Gift Guide 2016: Books for Hockey Fans

There are so many books out there for hockey fans this year! Each of these is full of delightful stories of the game from perspectives both on and off the ice. Some of these feature stories of struggle and resilience sure to inspire the reader.

Don Cherry’s Sports Heroes – Don Cherry ($20, IndigoChapters). Any fan of Coach’s Corner or Hockey Night in Canada will love this book. Don has his signature candidness and sizzling humour in these interviews and stories. In these pages you’ll find epic stories about hockey greats Maurice “Rocket” Richard, Wayne Gretzky, Bobby Orr and Gordie Howe, to name a few, and since Grapevine TV was the place to be in the sports world, you can revel in some unforgettable stories on players in other fields, too.
99: Stories of the Game – Wayne Gretzky ($22, IndigoChapters). In 99: Stories of the Game, Gretzky looks back on the last ninety-nine years and tells us, from his point of view, about the NHL’s most memorable moments. We already know what he means to the game. Now he shows us what the game means to him.
The McDavid Effect: Connor McDavid and the New Hope for Hockey – Marty Klinkenberg ($19, IndigoChapters). Sorry Flames Fans, I had to include this one! Through exclusive access, uplifting anecdotes, and colourful interviews, The McDavid Effect traces the renewal of not just a hockey team, but of an entire city. The ‘Connor McDavid’ Era is about more than just a player and the hope he’s brought to a city.
Bleeding Blue: Giving My All For The Game – Wendel Clark ($17, IndigoChapters). Funny, fierce, and gritty, Bleeding Blue recounts every struggle and success of Wendel Clark’s rough-and-tumble journey to becoming one of hockey’s greatest heroes. Perfect for the Leaf’s fan on your list!
Now I’m Catching On: My Life On and Off the Air – Bob Cole ($18, IndigoChapters). I’m not sure if there is a hockey fan in Canada who doesn’t know Bob Cole’s legendary voice. Written with Stephen Brunt (a fave of mine!), this book chronicles his life and some amazing hockey stories from some of the most memorable events in the game.
Breaking Away – Patrick O’Sullivan ($28, IndigoChapters). This book is an extension of his Player’s Tribune article entitled Black & Blue. Breaking Away is a story about abuse, but it is also a story about triumph, as O’Sullivan revisits the ghosts of his past.
Boy on Ice: The Life and Death of Derek Boogaard – John Branch ($25, IndigoChapters). “A gentle young man, he was a brutal fighter on ice skates, capable of delivering career-ending punches and intimidating entire teams. But at twenty-eight, his death from an overdose of painkillers in the wake of a series of concussions helped shatter the silence about violence in professional sports.”
All The Way: My Life on Ice – Jordin Tootoo ($15, IndigoChapters). Jordin Tootoo is a prominent member of Canada’s First Nations community and this book is told in Tootoo’s bold voice, with contributions by Stephen Brunt, arguably one of the best sportswriters, All the Way is the searing, honest tale of a young man who has risen to every challenge but all too nearly fell short in the toughest game of all.