I'd like to thank ECW Press for sending me some books to review.

I am well into a biography of Pierre Pilote, a Blackhawks defenseman in the 1950s. It shouldn't be long before I'm finished reading, and the review is posted.

Here's the newest review! I'm looking at The Rebel League: The Short and Unruly Life of the World Hockey Association, by Ed Willes.

Where can you begin when you start talking about the WHA? In seven short years, they created more interesting characters and players than the NHL probably has, they allowed players who were originally too young for the NHL to break out and become stars, and they put hockey into non-traditional markets.

It was conceived by two businessmen who didn't know anything about hockey. That, of course, never stopped anyone, so next thing you knew, the league was getting off the ground. Tossing money all over the place, they enticed players from the NHL to play for them, and a number of mid-level players joined. But it wasn't until Bobby Hull joined the Winnipeg Jets that everyone sat up and took notice. A year later, Gordie Howe came out of retirement and joined the Houston Aeros. Along with his two sons, the Howes would lead Houston to a pair of WHA championships.

Something else the league did that was groundbreaking was to introduce European players to North America on a larger scale. In fact, by the time the WHA had closed its doors, Europeans, at least from areas like Scandinavia, were becoming much more commonplace, although the Russians and East Europeans were still years off, for the most part.

This book tells the tales of the weird, strange, and hilarious. It introduces the characters that were larger than life, and sets the record straight about many of them. You'll meet the players that would become the inspiration for one of the best-known hockey movies, Slap Shot.

Oh, it also gives an insight to the very early days of a certain youngster that would eventually become one of the greatest players of all time. He got his professional start in Indianapolis, but was traded to Edmonton. Yes, that's the humble beginnings of Wayne Gretzky.

It's quite the ride. At some points it's a fast, hang to your seat type of ride. Other times, it sets up a nice tale with a funny or weird ending. You never quite know what you're going to get as you read, and I think that sums up the WHA.

Link to Powell's City of Books: http://www.powells.com/biblio/62-9780771089497-0

Link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Rebel-League-Unruly-Hockey-Association/dp/077108949X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1379564615&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Rebel+League%3A+The+Short+and+Unruly+Life+of+the+World+Hockey+Association

Link to Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rebel-league-ed-willes/1100381959?ean=9780771089473

Today, we're looking at Detroit Red Wings: Greatest Moments and Players, by Stan Fischler.

This book starts with a selection of 53 of the best players to ever suit up for the Wings. Luminaries such as Gordie Howe, Steve Yzerman, Nicklas Lidstrom and so many more are featured in the first section, biographies about these players.

Section 2 is a chronology of 60 moments in Detroit history. First games, special milestones, things of that nature.

Part 3 is a series of slightly longer pieces that include the best, worst and unusual about the team; statistics, and a small feature on why Gordie Howe, not Gretzky is the best player of all time.

There's a section on notable persons from the front office over the years. The Ilitch family, Scotty Bowman, Jack Adams, the list continues with well-known names in the hockey world.

Finally, there's a look at the 2002 and 2008 Stanley Cup chases.

It's a well-laid out book, with plenty of pictures. The facts and information are presented in an easy-to-follow format, and you don't have to know a lot about hockey to keep track of it all. The stories are presented first-hand, as if you're looking over the writer's shoulder watching and listening to it all happen.

Stan Fischler has a reputation as a hockey reporting legend. He's been covering the game for over 50 years, having started with the New York Rangers in 1954. His writing is impeccable, as is his style.

Highly recommended for any Red Wings fan, and any fan of the game.

Special thanks to Lauren Burnstein at Skyhorse Publishing for making this book available for reviewing purposes. Thanks!!

Link to Skyhorse Publishing: http://www.skyhorsepublishing.com/book/?GCOI=60239100917990

Link to Powell's City of Books: http://www.powells.com/biblio/61-9781613210642-0

Link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Detroit-Red-Wings-Greatest-Moments/dp/1613210647/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1379218297&sr=1-1&keywords=Detroit+Red+Wings%3A+Greatest+Moments+and+Players

Link to Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/detroit-red-wings-greatest-moments-and-players-stan-fischler/1103726936?ean=9781613210642 

Here's another book review!! Today, we're looking at Tales from the New Jersey Devils Locker Room, by Glenn “Chico” Resch, with Mike Kerwick.

New Jersey was actually the 3^rd stop for this franchise, Kansas City and Colorado (Denver) being the first two. However, Jersey was easily the most successful, with three Stanley Cups and multiple playoff success stories.

Open these pages, and find out about Martin Brodeur, from his humble beginnings to his Hall of Fame career. See deep into Ken Daneyko's career, played entirely with the Devils, and ending with an emotional curtain call in Game 7 of the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals. Find out more about players like Scott Niedermayer, Scott Stevens, and Brendan Shanahan.

Glenn Resch is one of two goalies to lead a team to victory in a Stanley Cup playoff series after being down 3-0. He played four of his fourteen seasons in the NHL with New Jersey, and is well-qualified to tell the tales of the Devils. He tells tales of Lou Lamoriello, the General Manager of the team, and his antics; the trades as well as his occasional coaching stints.

From the bizarre to the hilarious, the profound, and everything in between, this book covers the Devils in full.

On a personal note, I found it to be an easy, enjoyable read. I've already recommended it to a couple of Devils fans that I know. Every Devils fan out there should take the time to leaf through these pages, just to get to know their team better.

Special thanks to Lauren Burnstein at Sports Publishing, a division of Skyhorse Publishing for making this book available for reviewing purposes!

Link to Skyhorse Publishing: http://www.sportspubbooks.com/book/?gcoi=58261100552910

Link to Powell's City of Books: http://www.powells.com/biblio/61-9781613210031-0

Link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Tales-Jersey-Devils-Locker-Room/dp/1613210035/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1378776413&sr=1-1&keywords=Tales+from+the+New+Jersey+Devils+Locker+Room%3A+A+Collection+of+the+Greatest+Devils+Stories+Ever+Told

Link to Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tales-from-the-new-jersey-devils-locker-room-mike-kerwick/1100183134?ean=9781613210031

Today, we are looking at Simply the Best: Insights and Strategies from Great Hockey Coaches, by Mike Johnston and Ryan Walter.

It started as a project on a plane ride home after a hockey game. After discussing that night's game at length, the conversation turned to other coaches. To the best of their knowledge, no one had ever interviewed Roger Neilson, who was dying of cancer. Scotty Bowman, one of the winningest coaches in the game at that time, had apparently, to their knowledge, never been interviewed for a book either.

 

Thus was born a book project which has become this book.

This book is made up of 12 sections, interviews really. Johnston and Walter sent out interview requests and questions to a much larger group, and this is the result. 12 of the best coaches in the NHL, United States and Canadian collegiate coaches. All of the men interviewed speak candidly about their techniques for coaching and their preparation on and off the ice, during the season and the off-season.

Each of these coaches has plenty to say. What they provide are insights not only into hockey, but these can also be applied to regular life as well.

I've had the opportunity to hear Mike Johnston speak on more than one occasion, as well as meet him in person many times. I can say, without hesitation, that I can hear his speaking style in what I read within these pages. I am proud to have a signed copy of this on my shelf, and have read it many times, looking for insight into my own life. I have found bits and pieces on more than one occasion. I hope you do too.

Link to Powell's City of Books: http://www.powells.com/biblio/62-9781894974370-0

Link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Simply-Best-Insights-Strategies-Coaches/dp/1894974379/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1378085582&sr=1-1&keywords=Simply+the+Best%3A+Insights+and+Strategies+from+Great+Hockey+Coaches

Link to Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/simply-the-best-mike-johnston/1112400849?ean=9781894974370