They Don't Play Hockey in Heaven: A Dream, A Team, and My Comeback Season

by Ken Baker

The author tells the inspiring story of a hockey player who was sidelined by a brain tumor while still in college but managed a comeback later in life, chronicling the bruises, bad hotels, and badgering fans that accompanied his long, strange trip from the bottom up in professional hockey.

Genres: Hockey, Sports, Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography

272 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2003

About the author

Ken Baker is an American journalist, author, former pro athlete and television news personality. Baker is the Senior Correspondent for E! News as well as the host of E! Online's daily web show Live From E!.

Source: Wikipedia.

Reviews

[Tommy · Rating 4 out of 5]

They Don’t Play Hockey In Heaven is a book about a young mans journey as he returns to a sport he truly loves. Ken Baker is a journalist who returns to the arena as a hockey goalie. He has recently undergone brain surgery but feels the need to return to the sport he left behind. He says he is trying to make a comeback so he can write about it from a journalist perspective but deep down he is looking to fulfill a childhood dream.
Every young athlete can relate to this book and this mans journey. I really loved how described the workouts, his teammates, and the camaraderie he shared with them all.
Baker finally gets to start a game and describes vividly how nervous he is at the start, how much he enjoys hearing the crowd chant his name as he gets his first start between the pipes in his first big league game. In fulfilling this goal he finally feels like he has made his dad, who has since died and is now in heaven, proud. Now everyone can relate to this and deep down hopes to achieve the same.
I would encourage any and all sports enthusiasts to read and enjoy this great story.

[Sara Weihe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m in the book. Enough said, lol. I loved having Ken here in Bakersfield, and reading this book around his time here and the team was really wonderful. I witnessed his success here, and I couldn’t be more proud to have known this guy for a brief time in my early 20s.

[Iain · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very grounded account of the author's return to the sport he once loved. Told with wit, humor, and an eye to the dynamics of hockey both on-and-off the ice.

Recommended for anyone who enjoys hockey memoirs or analysis.

And yes, I read it in a day.

[Michael Monti · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly inspiring story

[Janelle Allee Peña · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sentimental treat this book was for this hockey mama from the Central Valley! 💛

[Danny Edmonds · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a dream and how it has been turned into reality. Ken Baker was once one of the biggest prospects for the NHL for his goaltending skills. He gave up hockey after graduating from Colgate University and considered committing suicide after his long time girlfriend broke up with him. He got a new girlfriend named Brooke who is his new fiance and recently had a dream that could change his life. He dreamed of actually playing hockey again. His fiance totally agrees with his decision and he is fully prepared to do everything he can to reach the pro level that he once abandoned. This is an amazing book about a dream and accomplishing the near impossible.

[Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is extremely well-written, which added to the fact that it is an amazing true story, makes the book a captivating read. Ken Baker's story catches the average sports novel reader easily, but it is also a great story for a lot of people, if not everyone. His story of recovering and rebounding after his brain tumor is inspirational.

[Jeffrey Spitz Cohan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this book is about minor league hockey, the most worthwhile passage actually relates to Admiral James Stockdale.

I would recommend the rest of the book to hockey fans or to anyone who has spent a few hours or more in Bakersfield, CA.

[Chris Rosendall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like his previous memoir, this book spends a little too long to reach the climax although in both cases it's worth it in the end. It was interesting learning about the different levels of pro hockey which I knew nothing about. He is certainly an inspiration to all.

[Tim · Rating 2 out of 5]

http://prairieprogressive.com/?p=461

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

good so far tons of suspense

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story about how to follow your dream.

[Teebz Hbic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review for They Don't Play Hockey in Heaven can be found on Hockey Blog In Canada.