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
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