Hockey Strong: Stories of Sacrifice from Inside the NHL

by Todd Smith

For the casual enthusiast and hockey fanatic alike comes a collection of essays and photographs celebrating the grit and dedication of hockey players to withstand injury and hardship to play the sport they love.Based on the author’s interviews with key figures and capturing the inside stories of superstars old and new, Hockey Strong is one of a an exploration of the long, dangerous, and often arduous journey of an NHL player. Packed with intimate interviews, exclusive photographs, and iconic moments, it’s a beautifully designed celebration of one of the toughest sports in the world, and the hearts of the athletes who play it.Featuring figures like Kris Draper, Shjon Podein, Craig Berube, Joey Kocur, Rick Tocchet, Chris Nilan, and even the trainer for the 1980 Winter Olympics USA team, Todd Smith provides unprecedented access to the stories behind famous hits, injuries, and fights, while also revealing the human drive and brotherhood that propels such players forward. With a particular focus on the Original Six franchises of the NHL, Smith interviews players young and old from across North America, and illustrates hockey’s broad appeal to new and lifelong fans.Unique in its content and design, and appealing to all generations of fans, this is the perfect gift for both the passionate fanatic and the casual follower of hockey.

Genres: Hockey, Sports, Nonfiction

384 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 27, 2016

About the author

Todd Smith and his wife Karen have served as the senior pastors of Christ Fellowship Church for eight years. Along with serving in pastoring roles for over 25 years, Pastor Todd has preached the Gospel, led crusades, traveled to the missions fields, and participated in pastors conferences in over 25 countries around the world, as well as hosting the outbreak of the North Georgia Revival that began on February 11, 2018. Pastor Todd and Karen are currently traveling all over the world and spreading revival fire wherever they minister.

Reviews

[Alicen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a gritty and real portrayal of the lives of hockey players and the sacrifices they made to play. The writing is very strong and makes you feel like you are right there with them. Highly recommended for all you hockey fans out there, or for those of you interested in learning more about this demanding sport.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book for hockey fans and non-hockey fans alike! The author is a great story teller. You feel like you're there with him during the many interviews. The stories behind the dedicated athletes really make you look at the sport of hockey differently. Highly recommend!

[Michael Croy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure I've read every chapter and every word of this book several times having early 'access' with the author. Todd's written an amazing book on the men behind the helmets and the sticks of the NHL. He personalizes their sacrifices on the ice and gives you a peek behind the clubhouse doors on what it takes to lace'em up and skate in the most brutal and demanding of all professional sports.

Todd's natural enthusiasm for the wonders and glories of the sport translate into an excellent narrative that keeps the pages turning. Told with humor, wit and a bit of wide-eyed awe each chapter brings you closer to the realities of what it takes to play in the NHL than any other book you'll ever read. Excellent from start to finish this is a great book for mighty mites, high school players, bar league dudes and arm chair aficionados of all ages.

[Alicen]

Cannot wait until this book comes out written by my friend, Todd Smith!

[Red Heaven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this book was kind of limited in its telling of the various injuries incurred by various tough guy players, I'm giving the extra star for the quality of writing in places - the metaphors, the phrases and expressions that jumped off the page at me.

It was insightful to know just how tough hockey players are. Something that is known without really being known until you read how they jump off the trainer's table with their faces having been smashed in and are ready to go back out in the game until the doctors say no.

[Seth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super work by debut author Smith! Great research, superior hockey knowledge, and awesome stories of hockey's biggest rivalries and hardest fighters. A must read!

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.25

[Marcus Klacke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Im no stranger to hockey and Ive played for most of my life. This book, however, gave me a whole new perspective on the game and what the greatest hockey players endure to get to the top. Some of the stories in this book are so ridiculous that they could easily be disregarded as not possible (although clearly they are). It seems unthinkable that another mortal human could play through injuries like the ones described in this book.

Before reading this book I was of course aware of some of the pains and injuries but I never really understood just how bad it was. Its truly inspiring to read and it makes me feel like a wuss by comparison.

I loved this book and after reading it I love the game of hockey even more

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this on a recommendation from a passionate hockey fan I know. While it suffers from few shortcomings (the writing is lacking at times and the chapters feel a little disjointed, mainly due to the fact that later chapters contain references to players and events that have been discussed in earlier chapters, but mention them as if they're being presented for the first time), overall, this is a fun, easy read that made me want to watch more hockey, which, for this particular book, seems like a pretty solid compliment, right?

[Nicholas Yevoli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very powerful book. Former professional players talking about what it is like to play the game and how often you put your body and life on the line for one of the most difficult sports to play in the world.

[James Cardona · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was very gruesome explaining the injuries.

[Muriel Otto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being from Minnesota I liked that a lot of it was about Minnesota guys. There were a few guys I would have expected to have a place in the book that weren't mentioned, but there are a LOT of tough guys in hockey

[Eric Proctor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an entertaining book. It was cool to learn about all of the sacrifices that these hockey players did to win the greatest prize of all...the Stanley Cup. On occasion, the book felt like it was a collection of separate essays rather than a connected story. That's not necessarily a bad thing. There were just some repetitive areas where something that had already been mentioned in an earlier chapter was reintroduced as if we hadn't read it. Also, there was a large bias towards Minnesota in the book. Of the players that were discussed, most of them had some tie in with Minnesota. Overall, it was a good book.