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Shift Work
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From hockey’s most prolific fighter comes a sports memoir unlike any other—passionate, funny, and candid, Shift Work chronicles Domi’s sixteen tumultuous seasons in the NHL.
Making it through a single fight as an enforcer in the NHL is a sign of toughness. Making it through 333 of them is a mark of greatness. Whether it was on the ice or off it, Tie Domi was driven to be the best at his job and was gifted with an extraordinary ability to withstand pain. He made a career out of protecting the people around him and became known as someone who would stand up for the people who needed it most.
Raised by immigrant parents in Belle River, Domi found success from an early age on the field and the rink. A gifted athlete in whatever sport he played, Tie eventually focused his sights on hockey. As he moved up the junior ranks, he made a name for himself as a player who was always ready to take on anyone who dared to cross his teammates.
Tie’s reputation followed him into the NHL, and it wasn’t long before he ranked among the game’s most feared—and fearless—enforcers. From New York to Winnipeg to Toronto, Tie quickly became a fan favourite in whatever city he played. As he went about working his name into the record books, Tie surrounded himself with people from every walk of life, learning from each one as he evolved into a respected leader who was never afraid to tell it like it was.
In Shift Work , Tie recounts the ups and downs of his life on and off the ice, showing what he has learned and how he has grown as both a player and a person. He offers insight into the most memorable points of his career, sharing his successes and mistakes with unparalleled honesty. Shift Work shows Tie Domi as he is—a devoted father and friend, a valued and loyal team player, a magnetic personality, and an athlete of immense skill and courage.
From hockey’s most prolific fighter comes a sports memoir unlike any other—passionate, funny, and candid, Shift Work chronicles Domi’s sixteen tumultuous seasons in the NHL.
Making it through a single fight as an enforcer in the NHL is a sign of toughness. Making it through 333 of them is a mark of greatness. Whether it was on the ice or off it, Tie Domi was driven to be the best at his job and was gifted with an extraordinary ability to withstand pain. He made a career out of protecting the people around him and became known as someone who would stand up for the people who needed it most.
Raised by immigrant parents in Belle River, Domi found success from an early age on the field and the rink. A gifted athlete in whatever sport he played, Tie eventually focused his sights on hockey. As he moved up the junior ranks, he made a name for himself as a player who was always ready to take on anyone who dared to cross his teammates.
Tie’s reputation followed him into the NHL, and it wasn’t long before he ranked among the game’s most feared—and fearless—enforcers. From New York to Winnipeg to Toronto, Tie quickly became a fan favourite in whatever city he played. As he went about working his name into the record books, Tie surrounded himself with people from every walk of life, learning from each one as he evolved into a respected leader who was never afraid to tell it like it was.
In Shift Work , Tie recounts the ups and downs of his life on and off the ice, showing what he has learned and how he has grown as both a player and a person. He offers insight into the most memorable points of his career, sharing his successes and mistakes with unparalleled honesty. Shift Work shows Tie Domi as he is—a devoted father and friend, a valued and loyal team player, a magnetic personality, and an athlete of immense skill and courage.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published November 3, 2015
29 people are currently reading
369 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
December 10, 2015
This book was an interesting read. Never having been a Leaf's fan, I was always a fan of Domi. I do not recall his first few games with Toronto or even much of his early years playing for the ranges. But I became a big fan when he played in Winnipeg and continued to follow him when he was in Toronto. I was really intrigued when I first heard about this book and was excited to pick it up the day it came out.
Domi has always seemed like a stand-up guy. He was great to watch and some of his stories only confirm that assumption. The best stories in the book revolve around Mark Messier, Mario Lemieux, or Matts Sundin. The first half of the book is amazing, I could not put it down and kept saying just one more section. However the second half of the book the post hockey part slows down a lot. There are some great stories and some great life advice but just not as gripping as the first half.
When a friend at work found out I was reading this he asked how much Tie flogged his son and his hockey. By that point in the book it had hardly been mentioned. There was a section on each of Tie's three kids and how proud he is of them but it did seem a little slanted towards Max.
One of the greatest things about this book is Tie's attitude towards how you treat people, and not just people of power or influence but everyone. Stories about friendships with parking attendants, people who shine shoes or even the barista's at the local coffee shop. From the earliest stories to then end one of the main focuses is the importance of treating everyone right.
This book is a collection of stories and for the most part they are well told. The stories are written in Tie's own words or from interviews done by Jim Lang. Overall it was a good read and very enjoyable. I would have like it to be longer. It felt more like reading a novella than a novel, but who knows maybe a volume 2 will come out and continue the stories. And I really would have liked a story or two about his time with Wendel Clark, but maybe that was just personal wish. Tie is open and honest about some of his biggest mistakes, some were already public and some not. His openness even more enforces his image as a stand-up guy.
A good book and if you are a fan of Domi's the Leaf's or even hockey in general I am sure you will get a lot out of the book.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More.
Domi has always seemed like a stand-up guy. He was great to watch and some of his stories only confirm that assumption. The best stories in the book revolve around Mark Messier, Mario Lemieux, or Matts Sundin. The first half of the book is amazing, I could not put it down and kept saying just one more section. However the second half of the book the post hockey part slows down a lot. There are some great stories and some great life advice but just not as gripping as the first half.
When a friend at work found out I was reading this he asked how much Tie flogged his son and his hockey. By that point in the book it had hardly been mentioned. There was a section on each of Tie's three kids and how proud he is of them but it did seem a little slanted towards Max.
One of the greatest things about this book is Tie's attitude towards how you treat people, and not just people of power or influence but everyone. Stories about friendships with parking attendants, people who shine shoes or even the barista's at the local coffee shop. From the earliest stories to then end one of the main focuses is the importance of treating everyone right.
This book is a collection of stories and for the most part they are well told. The stories are written in Tie's own words or from interviews done by Jim Lang. Overall it was a good read and very enjoyable. I would have like it to be longer. It felt more like reading a novella than a novel, but who knows maybe a volume 2 will come out and continue the stories. And I really would have liked a story or two about his time with Wendel Clark, but maybe that was just personal wish. Tie is open and honest about some of his biggest mistakes, some were already public and some not. His openness even more enforces his image as a stand-up guy.
A good book and if you are a fan of Domi's the Leaf's or even hockey in general I am sure you will get a lot out of the book.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More.
February 19, 2025
Review for Shift Work can be found on Hockey Blog In Canada.
August 16, 2020
Growing up, my dad was an enforcer and as a Leafs family, Domi was a big name in our house.
I read this on the beach and it was a nice, light read. It was a little self-congratulatory with a ton of what I like to call “humble brags” but it’s was entertaining and I enjoyed reading out some of the passages.
I would have liked to hear a little more dirt/gossip but that doesn’t really seem like Domi’s style. He does give some hints and a couple jabs but it was pretty tame.
If you pick up this book thinking it’s going to be a literary masterpiece, that’s your problem haha take it for what it is and enjoy it!
I read this on the beach and it was a nice, light read. It was a little self-congratulatory with a ton of what I like to call “humble brags” but it’s was entertaining and I enjoyed reading out some of the passages.
I would have liked to hear a little more dirt/gossip but that doesn’t really seem like Domi’s style. He does give some hints and a couple jabs but it was pretty tame.
If you pick up this book thinking it’s going to be a literary masterpiece, that’s your problem haha take it for what it is and enjoy it!
February 13, 2016
I borrowed this as a e-book for my tablet through the NB electronic library website. It was a good book about this retired hockey player. Not really a fan of the teams he played for in his career but was a good story about his life so far.
September 28, 2019
I have never read a book about someone more entitled or thinks there entitled then dummy sorry Domi. All this book does is brag about how good you think she is and how much better he was and everyone else. Poorly written and full of BS if you ask me!
February 8, 2022
I'm not one to read biographies or autobiographies, I enjoy fiction and don't really care to hear about anyone's life story no matter how famous or interesting they are. Even as a big Leafs fan I've passed on the books written by more famous, more well known, and more successful Leafs. As much as I love guys like Doug Gilmour or Curtis Joseph I didn't look twice at their books on the shelf because I'm not an autobiography guy.
Tie Domi is the one exception I'm making because when I was growing up Tie Domi was my sports hero and he was far and away my favourite player. When I was too young to stay up to watch the whole Leafs game I would remember waking up the next morning and rushing downstairs to find out what I missed. I remember being really excited every time my dad would report "Your buddy Domi scored last night." I was even more excited when my dad returned my Leafs hat with a black mark on it and told me my uncle ran into Tie Domi at the old Maple Leaf gardens and got it autographed for me. I still have that hat even though the autograph is long gone and the hat destroyed from being worn too much.
Domi is the guy I always bring up when the newer fans who don't remember what the league used to be like talk about the tough guys as being fourth line plugs, nothing but goons. Domi was the toughest bastard out there but he was the kind of player that if he was on the Leafs of today he wouldn't be out of place at all on the top lines. Domi was no goon, he could play hockey, he was one of the fastest guys on the ice and he not only was he good for some points himself but the big goal scorers had more room to do their thing because of him. Tie could have been a much bigger point producer if he wasn't in the box so much but he had his job to do and he did it.
The book addressed some of the famous and infamous moments from his career. It was interesting to hear about his perspective on things I knew about and to hear some other stories I had never heard before. and I really liked that he spent some time talking about Wade Belak, who was also one of my favourites. Normally when someone famous that I never knew or met dies I don't tend to care but I was upset when Belak died and I was even more upset the way the media vultures took it as an excuse to rant and rave about fighting in hockey. Wade deserved better and I'm glad Tie made a point of using his book to point that out.
One thing I will say is that if you are expecting a tell all story with lots of dirt and juicy behind the scenes gossip you wont find it here. That could be a legal decision from the publisher or it could be Tie's own values not wanting to drag anyone's name through the mud...either way it did feel like something was missing from certain stories. The one thing I will say I absolutely didn't agree with was just a small bit where he praised the TSA which I didn't agree with at all.
Some will say the book was self-indulgent and braggadocious and I can see why they might say that...but that's the nature of a biography, it's about Tie Domi's life so of course it will be all about him. If you were writing a book about yourself wouldn't you also talk about the things you have to be proud of. I didn't get the sense Tie Domi was trying to make himself sound better or more important than he was, he came across as a humble guy...who took a lot of pride in the things he could be proud of and one of those things was being very tough. Most people who talk about beating people up and winning arm wrestling matches in bars are probably full of shit...but we all watched Tie back it up night in and night out for his career. So keep in mind most of the negative reviews are either from idiots who hate either the Leafs or fighting in hockey or they are fans who are mad Domi used to beat on their favourite tough guy.
All in all it didn't change my mind about autobiographies but I enjoyed hearing some of my childhood sports heroes thoughts and hearing a few of his stories. Thanks for retiring a Leaf Tie.
Tie Domi is the one exception I'm making because when I was growing up Tie Domi was my sports hero and he was far and away my favourite player. When I was too young to stay up to watch the whole Leafs game I would remember waking up the next morning and rushing downstairs to find out what I missed. I remember being really excited every time my dad would report "Your buddy Domi scored last night." I was even more excited when my dad returned my Leafs hat with a black mark on it and told me my uncle ran into Tie Domi at the old Maple Leaf gardens and got it autographed for me. I still have that hat even though the autograph is long gone and the hat destroyed from being worn too much.
Domi is the guy I always bring up when the newer fans who don't remember what the league used to be like talk about the tough guys as being fourth line plugs, nothing but goons. Domi was the toughest bastard out there but he was the kind of player that if he was on the Leafs of today he wouldn't be out of place at all on the top lines. Domi was no goon, he could play hockey, he was one of the fastest guys on the ice and he not only was he good for some points himself but the big goal scorers had more room to do their thing because of him. Tie could have been a much bigger point producer if he wasn't in the box so much but he had his job to do and he did it.
The book addressed some of the famous and infamous moments from his career. It was interesting to hear about his perspective on things I knew about and to hear some other stories I had never heard before. and I really liked that he spent some time talking about Wade Belak, who was also one of my favourites. Normally when someone famous that I never knew or met dies I don't tend to care but I was upset when Belak died and I was even more upset the way the media vultures took it as an excuse to rant and rave about fighting in hockey. Wade deserved better and I'm glad Tie made a point of using his book to point that out.
One thing I will say is that if you are expecting a tell all story with lots of dirt and juicy behind the scenes gossip you wont find it here. That could be a legal decision from the publisher or it could be Tie's own values not wanting to drag anyone's name through the mud...either way it did feel like something was missing from certain stories. The one thing I will say I absolutely didn't agree with was just a small bit where he praised the TSA which I didn't agree with at all.
Some will say the book was self-indulgent and braggadocious and I can see why they might say that...but that's the nature of a biography, it's about Tie Domi's life so of course it will be all about him. If you were writing a book about yourself wouldn't you also talk about the things you have to be proud of. I didn't get the sense Tie Domi was trying to make himself sound better or more important than he was, he came across as a humble guy...who took a lot of pride in the things he could be proud of and one of those things was being very tough. Most people who talk about beating people up and winning arm wrestling matches in bars are probably full of shit...but we all watched Tie back it up night in and night out for his career. So keep in mind most of the negative reviews are either from idiots who hate either the Leafs or fighting in hockey or they are fans who are mad Domi used to beat on their favourite tough guy.
All in all it didn't change my mind about autobiographies but I enjoyed hearing some of my childhood sports heroes thoughts and hearing a few of his stories. Thanks for retiring a Leaf Tie.
October 5, 2018
I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to any Domi fan or fan of the NY Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs or Winnipeg Jets in particular. You can tell he and Jim Lang his co-author did a tremendous amount of research and interviews with the players and people to write this book. This is not all just Tie's perspective as they did get input and information from my of the players and people who he interacted with.
For a high level overview check out the Goalie Czar YouTube channel where I posted my video book review.
I learned a lot about Tie in this book that I did not know about him from his childhood, to his relationship with various NHL Legends like Sundin, Messier, Graves, Selanne, Belfour, McCabe, Burns, Quinn, Probert, Mario Lemieux, etc. He gets into how he was a leader in the locker room, what he learned from Messier to be a great leader and driving a winning team culture. He also gets into some great details about his epic fights with Probert and other enforcers. It still amazes me how fearless Domi was as a player. It explains why so many players respected him and wanted him on their line.
I've read a number of hockey books and this was one of the better ones at getting more insight into the dynamics of a hockey locker room. Both when it's going well and not so well. I appreciate at times Domi protects the identify of some players and I respect that. So he's not going to call out teammates directly that he hated or had major issues with and I think that's great he is keeping that professionalism.
For a high level overview check out the Goalie Czar YouTube channel where I posted my video book review.
I learned a lot about Tie in this book that I did not know about him from his childhood, to his relationship with various NHL Legends like Sundin, Messier, Graves, Selanne, Belfour, McCabe, Burns, Quinn, Probert, Mario Lemieux, etc. He gets into how he was a leader in the locker room, what he learned from Messier to be a great leader and driving a winning team culture. He also gets into some great details about his epic fights with Probert and other enforcers. It still amazes me how fearless Domi was as a player. It explains why so many players respected him and wanted him on their line.
I've read a number of hockey books and this was one of the better ones at getting more insight into the dynamics of a hockey locker room. Both when it's going well and not so well. I appreciate at times Domi protects the identify of some players and I respect that. So he's not going to call out teammates directly that he hated or had major issues with and I think that's great he is keeping that professionalism.
July 12, 2021
I don't read a lot of autobiographies, but when I saw this one for $1, I thought, why not? As a long suffering Maple Leafs fan, I had already read Curtis Joseph's book, so I thought that this would be a good one to also read.
I was impressed that Domi generally speaks well of many people and chooses not to say a lot about those who he did not get along with or had issues. Also, I was really struck by his work ethic and genuine way of treating those who surround him daily, be it in the coffee shop or hotels, with respect. That says a lot about the man who we saw throwing punches during hockey games.
Tie Domi saw himself as a protector - a team mate willing to put himself on the line for his team mates. As a retired Army guy, I can relate to that.
Overall, the book is a very quick, personable read. While I would have liked to have seen more of the dirt, the book was just as good without it. I like that he took the time to speak about his children and family as well. I think it was worth the time spent reading.
I was impressed that Domi generally speaks well of many people and chooses not to say a lot about those who he did not get along with or had issues. Also, I was really struck by his work ethic and genuine way of treating those who surround him daily, be it in the coffee shop or hotels, with respect. That says a lot about the man who we saw throwing punches during hockey games.
Tie Domi saw himself as a protector - a team mate willing to put himself on the line for his team mates. As a retired Army guy, I can relate to that.
Overall, the book is a very quick, personable read. While I would have liked to have seen more of the dirt, the book was just as good without it. I like that he took the time to speak about his children and family as well. I think it was worth the time spent reading.
September 16, 2019
This book is a biography of Tie Domi an ex-NHL player. He talks about his Albanian roots and how his parents settled in a town near Windsor, Ontario. He came from a hard working family. His father owned a laundry mat. Tie says that he was not academically inclined. He was a tough kid who faught in the streets. He was athletic and found he was a decent hockey player. He plays in the minor hockey system and fights his way to make the Peterborough Petes junior team. Being from Peterborough, Ontario, I remembered watching him play which is beyond the scope of this book. He explains that unlike other hockey players, he had to really work hard to make it in to the NHL. He was drafted by the New Rangers. He explains about the fight that he had with Bob Probert (ex-Detroit Red Wing player). He was considered undefeated at that time. He won several fights with him.
He was an enforcer who protected star players like Matts Sundin. He wasn't a great player and most likely is a long shot from getting inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame. I was reading an article, I believe it was the Toronto Sun saying that he gets a bonus for accumulating so many penalty minutes in a season.
My favorite memory of him is when he squirt water at a fan when he was in a penalty box which is explained in his book.
He was friends players like Mario Lemeux and would go out with drinks with him. He played with several other teams and ended up playing with the Toronto Maple Leafs with Matt Sundin (ex-NHL Player). George Furguson (GM with the Leafs at the time) wanted to trade him to Pittsburgh and that is when he retired.
He talks about his family and his painful divorce from his wife which unfortunately went public.
He was an enforcer who protected star players like Matts Sundin. He wasn't a great player and most likely is a long shot from getting inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame. I was reading an article, I believe it was the Toronto Sun saying that he gets a bonus for accumulating so many penalty minutes in a season.
My favorite memory of him is when he squirt water at a fan when he was in a penalty box which is explained in his book.
He was friends players like Mario Lemeux and would go out with drinks with him. He played with several other teams and ended up playing with the Toronto Maple Leafs with Matt Sundin (ex-NHL Player). George Furguson (GM with the Leafs at the time) wanted to trade him to Pittsburgh and that is when he retired.
He talks about his family and his painful divorce from his wife which unfortunately went public.
December 22, 2025
I always respected Mr. Domi the athlete and now am thankful to have a glimpse of him as a person. The qualities he values and shows us in this book raise him to a higher level than I was aware of and show him to be a great role model and team leader. I did not expect that.
The stories are great to hear especially for someone who lived through that great period of hockey!
Thank you Mr. Domi for sharing all that with us! Well done Sir and best wishes!
The stories are great to hear especially for someone who lived through that great period of hockey!
Thank you Mr. Domi for sharing all that with us! Well done Sir and best wishes!
June 23, 2021
Not much in the way of depth. Shift Work skirts by some of the more interesting points of Tie Domi’s life, especially dealing with dyslexia. Far too much name-dropping with little to no introduction of who the person what. Some interesting philosophies and ideas. Little to no conflict or difficulty makes it just dull.
May 6, 2022
A simple read lacking somewhat in depth. I would have enjoyed more content on his time in the NHL as it felt somewhat glazed over. Lots of name dropping throughout but very little hockey gossip (which is part of the reason why I'm drawn to these types of books). It did remind me how big of a precence Domi was in his heyday.
August 22, 2023
An interesting look into the career and a little into the personal life of one of the Leaf's best know players. One sees the softer side of the tough enforcer persona. Tie's values as expressed are worth noting and emulating. I think any hockey fan who knows or think they know Tie Domi should read his book.
September 20, 2023
I will read almost anything about hockey. Tie Domi's story is inspirational in some ways. This was an easy poolside read, which is what I was looking for. It is way too self-congratulatory for my taste, and there are better hockey biographies out there. But if you are a big Leafs fan and you want a breezy read, you'll like it.
April 24, 2024
Best book I have read in a while! This book was so engaging that I read it in one day. Tie Domi is one of hockey's greatest enforcers.
Whether you like hockey or not, this is a man to be admired for his hard work, perseverance, and amazing attitude. Such a great read, and as always, even better to watch play! Unfortunately he is now retired.
Whether you like hockey or not, this is a man to be admired for his hard work, perseverance, and amazing attitude. Such a great read, and as always, even better to watch play! Unfortunately he is now retired.
June 1, 2017
Excellent autobiographical novel i enjoyed immensely.
Tie domi recalls his hockey career from humble beginnings through an incredible 16year career most notably as the most feared and respected player of his era.
Tie domi recalls his hockey career from humble beginnings through an incredible 16year career most notably as the most feared and respected player of his era.
January 4, 2019
I love the Domi family.
July 29, 2019
Not as much of the 'juicy' parts of the story that you would like to hear due to him continually reminding the reader that he is a family man...
May 24, 2020
This is not what I expected to be reading from a player like Tie. I enjoyed watching him play for years and was pleasantly surprised at what I read in Shift Work. Great book!!
January 8, 2024
An OK book. Like my review for “Bleeding Blue” by Wendel Clark, it’s basically just a chronology of his playing days with a little too much filler at the end.
May 31, 2025
Love!!!! Oh how I love all the behind the scenes of my favourite hockey players
March 4, 2017
Many actors will confess that they prefer to play the parts of the villains and the supporting characters, rather than the leading roles. They find that these characters have more nuances, and are simply more interesting. (Until the subject of “payment” is introduced, and you find out that the leads generally get more money …)
This premise also applies to auto/biographies of hockey players. The books about the stars are interesting, but in general they repeat information that most readers have already learned from press coverage over the players' careers. BUT … the long term supporting characters, especially the enforcers … THOSE contain the most interesting anecdotes and are most likely to introduce new material to the mix.
Case in point: “Shift Work” by Tie Domi. (NOTE: No co-author is credited; either Mr. Domi actually wrote the book himself, or he overpaid a ghost writer to stay anonymous.) Mr. Domi may have been a second round draft pick (just missing the first), but he is best known for being one of the toughest players in the NHL – perhaps the shortest of the tough guys, as well.
I found “Shift Work” to be a great read, with anecdotes that I don't believe were ever reported during Mr. Domi's career. (Based on the content, I'm POSITIVE that some of them never saw the light of day before this book was published.) He talks about his career highlights, his relationship with team management which was both good and bad depending on the circumstances, and his personal highs and lows.
If this book is ever republished, I would hope that the author would consider adding a postscript to talk about how it feels to watch his son's up-and-coming playing career – one which appears will be based on skating ability rather than physical prowess.
Good book. Worth the read.
p.s. I love the cover. Rather than adding the author's name to the photo, they simply use the nameplate on the back of his jersey in the photo itself.
RATING: 4 1/2 stars, rounded down to 4 stars where 1/2 stars are not permitted.
This premise also applies to auto/biographies of hockey players. The books about the stars are interesting, but in general they repeat information that most readers have already learned from press coverage over the players' careers. BUT … the long term supporting characters, especially the enforcers … THOSE contain the most interesting anecdotes and are most likely to introduce new material to the mix.
Case in point: “Shift Work” by Tie Domi. (NOTE: No co-author is credited; either Mr. Domi actually wrote the book himself, or he overpaid a ghost writer to stay anonymous.) Mr. Domi may have been a second round draft pick (just missing the first), but he is best known for being one of the toughest players in the NHL – perhaps the shortest of the tough guys, as well.
I found “Shift Work” to be a great read, with anecdotes that I don't believe were ever reported during Mr. Domi's career. (Based on the content, I'm POSITIVE that some of them never saw the light of day before this book was published.) He talks about his career highlights, his relationship with team management which was both good and bad depending on the circumstances, and his personal highs and lows.
If this book is ever republished, I would hope that the author would consider adding a postscript to talk about how it feels to watch his son's up-and-coming playing career – one which appears will be based on skating ability rather than physical prowess.
Good book. Worth the read.
p.s. I love the cover. Rather than adding the author's name to the photo, they simply use the nameplate on the back of his jersey in the photo itself.
RATING: 4 1/2 stars, rounded down to 4 stars where 1/2 stars are not permitted.
August 14, 2019
The book is so amazing.
December 17, 2015
Tie Domi was and is tough as nails. He is one of my all-time favourite players that ever played for my favourite team, the Toronto Maple Leafs. I am a die-hard Leafs fan, and Domi was a part of that team for the better part of almost 11 seasons. Out of his 1,020 regular season games played in the NHL, more that three-quarters of those games were played wearing a Leafs jersey.
He was the team tough guy/enforcer and has the most fighting majors in NHL history, and currently sits in third place on the all-time penalty minutes list (the closest active player is well over 1,000 penalty minutes back). In all the times I ever saw him drop his gloves on ice, I only ever saw the guy bleed once. As brutal as he was on the ice, he was the almost exact opposite off the ice, and is a genuinely nice guy who would do just about anything for family and friends.
Reading this book, I learned just how big his role on and off the ice was with the Leafs (which was much more than I ever would have suspected from the type of player he was) and about his many friendships with some unlikely players. For the role he had to do on the ice, he was actually respected more around the league and by players than I would have ever thought. Not that he didn't deserve it, but typically, the type of player he was on the ice, isn't the most revered player by his opponents.
I will say though, this is your typical sports autobiography, and covers most of the bases (childhood, getting into sports, realizing the dream, the successful career, life after the career comes to and end, and the family and friends). The one thing about this book that disappointed me, was the amount of “sweetener” that was added into the mix. I was expecting a little more of the dark side, a little more dirt. I know he is night and day on the ice to off the ice, but there had to be some juicy stories he could have told.
There was only one person (named), that he had a great deal of, I will say, “dislike” for, and it is well deserved as I believe almost any Leafs fan that watched Domi play with the Leafs also has a deep-seeded “dislike” for this executive, who in my opinion dug the Leafs into such a huge hole, that they are still digging themselves out of it today.
All that being said, the book is great. If you are at all a Leafs fans, or just a Tie Domi fan, pick this one up and give it a read.
I find that reading biographies can often do one of two things, either reinforce why you like/dislike that person, or completely change your impression of what you thought that person was/is. I was a fan of Tie Domi when I started the book, and now, after reading it, I like the guy even more.
He was the team tough guy/enforcer and has the most fighting majors in NHL history, and currently sits in third place on the all-time penalty minutes list (the closest active player is well over 1,000 penalty minutes back). In all the times I ever saw him drop his gloves on ice, I only ever saw the guy bleed once. As brutal as he was on the ice, he was the almost exact opposite off the ice, and is a genuinely nice guy who would do just about anything for family and friends.
Reading this book, I learned just how big his role on and off the ice was with the Leafs (which was much more than I ever would have suspected from the type of player he was) and about his many friendships with some unlikely players. For the role he had to do on the ice, he was actually respected more around the league and by players than I would have ever thought. Not that he didn't deserve it, but typically, the type of player he was on the ice, isn't the most revered player by his opponents.
I will say though, this is your typical sports autobiography, and covers most of the bases (childhood, getting into sports, realizing the dream, the successful career, life after the career comes to and end, and the family and friends). The one thing about this book that disappointed me, was the amount of “sweetener” that was added into the mix. I was expecting a little more of the dark side, a little more dirt. I know he is night and day on the ice to off the ice, but there had to be some juicy stories he could have told.
There was only one person (named), that he had a great deal of, I will say, “dislike” for, and it is well deserved as I believe almost any Leafs fan that watched Domi play with the Leafs also has a deep-seeded “dislike” for this executive, who in my opinion dug the Leafs into such a huge hole, that they are still digging themselves out of it today.
All that being said, the book is great. If you are at all a Leafs fans, or just a Tie Domi fan, pick this one up and give it a read.
I find that reading biographies can often do one of two things, either reinforce why you like/dislike that person, or completely change your impression of what you thought that person was/is. I was a fan of Tie Domi when I started the book, and now, after reading it, I like the guy even more.
July 26, 2016
As a fan of Tie Domi's, I looked forward to this book. Tie begins with his family background and upbringing and transitions nicely to his hockey career from Junior to the NHL. Although Tie does address most of the controversial incidents in his career: the sucker punch to Ulf Samuelson, the sucker elbow to Scott Niedermayer and his many fights with some of the toughest enforcers in his era including Bob Probert, Tie held back on many moments of the book. He often mention 'a players' party', this and that player. The most interesting I found was when he talked about a player that he helped get signed during the 2005 season and who didn't quite turn out. I am thinking it had to be either Jason Allison or Eric Lindros.
The players most often mentioned in the book are: Mark Messier, Mats Sundin, Wade Belak and Mario Lemieux. The stories were many and quite anecdotal - just stories on how close friends they were and how much he respects them for their work ethic, loyalty, being a team player, class act, etc..
What I had hoped to hear more of was more of the war stories in the NHL. It would have been great to hear more about what the locker room was like, what the culture and mood was like during the different coaching eras, how he handled the publicity. What surprised and ultimately disappointed me: Domi did not mention or very very briefly mentioned other notable players who happen to be his teammate during his Toronto days including: Doug Gilmour, Wendel Clarke, Larry Murphy, Darcy Tucker, Mathieu Schneider, Steve Thomas, Tomas Kaberle, Bryan Berard and Shayne Corson.
With the exception of the very end, he mentions very little about his family and children. He just mentions very briefly his very public divorce - no mention of his side of what happened with Belinda Stronach or Tia Carrere. I understand and can see Tie being a very respectful, hardworking and honorable man. However, I felt he went a bit too much in the book - it was almost like he was just tooting his horn a bit too much about how hard working and humble he is, how he respects everyone equally, the friendships he made with service people in restaurants, hotels, shoe shine boys, etc.. I thought it was a bit too much. Overall, I think this book is an interesting read for Maple Leafs and Tie Domi fans out there. However, it is not a tell all, let it all out book in the mode of Theo Fleury's book: Playing with Fire.
The players most often mentioned in the book are: Mark Messier, Mats Sundin, Wade Belak and Mario Lemieux. The stories were many and quite anecdotal - just stories on how close friends they were and how much he respects them for their work ethic, loyalty, being a team player, class act, etc..
What I had hoped to hear more of was more of the war stories in the NHL. It would have been great to hear more about what the locker room was like, what the culture and mood was like during the different coaching eras, how he handled the publicity. What surprised and ultimately disappointed me: Domi did not mention or very very briefly mentioned other notable players who happen to be his teammate during his Toronto days including: Doug Gilmour, Wendel Clarke, Larry Murphy, Darcy Tucker, Mathieu Schneider, Steve Thomas, Tomas Kaberle, Bryan Berard and Shayne Corson.
With the exception of the very end, he mentions very little about his family and children. He just mentions very briefly his very public divorce - no mention of his side of what happened with Belinda Stronach or Tia Carrere. I understand and can see Tie being a very respectful, hardworking and honorable man. However, I felt he went a bit too much in the book - it was almost like he was just tooting his horn a bit too much about how hard working and humble he is, how he respects everyone equally, the friendships he made with service people in restaurants, hotels, shoe shine boys, etc.. I thought it was a bit too much. Overall, I think this book is an interesting read for Maple Leafs and Tie Domi fans out there. However, it is not a tell all, let it all out book in the mode of Theo Fleury's book: Playing with Fire.
June 28, 2016
Okay, here's the thing about this book: it isn't actually very good. If you're looking for some inside stories about Domi's NHL days or his friendships with other NHL players, you'll be disappointed. If you're looking for anything about the drama of his life (he doesn't even mention getting married and barely mentions getting divorced, let alone the scandal that went along with it), you'll be disappointed.
However, if you're looking for a book where Tie Domi tells you repeatedly what a good guy Tie Domi is (and when he's not doing that talking up playing hurt like it's something to be valorized), this is probably the book for you. Unfortunately, I think that's more of a niche market than anything else.
Tie Domi goes to great pains to make sure you understand what an amazing guy he is (the truth is probably somewhere between asshole and the saint he tries to project), and he played the game the right way and was a warrior. Tie invests a lot of time talking up a lot of different things like playing hurt or getting in fights to "protect" other teammates that I don't find particularly admirable, but I knew going into this that Tie Domi's opinion on fighting in hockey was probably going to be different from mine.
I would have liked to actually have a sense of who Domi was a person--not the person Domi goes to great pains to make you believe he is, but the person he actually is. I feel like the rating for this book might be a little high, but I got it as a Christmas gift and not having spent money on it makes me more kindly disposed to it. Also, I love Max Domi as a hockey player, and even though he barely appeared in this (I would have happily read about 3o more pages of tiny Max at the ACC), the stories about his were precious.
So basically one star for competent if not particularly beautiful prose, one star for not paying money for this, and one star for Max Domi.
However, if you're looking for a book where Tie Domi tells you repeatedly what a good guy Tie Domi is (and when he's not doing that talking up playing hurt like it's something to be valorized), this is probably the book for you. Unfortunately, I think that's more of a niche market than anything else.
Tie Domi goes to great pains to make sure you understand what an amazing guy he is (the truth is probably somewhere between asshole and the saint he tries to project), and he played the game the right way and was a warrior. Tie invests a lot of time talking up a lot of different things like playing hurt or getting in fights to "protect" other teammates that I don't find particularly admirable, but I knew going into this that Tie Domi's opinion on fighting in hockey was probably going to be different from mine.
I would have liked to actually have a sense of who Domi was a person--not the person Domi goes to great pains to make you believe he is, but the person he actually is. I feel like the rating for this book might be a little high, but I got it as a Christmas gift and not having spent money on it makes me more kindly disposed to it. Also, I love Max Domi as a hockey player, and even though he barely appeared in this (I would have happily read about 3o more pages of tiny Max at the ACC), the stories about his were precious.
So basically one star for competent if not particularly beautiful prose, one star for not paying money for this, and one star for Max Domi.
October 18, 2016
Shift Work takes us through Tie Domi’s life, all the way from his childhood to his life after the NHL. Tie is the youngest to his two siblings Dash and Trish. Domi was born in Windsor,Ontario but was raised in Belle River. His parents owned a restaurant called Edna’ Lunch named after the owners that previously owned the restaurant. Growing up Hockey wasn't Tie’s best sport, instead it was soccer, in fact to get Tie of his first hockey team his dad had to sponsor them. In his early days in the NHL, Tie was very over the top with his celebrations. After his first NHL goal Domi rode his stick just like Tiger Williams once did with the Vancouver Canucks. But with a few more games under his belt, and some advice from all time greats such as Mark Messier, Tie stopped doing all that.
Reading the first couple of chapters in the book I have enjoyed it. I have enjoyed it because it takes us through all of Tie’s life all the way from his childhood to his retirement days after the NHL. During my read I learned a lot about Tie Domi that I hadn't known before hand. I learned that he has dyslexia and how his dad and uncle had to escape Albania to provide a better life for themselves and their future families. We learned how the life of a professional hockey player in the NHL can be, and how much of an affect it can have on you mentally and physically. Fans of the NHL usually don't know what happens in a NHL locker room but this book tells us exactly that, and for that reason it makes it a must read for any passionate hockey fan.
Reading the first couple of chapters in the book I have enjoyed it. I have enjoyed it because it takes us through all of Tie’s life all the way from his childhood to his retirement days after the NHL. During my read I learned a lot about Tie Domi that I hadn't known before hand. I learned that he has dyslexia and how his dad and uncle had to escape Albania to provide a better life for themselves and their future families. We learned how the life of a professional hockey player in the NHL can be, and how much of an affect it can have on you mentally and physically. Fans of the NHL usually don't know what happens in a NHL locker room but this book tells us exactly that, and for that reason it makes it a must read for any passionate hockey fan.
February 2, 2016
I'm not a big fan of hockey but I like reading bios and thought reading Tie Domi's story would be interesting.
Tie Domi is a retired Canadian professional hockey player. Known for his role as an enforcer, he played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers and Winnipeg Jets over a sixteen-year NHL career. He has more penalty minutes than any other player in the history of the Maple Leafs and third overall in penalty minutes in NHL history.
In the book, Domi gives a high level description about his life, from his beginnings as the son of Albanian immigrants who moved to Canada and settled outside of Windsor. He was very good in sports and eventually focused on hockey. He spent most of his years in the NHL as a player of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
My favourite chapter was chapter 11, in which he talks about how important it is to treat people well, regardless of who they are or what their job is.
I enjoyed the writing style. Obviously there is a lot about hockey and his interactions with other players in this book but I didn't find it boring even though I'm not not a big hockey fan. You'll especially enjoy this book if you are a hockey fan.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2016/02...
Tie Domi is a retired Canadian professional hockey player. Known for his role as an enforcer, he played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers and Winnipeg Jets over a sixteen-year NHL career. He has more penalty minutes than any other player in the history of the Maple Leafs and third overall in penalty minutes in NHL history.
In the book, Domi gives a high level description about his life, from his beginnings as the son of Albanian immigrants who moved to Canada and settled outside of Windsor. He was very good in sports and eventually focused on hockey. He spent most of his years in the NHL as a player of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
My favourite chapter was chapter 11, in which he talks about how important it is to treat people well, regardless of who they are or what their job is.
I enjoyed the writing style. Obviously there is a lot about hockey and his interactions with other players in this book but I didn't find it boring even though I'm not not a big hockey fan. You'll especially enjoy this book if you are a hockey fan.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2016/02...
March 31, 2016
Most sports stars are humble and/or smart enough to realize they need a co-writer. Domi lacks either one of these qualities or both. My guess is both. The interest sport bios generate is due to their ability to give us an inside look in an enterprise that is part of our lives. However, Domi reveals very little of this world and when he does its a very self-centered world. Although he does discuss some of the more infamous incidents of his career (without taking too much of the blame), the reader does not get the same information or atmosphere generated by other books such as Bob Probert's Tough Guy. Probert made the smart and/or humble choice to have a co-author and the quality reflects this ---- read Tough Guy skip Shift Work.
March 12, 2016
I liked the book! I have respect for Tie Domi as a person and as a hockey player. Kudos to his parents for the values they instilled in their son. Tie set the bar high in his relationships with others in the hockey world.
The stories of other players were very interesting and the politics of hockey came through. Interesting to note he doesn't talk about his Jets coach much.
Tie has lived an interesting life. I would be interested to know what businesses he has owned. He talked about making connections between people. I was curious to hear some examples.
I am more impressed with Domi now than before reading the book.
The stories of other players were very interesting and the politics of hockey came through. Interesting to note he doesn't talk about his Jets coach much.
Tie has lived an interesting life. I would be interested to know what businesses he has owned. He talked about making connections between people. I was curious to hear some examples.
I am more impressed with Domi now than before reading the book.
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