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Killer: My Life in Hockey
The #1 Bestselling Canadian Non-Fiction Book of the Year They called him Killer. Doug Gilmour didn’t look fearsome on a pair of skates—being an “undersized” forward would plague him during his early career—but few players matched his killer instincts in the faceoff circle or in front of the net. The Hockey Hall of Famer from Kingston, Ontario, played for seven teams over his twenty-year career, netting 450 goals and 964 assists during the regular season and another 188 points in the playoffs, making him one of the highest-scoring centres of all time. Gilmour played a big role in the 1989 Stanley Cup victory, scoring the winning goal for the Calgary Flames. Perhaps most famously, he led the Toronto Maple Leafs to multiple winning seasons and in 1993, took them to the brink of their first Stanley Cup final in decades, only to lose out on one of the most controversial calls in hockey history. In Killer , Doug Gilmour bares all about his on- and off-the-ice exploits and escapades. Gilmour has always been frank with the media, and his memoir is as revealing as it is hilarious. He played with the greatest players of his generation, and his love for the game and for life are legendary.
336 pages, Hardcover
Published October 17, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
May 27, 2019
Killer: My Life in Hockey is the story of the life and career of former pro hockey player Doug Gilmour.
When I was 9 years old, I had declared that I was going to be a Montreal Canadiens fan. I had come home after a day spent hanging out with my friends. My friend Jeff, who was a huge Habs fan, basically told me that day that they were going to be my new favorite team. This did not sit well with my Uncle, who immediately told me I would be, along with the rest of my family, a Toronto Maple Leafs fan. Come to think of it, I think this day maybe set the stage for my reluctance to think for myself - but that’s a whole other conversation, perhaps for my therapist and not a review of a hockey memoir.
This happened in 1993, the perfect time to be suckered into becoming a Leafs fan. Although Montreal would go on to win the Stanley Cup earlier that year, it’s not like the Leafs were a team to overlook. They had an impressive core of talent made up by rookie goaltender Felix Potvin, and offensive powerhouses Wendel Clark, Dave Andreychuk and my favorite, Doug Gilmour. In the 1993-1994 season alone, the three would combine for an unimaginable 286 points! Just incredible stuff. What would follow would be some dire years, but I was hooked right away.
While Gilmour was my favorite player during his time in Toronto (1992-1997), I didn’t know a whole lot about his career prior to donning the blue and white. His book explores his early years in junior hockey all the way to his current job in the front office of The Kingston Frontenacs.
The best parts of the book were the random stories he’d tell about pranks that either he or other members of his team would pull on each other. More than a few stories had me laughing out loud (coating donuts in candle wax and filling them with Vaseline was a real highlight). I also enjoyed the way he spoke about former Leafs bench boss, Pat Burns, who had a very old-school approach to coaching. I couldn't believe that their first meeting took place inside of a strip club as Burns detailed his vision for the 1992/1993 season.
Outside of that, it was pretty paint-by-numbers. I didn’t find anything offensive or bad per se, but I could have done without so much bland play-by-play for key games and moments in his career. After a while, they blend together and it’s easy to catch yourself glossing over them. However, that’s more of an issue I have with the way some of these memoirs are presented rather than anything on Gilmour’s part. Also, it isn’t like Dougie had a career filled with controversy. In fact, the only real controversy during his playing days came early in his career in the form of allegations that he had slept with an underage woman. Gilmour spent little to no time (literally three brief paragraphs) on this undesirable chapter of his life other than to say they were false and eventually dropped, but I doubt there is much detail to go into nor would it be something he’d like to unearth.
I would hesitate to recommend Killer: My Life in Hockey to those who aren’t already a fan of Dougie. For me, it was interesting to find out the laundry list of injuries he’d sustained over the years and how he continued to play hurt, even when he probably should have walked away numerous times. That being said, there are tons of hockey books out there that are more compelling reads.
When I was 9 years old, I had declared that I was going to be a Montreal Canadiens fan. I had come home after a day spent hanging out with my friends. My friend Jeff, who was a huge Habs fan, basically told me that day that they were going to be my new favorite team. This did not sit well with my Uncle, who immediately told me I would be, along with the rest of my family, a Toronto Maple Leafs fan. Come to think of it, I think this day maybe set the stage for my reluctance to think for myself - but that’s a whole other conversation, perhaps for my therapist and not a review of a hockey memoir.
This happened in 1993, the perfect time to be suckered into becoming a Leafs fan. Although Montreal would go on to win the Stanley Cup earlier that year, it’s not like the Leafs were a team to overlook. They had an impressive core of talent made up by rookie goaltender Felix Potvin, and offensive powerhouses Wendel Clark, Dave Andreychuk and my favorite, Doug Gilmour. In the 1993-1994 season alone, the three would combine for an unimaginable 286 points! Just incredible stuff. What would follow would be some dire years, but I was hooked right away.
While Gilmour was my favorite player during his time in Toronto (1992-1997), I didn’t know a whole lot about his career prior to donning the blue and white. His book explores his early years in junior hockey all the way to his current job in the front office of The Kingston Frontenacs.
The best parts of the book were the random stories he’d tell about pranks that either he or other members of his team would pull on each other. More than a few stories had me laughing out loud (coating donuts in candle wax and filling them with Vaseline was a real highlight). I also enjoyed the way he spoke about former Leafs bench boss, Pat Burns, who had a very old-school approach to coaching. I couldn't believe that their first meeting took place inside of a strip club as Burns detailed his vision for the 1992/1993 season.
Outside of that, it was pretty paint-by-numbers. I didn’t find anything offensive or bad per se, but I could have done without so much bland play-by-play for key games and moments in his career. After a while, they blend together and it’s easy to catch yourself glossing over them. However, that’s more of an issue I have with the way some of these memoirs are presented rather than anything on Gilmour’s part. Also, it isn’t like Dougie had a career filled with controversy. In fact, the only real controversy during his playing days came early in his career in the form of allegations that he had slept with an underage woman. Gilmour spent little to no time (literally three brief paragraphs) on this undesirable chapter of his life other than to say they were false and eventually dropped, but I doubt there is much detail to go into nor would it be something he’d like to unearth.
I would hesitate to recommend Killer: My Life in Hockey to those who aren’t already a fan of Dougie. For me, it was interesting to find out the laundry list of injuries he’d sustained over the years and how he continued to play hurt, even when he probably should have walked away numerous times. That being said, there are tons of hockey books out there that are more compelling reads.
December 8, 2017
Doug Gilmour is my favorite NHL player of all time, and I was so privileged to meet him and have him sign my copy of his book. It was an honor.
Gilmour's tale is straight forward story telling: he talks about growing up in Kingston, playing junior, stepping into the NHL right away, winning the Cup, being the Leafs captain, and retiring at almost 40 years old. It is clear his family meant a lot to him, and that they've always been behind him throughout his career. While there are some cool little stories about life in the NHL (both on and off the ice), I was hoping for more, but probably more because I am such a huge fan of Gilmour than anything.
Gilmour's tale is straight forward story telling: he talks about growing up in Kingston, playing junior, stepping into the NHL right away, winning the Cup, being the Leafs captain, and retiring at almost 40 years old. It is clear his family meant a lot to him, and that they've always been behind him throughout his career. While there are some cool little stories about life in the NHL (both on and off the ice), I was hoping for more, but probably more because I am such a huge fan of Gilmour than anything.
January 23, 2018
Not a great book. Basically just a breakdown of his hockey stats year after year mixed in with lacklustre game-by-game or play-by-play analysis. Reads like a Wikipedia article.
February 14, 2018
Ghost-written autobiography, although having followed Gilmour's NHL career it does have Doug's voice. Inspirational in many ways; how a small player like Gilmour fought the odds to become a Hall-of-Famer, especially in an era where big and brawny was the ideal. From Cornwall to St. Louis, then to Calgary, Toronto, three wives and lots of ups and downs. (The locally famous milk commercial is mentioned, as well as his Sunshine Boy photo from the Toronto Sun)
Gilmour does allude to a controversy while with the St. Louis Blues; without going into detail he says he was fully exonerated. Good stories involving coaches Jacques Martin and Pat Burns, and teammates like Brian Sutter, Gary Roberts, Wendel Clark and luminaries Don Cherry, Wayne Gretzky and Bobby Orr.
Recommended for the hockey fan from that era, Dougie Gilmour, a good Kingston boy.
Gilmour does allude to a controversy while with the St. Louis Blues; without going into detail he says he was fully exonerated. Good stories involving coaches Jacques Martin and Pat Burns, and teammates like Brian Sutter, Gary Roberts, Wendel Clark and luminaries Don Cherry, Wayne Gretzky and Bobby Orr.
Recommended for the hockey fan from that era, Dougie Gilmour, a good Kingston boy.
March 9, 2023
This not a great book and at times falls down to be your typical sports book recounting the games played, goals scored and milestones met. But Doug puts some heart and soul into it just like he played. Apparently he was just as much a sh*t disturber off as on the ice. And his unswerving dedication and gratitude to his parents and family will be bring a tear to any hockey family and especially father. The other interesting thing is he is able to convey how fast time flies. He is an undersized kid and finally and seemingly overnight a 38 year old with a ravaged body. Another thingwe can all relate to. Worth a read.
March 6, 2023
Doug Gilmour is the reason I love hockey. He is the reason I learned to skate and take up the game (in my 20s!). He is the reason I joined the legion of suffering Leafs fans. It would only figure I'd read his story. This is a pretty standard sports bio. The writing is pedestrian but well-paced. With input from Dan Robson, the book still maintains Dougies' voice. There are some real gems here concerning Gilmour's hijink and off-ice antics. The book also provides nice insight to the business aspect of the game. What Gilmour writes about teammates and coaches is endearing--particularly Pat Burns. The choice is made to make only a general reference to the legal situation that brought Gilmour's time in St. Louis to an end. While curious, I undertand Gilmour's perspective. He has always vehemently denied the allegations and the legal system agreed. No need to dredge it back up. Overall, a fun book from one of the greats of his era.
December 1, 2019
It wasn't earth shattering, and I felt like most of it was something that I could have read on Wikipedia. Just too much rehashing and not enough personal stories for my liking.
Also, and this drives me crazy about autobiographies, there are a couple of errors. For instance, it says in 1993 that when Toronto met Detroit in the first round, Detroit had players such as Paul Coffey, etc. When they play L.A. a few weeks later, Coffey is listed as being on the Kings. Highly unlikely that Coffey played for two different teams in the same playoffs.
Little errors like that may not seem like a lot, but it always makes me wonder what else they might have gotten wrong.
Also, and this drives me crazy about autobiographies, there are a couple of errors. For instance, it says in 1993 that when Toronto met Detroit in the first round, Detroit had players such as Paul Coffey, etc. When they play L.A. a few weeks later, Coffey is listed as being on the Kings. Highly unlikely that Coffey played for two different teams in the same playoffs.
Little errors like that may not seem like a lot, but it always makes me wonder what else they might have gotten wrong.
December 23, 2017
I really enjoyed this book far more than I expected. It barely wanted to put it down. I really loved how he stayed true to the title of the book and kept it mostly about hockey. He went into detail about the on and off ice issues he faced and the job hockey factors that led to him being moved to other teams. The climax of the book was when the Leafs faced the Kings and after that, the writing became pretty laissez-faire until he signed with the Canadiens. From that point, it was pretty much winding up the book and you get to appreciate who he was and what he did. Definitely would recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 24, 2021
I always love reading these hockey books, learning about what life is like in the game. I’ve always noticed a common theme: hard work can get you where you want to be if you put your mind to it. That, and a lot of hockey players trust the wrong people with their money. But reading about Dougie’s life was different. He’s a Leafs legend whose short but significant impact on the team is still looked at in awe by Leafs fans. A great read about a guy who got a lot of a career in hockey, and drank a TON of beers along the way. Atta boy!
May 21, 2025
“Killer” was a look into, mostly the playing career of Doug Gilmour. Beginning with his childhood in Kingston, Gilmour runs through his childhood and rise in the hockey ranks through his Stanley Cup victory with the Calgary Flames, distinguished years with the Toronto Maple Leafs through the ending of his career. There are a few high spots and anything remotely controversial is glossed over very quickly. “Killer” is an inoffensive, very quick and light read. Enjoyable for Leaf fans and hockey fans alike.
July 12, 2018
I enjoyed reading this autobiography. Doug Gilmour was one of my favourite Toronto Maple Leafs in my youth, and I particularly enjoyed when he was describing the runs to the final four in 1993 and 1994. It was interesting to read about his feelings leading up to him being drafted by the St. Louis Blues, through to his retirement. This is a great read for any hockey fan, and I highly recommend it - especially for Leaf fans!
December 28, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. Gilmour does a great job of summarizing his childhood days in one chapter and gets right into the pro hockey early on. The back story on his early years in St. Louis and Calgary were great. A very honest account of his illustrious career with insights on the most influential men in his career.
November 26, 2017
Entertaining, and I enjoy the historical hockey details. I guess the book was basically truthful although there was a great deal of BS and exaggeration and things Gilmour did not include which should have been part of this biography.
January 18, 2018
the book was ok, did a good job relating to his hockey,and his life around hockey but not much on him as a person or experiences outside of hockey. But to tell the truth how much to you really want to send out to the world about yourself.
March 10, 2018
Gilmour was my favorite player growing up so I was really excited to read his book. It’s packed with interesting anecdotes about his professional and personal life, written with honesty. Highly recommended.
July 7, 2019
This was an easy read and met my expectations. As a hockey fan you can’t go wrong with this book. I saw it at my local bookstore but checked the library and found it there also. Well worth the couple days it took for me to read it.
August 12, 2019
The book filled in some of the details that I hadn't heard before. However, he leaves out some large pieces of his life. An entertaining, if incomplete, story of a famous hockey player who can attribute a large portion of his fame to being a Toronto Maple Leaf.
September 28, 2020
If you are looking for an autobiography, you will not enjoy this memoir.
I couldn’t help but smile while reading this. It reads like you’re sitting with Doug reminiscing over his hockey career. It’s not an in depth novel, but a casual collection of memories.
I couldn’t help but smile while reading this. It reads like you’re sitting with Doug reminiscing over his hockey career. It’s not an in depth novel, but a casual collection of memories.
June 4, 2023
As a die hard leafs fan, I've had this on my TBR pile for awhile.
Finally pulled it out and got started and...it's pretty average. I wasn't expecting anything spectacular but it seems pretty forgettable (which is incredibly disappointing).
3/5 stars.
Finally pulled it out and got started and...it's pretty average. I wasn't expecting anything spectacular but it seems pretty forgettable (which is incredibly disappointing).
3/5 stars.
January 18, 2024
This book was more hockey-centered than I expected, but it was a great read nonetheless! I think I was expecting more stories and "life" and less play-by-play and stats.
As a Gilmour and Leafs fan, it was a fun look at a couple of decades of hockey history, on the ice and behind the scenes.
As a Gilmour and Leafs fan, it was a fun look at a couple of decades of hockey history, on the ice and behind the scenes.
January 9, 2018
A me first look at a hockey star ... Only some of his pranks on coaches and players truly resonate. *
March 13, 2019
I've always been a fan of Doug Gilmour and it what nice to learn more about his journey and life from himself. A slow read at times but worth checking out if you are a fan.
January 9, 2021
Good book although a bit long winded. Prolly could have been 100 pages shorter, but interesting summary of one of my favourite hockey players.
February 2, 2021
Save yourself the time and simply read his Wikipedia page.
November 1, 2022
A Canadian legend and a book that tells the story in the best way!!
August 2, 2023
An enjoyable and easy read about an underrated hockey player. I'd actually like a bit more details about some of the seasons as he skips through them pretty quickly.
December 17, 2024
great ending to this book, I hate the leafs still but deep respect for killer after reading this.
December 14, 2017
I'm was a big Gilmour fan growing up but this was a disappointing read. Similar to the Orr: My Story not a revealing biography.
January 25, 2021
It was a worthwhile read. Some good stories. Not alot I didn't already know but one of the better hockey books which tend to be boring, this one flowed really good
November 12, 2017
I have loved Dougie Gilmour as a hockey player ever since I watched him as a child playing for the Calgary Flames. Unfortunately this book has totally destroyed any fond feeling toward the guy. Talk about glossing over anything of value or interest, not to mention the choppy writing. Authors, never make all your sentences the exact same length. I had to Google why he left St Louis (hint, it's child sexual assault accusations) and never heard one word of why or how he divorced two of his wives, merely heard it as an after the fact detail. Severely disappointed.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews