Here we go again... Today, we're looking at Hockey in Rochester: The Americans' Tradition.

This book is done by Arcadia Publishing, and their style is heavy on pictures, and less on long, descriptive paragraphs. I have also found it to be excellent reference material.

This specific book focuses on hockey in Rochester , from the early days in the 1930s as the Cardinals, and on to the return of hockey in 1956 when the Americans returned.

A lot of notable names have played for the “Amerks” and many have moved on to the NHL. Bronco Horvath, Dick Gamble, Al Arbour, and even Don Cherry, all played for the Americans at some point. More recently, names like Ryan Miller, Grant Fuhr, Jason Pominville and Derek Roy have graced the Americans roster on their way to and/or from the NHL ranks. Keith Gretzky, brother of NHL megastar Wayne, also played for awhile with the Amerks.

There are also pictures of all the Calder Cup championship winning teams; a total of six in all.

All in all, this was a wonderfully put together work of reference and history. Anyone with any knowledge of the Rochester hockey scene will find this to be a welcome look back at the historical record. An excellent work, I found it to be interesting, informative and enjoyable.

I wish to give a special shout-out to Arcadia Publishing for sending me this book for reviewing purposes. Thank you very much!

Link to Powell's City of Books: http://www.powells.com/biblio/61-9780738536941-0

Link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Hockey-Rochester-Americans-Tradition-Images/dp/0738536946/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1359421436&sr=1-1&keywords=hockey+in+rochester

Link to Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hockey-in-rochester-blaise-m-lamphier/1112767143?ean=9780738536941

Link to Arcadia Publishing:   http://www.arcadiapublishing.com/9780738536941/Hockey-in-Rochester-The-Americans-Tradition
 

Today, I've got a special treat. We're looking at Messier: Hockey's Dragon Slayer by Rick Carpiniello.

Now, I am a big fan of Messier, and have been his entire career. This book sums it up pretty well.

His playing days in Edmonton, with Gretzky, are touched on briefly, as well as the Gretzky trade itself. Winning another Stanley Cup after Gretzky was traded is also briefly talked about.

The book is most in depth when talking about Messier's days with the New York Rangers. That's both an up and down side. It highlights the slow but steady movement towards winning the 1994 Stanley Cup, but it also limits what was a stellar career and only shows off a few seasons.

All in all, I must say, getting an inside look at what it was like being around Messier and his Rangers teammates on the way to winning the Cup, plus all the partying after winning it, is a lot of fun.

The book also goes into the negotiation time with the Rangers, and ultimately with his post-NY Rangers days.

I would say that this book definitely captures the spirit that is Mark Messier, and definitely shows why many believe him to be, if not the best, then definitely one of the best captains of all time in the NHL.

Link to Powell's City of Books: http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9780965384698-4

Link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Messier-Hockeys-Dragon-Rick-Carpiniello/dp/0965384691/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1359071085&sr=1-1&keywords=messier%3A+Hockey%27s+dragon+slayer

Link to Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/messier-rick-carpiniello/1003568186?ean=9780965384698

Today, I'm reviewing The Winter Classic by Russ Cohen and Michael del Tufo.

The first outdoor game in modern days was played in Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, between the Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens. Well over 51,000 people were present for that game, taking place in temperatures plummeting to 30 below on the Celsius scale.

Unfortunately, ratings in the United States weren't nearly as high as hoped for. After the 04-05 lockout was settled, the NHL was looking for a way to jolt interest in the game. Two Stanley Cups won by smaller market teams hadn't helped much. So, in September '07, it was announced in Buffalo that the Penguins and Sabres would be playing an outdoor game on New Years Day. Tickets were snapped up quickly, and the game proved to be an unqualified success. Since that game, the Winter Classic, as it has come to be known, has become the premier event of the NHL season.

Russ Cohen has definitely put together an excellent work of prose, outlining the ins and outs of putting together an outdoor hockey game in a baseball or football stadium. Each chapter is dedicated to each outdoor game, with a look at setting it up, the preparations for each team, the lineups for each team, and much more. There is a pre-game, in-game, and post game section as well. Comments from players and coaches, plus photos from the games help round out each section.

Chapter 9 is a look, from the author's perspective, behind the scenes of each game. It's interesting to see the comparisons from the first game, with little fanfare, as opposed to the later games where there is much more interest by the press and the public.

Unfortunately, the section for the 2013 Winter Classic focuses much more on the lockout issues that eventually postponed that game between Detroit and Toronto. However, there is plenty to read about for the game when it comes up in 2014.

I found this to be an easy and enjoyable read. It's laid out nicely, and each chapter builds on the last, giving a look at the past, present, and future of the Winter Classic. No doubt, Mr. Cohen has done his homework, that's for sure.

I would like to publicly give a shout out to Mr. Cohen for making a copy available to me for reviewing purposes. Thanks!!

Link to Powell's City of Books: http://www.powells.com/biblio/61-9781935723769-1

Link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Winter-Classic-Russ-Cohen/dp/1935723766/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1358205654&sr=1-1&keywords=the+winter+classic

Link to Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-winter-classic-russ-cohen/1113563376?ean=9781935723769

I've been busy reading since the new year arrived. This review is Dropping the Gloves, by Barry Melrose.

The book is laid out pretty straightforward; first, he talks about growing up in Saskatchewan as a kid, then going to play hockey at various levels, eventually being drafted by both the mighty Montreal Canadiens of the NHL and the Cincinnati Stingers of the WHA.

He talks about the “Dark Ages” of hockey in the 70s, and his role in the game. He's very candid about everything he writes about, and it's easy to see his passion from the game.

Many times he draws comparisons from his playing days in talking about his coaching days, first in the WHL junior ranks, then up to the AHL, and finally to the NHL, where he had the opportunity to coach the legendary Hall of Fame player Wayne Gretzky.

At the end, there is a section on his “Best of...” in several categories. He also talks about how he transitioned to a career in television.

It's an easy read. I found it fairly low-key, without being filled with too much technical jargon. Anything that might be tough to follow is quickly explained.

I was looking forward to it when I heard of the upcoming release, and was not disappointed. Melrose certainly knows what he's talking about on ESPN, because he's been there as a player and a coach. While the game style has changed since he was playing, the underlying premise is relatively the same, and that's why I’d recommend this book. He clearly knows what he's talking about.

Link to Powell's City of Books: http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9780771056949-0

Link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Dropping-Gloves-Fiercely-Combative-Professional/dp/077105694X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1357686150&sr=1-1&keywords=dropping+the+gloves+barry+melrose

Link to Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/dropping-the-gloves-inside-the-fiercely-combative-world-?store=book&keyword=dropping+the+gloves+inside+the+fiercely+combative+world+...

I'm taking a look at Breakaway, by Tal Pinchevsky.

This is one of the most interesting hockey books I've ever heard of, let alone read, and I was almost ecstatic when I saw it on the shelf at my local book store. I’d read reviews of it, and was looking forward to it.

This book is about the early, heady days of some well known Eastern European hockey players and their journeys to the west, and ultimately to the NHL. It reads more like a spy thriller than a hockey book in many respects. I think that's why it commanded so much of my attention.

From the 1970s and Vaclav Nedomansky, to the early 1980s and the Stastny brothers, the cloak-and-dagger methods of getting these players from Communist countries into places like West Germany or Austria are almost Bond-ish in a way.

You have to remember that for many of these players, especially the Russians of the 1980s, they were considered superstars and property of the government. Great Russian players like Fetisov, Larionov, and Kasatonov were treated like royalty, and had the best of the best at their fingertips. In a time where simply having the basics in your kitchen was difficult at best, these men had everything; some of them even had cars. But they were willing to give it all up to play in the NHL.

You see the behind-the-scenes methods of General Managers and their “associates” moving heaven and earth to stay one step ahead of the secret police; in one case the player in question walked into a shopping mall with a GM, and then literally hightailed it out another, darkened door, leaping into a car that took off, just feet ahead of the authorities.

I highly recommend this book, not only as a hockey book, but because of the intrigue. These players went through hell in many cases, and so did their families. But because of their trailblazing efforts, the NHL is now well-stocked with international players, and a kid from Russia is able to simply say that he is headed to the NHL, and not worry that the KGB or anyone else is going to haul him off to Siberia.

Link to Powell's City of Books: http://www.powells.com/biblio/61-9781118095003-0

Link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Breakaway-Curtain-NHL---Hockeys-Escapes/dp/1118095006/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1357672219&sr=1-1&keywords=breakaway

Link to Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/breakaway-tal-pinchevsky/1111010625?ean=9781118095003

As promised, here's the latest review.

Today, I'm reviewing Open Net by George Plimpton. He is a journalist who put on the pads and went to training camp and preseason with the Boston Bruins.

Believe it or not, one of the clauses in his contract states that the Boston Bruins will not be held liable for injury or death, should either occur in camp. Kind of scary, isn't it?

Along the way, he talks with the players in camp and hears all sorts of stories. Tales of the legends like Orr and Esposito, others like Derek Sanderson, and he speaks with coach Don Cherry at length about the game itself.

He tells about being in camp facing 100 mph slapshots and the traffic in front of the net.

Finally, comes the big moment; a special 5-minute "game" in goal against the Broad Street Bullies, the Philadelphia Flyers. He goes into his experience at length.

The best part about this book is that you don't have to know a lot about hockey to be able to follow the stories. It's like creating a building or packing for a vacation; everything you need is provided along the way.

I highly recommend this to readers for the easy to follow format, and an insiders look at the game of the 1970s.


Link to Powells City of Books:    http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9781592281206-3

Link to Amazon:     http://www.amazon.com/Open-Net-Professional-Amateur-Big-Time/dp/B0058M7FJY/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1357093501&sr=1-1&keywords=open+net

Link to Barnes and Noble:    http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/open-net-george-plimpton/1002481173?ean=9781599218069