Chasing the Dream: Life in the American Hockey League

by Ted Starkey

Go on the road with the best hockey players not in the NHL

What is life really like in North American hockey’s top minor league? As told by dozens of the players, coaches, broadcasters, personnel, and owners who work a grinding schedule every winter, Chasing the Dream goes behind the scenes with seven AHL teams. Find out how players’ dreams of lacing up their skates in the NHL motivate them through long bus rides and games where they’re constantly gunning for a precious spot in the majors.

From young prospects to veterans whose own hopes have faded, hear from AHL players on why today’s minor league is no longer like Slap Shot, what playing three games in under 48 hours can do to a player, and why fighting — once a staple of the minors — is on the decline. Learn about the game from coaches, alumni, and broadcasters, as well as AHL president Dave Andrews, who reveals how the AHL is becoming an even more important tool for NHL teams in the salary-cap era.

Load your gear on the bus and take a tour around the many venues, personalities, pranks, and memories of the once-small AHL.

Genres: Hockey, Sports, Nonfiction

248 pages, Paperback

Published November 8, 2016

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

In “Chasing the Dream”, Ted Starkey looks at the American Hockey League, which has been the main developmental league for North American professional hockey since before I was born. Mr. Starkey examines the league from multiple angles – he looks at the league and its teams as businesses, and as a sport. He looks at the participants – players, management, and fans – as folks who are willing to work hard to get to the next level, or who realize that they need to work hard just to maintain their current status. He looks at history – and towards the future.

For the most part, Starkey alternates between a look at some aspect of the league as a whole and a peek at an individual franchise. .Those include long-standing teams (Rochester) and relatively new teams (Lehigh Valley), teams located in the same city as their NHL affiliate (Toronto), nearby (Bridgeport), and a distance away (Syracuse). Perhaps the only glaring omission was a passing glance at the new West Coast division, stating that it was a radical departure in historic league operations but not including any of the affected teams in the detailed analysis.

I'd looked forward to this book coming out, and acquired it / read it shortly after it was released. I was not disappointed.

RATING: 4 1/2 stars, rounded up to 5 stars where 1/2 stars are not permitted.

[Scott Tennant · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a quick and fun read, with a lot of insight into how the American Hockey League works and the level of thought, effort and innovation it takes to build and sustain a franchise. Those who complain about certain teams/cities being omitted have to remember two things: (1) Ted had to make certain choices on which franchises were featured and which weren't just to keep the book manageable (and readable). The ones he selected were a good cross-section of cities, situations and affiliations. The book came out the year my Lake Erie Monsters won the Calder Cup. Had it been written a year or two later, I think a good argument could have been made to feature them. Which leads to the second point....(2) This was a snapshot in time (2014-15). Narratives around the AHL shift from season to season. As the the AHL leader in attendance the last few seasons running, and with that 2016 Calder Cup under their belts, as I said, the now-Cleveland Monsters probably merit a chapter to themselves if the book was written now. But given the state of things in 2014-15, Ted structured the book well. All in all, I think fans of minor league hockey will enjoy this book no matter who they root for.

[Deb · Rating 2 out of 5]

While this was an interesting book I was hoping for a little less about the business and more about players and experiences. Too much about the same teams and people. And I'm not sure how you write about the AHL and NOT mention the teams in Springfield or Providence. Over all it had a few good stories, but it wasn't in the end what I hoped.

[Jay Rossi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sorry. Did not finish. Got through half and each chapter was just like the one before it. Every other paragraph was about long bus rides and quotes telling the reader that they can bring a team together. Not enough stories or tales from players about life, practices and games in the AHL.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real education about life in the American Hockey League (AHL) from different perspectives. I really enjoy hockey books and I highly recommend this one to all true hockey fans.

[Eva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Serious hockey fans would appreciate the inside look at the American Hockey League. Before a player joins the NHL, some end up spending time playing for the AHL.

I enjoyed his interviews with the players and seeing the life on the road from their viewpoint. As well, Starkey examines the perspective from the coaches and owners.

Thank you GoodReads for the book.

[Teebz Hbic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review for Chasing the Dream can be found on Hockey Blog in Canada.