and eventually worked its way to among the best in the country, and even won the 1954 college hockey National Championship under coach Ned Harkness.

It was also around this time that 4 different Chiarelli family members played hockey for RPI. Dick and Frank played in the late 50s, Pat and cousin John played in the early 60s.

When Ned Harkness finally left RPI, Rube Bjorkman took over, and led the team to a 3^rd place finish and an 18-8 record. Unfortunately, he found recruiting difficult, and would leave after just the one year.

Success would find RPI again in the 1980s, though. Here are just a couple of the biggest names to come through the school's history.

Mike McPhee, a 6^th round pick by Montreal in 1980 would become the only RPI grad to get his name on the Stanley Cup.

Adam Oates would amass 1,420 points, 1,079 of those assists, in the NHL, build a name as a prolific passer, and eventually end up in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Currently, he is the head coach of the NHL's Washington Capitals.

Daren Puppa graduated in 1987, and was the 74^th overall pick by Buffalo in 1983. He would win an incredible 29 straight starts, and holds the RPI record for 3^rd highest total in career wins. His .879 winning percentage is a school record as well. He would eventually make it to the NHL, and retired in 2000.

All in all, RPI has had quite a bit of success on the ice, and their academic record is without question. From humble beginnings, the hockey program has proven that it will persevere throughout adversity and will be a force to be reckoned with for years to come.

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

Link to Arcadia Publishing: http://www.arcadiapublishing.com/9780738536927/Skating-Engineers-Hockey-at-RPI

Link to Powell's City of Books: http://www.powells.com/biblio/61-9780738536927-0

Link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Skating-Engineers-Hockey-Images-Sports/dp/073853692X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374359359&sr=1-1&keywords=Skating+Engineers

Link to Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/skating-engineers-kurt-stutt/1112767142?ean=9780738536927

Today, we're looking at Wildcat Hockey: Ice Hockey at the University of New Hampshire, by Elizabeth Slomba and William E. Ross.

The main campus of UNH is located in Durham, New Hampshire, with an additional campus in Manchester.

UNH hockey dates back to the early 1900s, first established in 1914, but didn't last long. Ten years later, Hank Swasey began what would be the official first hockey team at UNH. Hockey was played outdoors, and sometimes the team would go weeks or even months between games because of weather. However, that all changed when UNH alum Harry Batchelder donated equipment for artificial ice. That brought hockey indoors, and the rest is history.

In 1962, A. Bart “Whoop” Snively took over as head coach. He passed away in April of 1964 due to a heart attack; the arena the team played in was renamed in his honor.

Looking at individual players, 4 Olympians have come from UNH:

Bob Miller ('76)

Ralph Cox made the 1980 Lake Placid team that upset the Russians and won Gold

Steve Leach ('88)

Jeff Lazaro ('92)

Oh, by the way, another UNH alum, Michael Ontkean, had a career in Hollywood, and starred in the classic hockey movie, Slap Shot.

...and speaking of success, the 1976-77 UNH team sent an astounding 8 players to the NHL in just that one year. Overall, the UNH men's hockey program has been to 6 Frozen Four tournaments, the equivalent of the basketball Final Four. Unfortunately, the closest to a National Title the team has come was a loss to Maine in 1999.

Now, on the other side of the puck, so to speak... The UNH women's program was established in the fall of 1977, and the team proceeded to post a 15-0 record by March of 1978. The 1991-92 club broke a number of records, and Karen Bye and other two others would eventually win Olympic Gold in 1998. Erin Whitten was part of that 91-92 team, and she would go on to play in the AHL for a few games.

Snively Arena closed at the end of the 1993-94 season, and the team would move into the Whittemore Center, with about double the seating capacity.

Ty Conklin, who would have a somewhat successful NHL career, put up UNH career marks for best goals against average, save percentage, games played and wins.

...and to finish on a fun note, since the early 80s, the Zeta Chi fraternity has started a tradition of throwing a fish onto the ice at every home game!

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

Link to Arcadia Publishing: http://www.arcadiapublishing.com/9780738511023/Wildcat-Hockey-Ice-Hockey-at-the-University-of-New-Hampshire

Link to Powell's City of Books: http://www.powells.com/biblio/61-9780738511023-0

Link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Wildcat-Hockey-Hampshire-Images-Sports/dp/0738511021/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1373746940&sr=1-1&keywords=Wildcat+Hockey%3A+Ice+Hockey+at+the+University+of+New+Hampshire

Link to Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wildcat-hockey-elizabeth-slomba/1112766962?ean=9780738511023

Now that the 4^th of July holiday has come and gone, it's time to get back to the reviews!

Today, we're looking at Tales from the Los Angeles Kings Locker Room: A collection of the greatest Kings stories ever told, by Bob Miller.

Bob Miller has been “The Voice of the Kings” for over 40 years, and there is likely no one better qualified to tell stories about the team. From the early days under initial owner Jack Kent Cooke, to Dr. Jerry Buss... from the Kings first true “big name” Rogie Vachon, who came over from Montreal... Bob Miller has stories about them all. The ups and downs, the ins and outs, all sorts of tales that make you shake your head in disbelief.

Time and time again I found myself thinking, “Is this for real?” Of course it is. Reality is stranger than fiction, and in this case, a whole book of reality is stranger than any fiction that could be written about the team.

Of course, Bob Miller also goes into detail about the biggest trade in hockey history, the one that brought Wayne Gretzky to Los Angeles in 1988. There are some tales of the team in their run to the 1993 Stanley Cup, which ultimately fell short against Montreal. However, there is a large section about the Kings and their successful Stanley Cup championship in 2012.

All in all, this is a fabulous book about the team and many highlights from their history. Any Kings fan should enjoy these tales again and again. Definitely a must-read in my opinion...

I would like to give a special thanks to Lauren Burnstein at Skyhorse Publishing for making this book available for reviewing purposes. Thanks!

Link to Sports Publishing: http://www.sportspubbooks.com/book/?GCOI=58261107099690

Link to Powell's City of Books, Portland, OR: http://www.powells.com/biblio/62-9781613213605-0

Link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Tales-Angeles-Kings-Locker-Room/dp/1613213603/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1373306444&sr=1-1&keywords=Tales+from+the+Los+Angeles+Kings+Locker+Room

Link to Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tales-from-the-los-angeles-kings-locker-room-bob-miller/1113641672?ean=9781613213605