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Undrafted: Hockey, Family, and What It Takes to Be a Pro
True stories and hard-won lessons about a life of hockey, from a Stanley Cup champion and top analyst.
“I was unconscious before I hit the ice. The fight happened in New York, where just three years before I’d won the Stanley Cup with the Rangers. And now, I was literally fighting to keep my job with the Toronto Maple Leafs, to prove I could help my team. I didn’t know it, but my playing career was about to end.”
As a child growing up in Toronto, Nick Kypreos lived for hockey and dreamed of following in his idols’ footsteps to play in the NHL. Hockey was an important part of the Kypreos household. It was largely through the game that his immigrant Greek parents acclimatized to their new lives in Canada, and from a young age “Kyper” proved he was more than good enough to move through the ranks. But he was never a top prospect—he didn’t even attend the NHL draft when he became eligible. And yet, through dedication and constant improvement, he made it to the show.
Kypreos built a career on his tireless work ethic and made a name for himself for always having a positive influence on team morale. A medium-weight fighter, he squared off with the league’s toughest players, including Chris Simon, Joey Kocur, and Scott Stevens—anything to give his team an edge. Ultimately, he was brought to the New York Rangers to help them win the Stanley Cup in 1994—their first in 54 years—with the legendary Mark Messier. And then he got to live his other dream: playing for his hometown team, the Toronto Maple Leafs.
When a concussion forced him to retire early, it changed his life. But the lessons he’d learned on the ice over eight seasons helped him build a new career as a top hockey analyst and personality for Sportsnet. For twenty seasons he provided unique insight on the evolving game, and a player’s perspective on the biggest discussions of the day.
Revealing, fun, and brutally honest, Undrafted shows the challenges of being a pro player. It’s a story of the resilience it takes to prove yourself every night, and how the right attitude can lead to the greatest success, not only in the arena, but in life.
“I was unconscious before I hit the ice. The fight happened in New York, where just three years before I’d won the Stanley Cup with the Rangers. And now, I was literally fighting to keep my job with the Toronto Maple Leafs, to prove I could help my team. I didn’t know it, but my playing career was about to end.”
As a child growing up in Toronto, Nick Kypreos lived for hockey and dreamed of following in his idols’ footsteps to play in the NHL. Hockey was an important part of the Kypreos household. It was largely through the game that his immigrant Greek parents acclimatized to their new lives in Canada, and from a young age “Kyper” proved he was more than good enough to move through the ranks. But he was never a top prospect—he didn’t even attend the NHL draft when he became eligible. And yet, through dedication and constant improvement, he made it to the show.
Kypreos built a career on his tireless work ethic and made a name for himself for always having a positive influence on team morale. A medium-weight fighter, he squared off with the league’s toughest players, including Chris Simon, Joey Kocur, and Scott Stevens—anything to give his team an edge. Ultimately, he was brought to the New York Rangers to help them win the Stanley Cup in 1994—their first in 54 years—with the legendary Mark Messier. And then he got to live his other dream: playing for his hometown team, the Toronto Maple Leafs.
When a concussion forced him to retire early, it changed his life. But the lessons he’d learned on the ice over eight seasons helped him build a new career as a top hockey analyst and personality for Sportsnet. For twenty seasons he provided unique insight on the evolving game, and a player’s perspective on the biggest discussions of the day.
Revealing, fun, and brutally honest, Undrafted shows the challenges of being a pro player. It’s a story of the resilience it takes to prove yourself every night, and how the right attitude can lead to the greatest success, not only in the arena, but in life.
304 pages, Hardcover
Published October 20, 2020
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82 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 2, 2020
Torontonian Nick Kypreos, had a dream.
The son of Greek parents and from a huge Greek family, he wanted to play in the NHL.
With his tireless work ethic, dedication, and perseverance his dream came true.
After 8 years on the ice, playing for a few teams, winning the Stanley Cup, and finally playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs (his hometown), a concussion ended his playing career. But the lessons he learned along the way helped him with his next 20 year career as a top hockey analyst for Sportsnet.
He has many interesting stories to tell that are about both hockey and family.
Thanks for the great read "Kyper".
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
The son of Greek parents and from a huge Greek family, he wanted to play in the NHL.
With his tireless work ethic, dedication, and perseverance his dream came true.
After 8 years on the ice, playing for a few teams, winning the Stanley Cup, and finally playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs (his hometown), a concussion ended his playing career. But the lessons he learned along the way helped him with his next 20 year career as a top hockey analyst for Sportsnet.
He has many interesting stories to tell that are about both hockey and family.
Thanks for the great read "Kyper".
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
December 2, 2020
3.5 stars
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for gifting me a physical ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I always enjoy getting a back-stage look into the lives of the sports personalities I watch on TV (when there are actually sports to watch), so of course, I was absolutely thrilled to find a copy of this book in my mail box. There is just something that humanizes these on air characters when I am able to read more inadeptly into their lives. I enjoyed watching Kyper's instant analysis and insights into the game on Sportsnet for many years, and although I was aware he was once a player, I honestly didn't know a whole lot about it. This book definitely changed that.
Sometimes sports memoirs can lacking when it comes to the writing, not the case with Undrafted. The writing has a great flow, and the chronological sequencing offers the most enjoyable reading experience. Starting off providing a look into growing up Greek and the values it instilled in him, to his time in minor and junior hockey, followed by his NHL career, and finally his 21-year career in broadcasting. There are some very interesting stories throughout, and overall I found it an enjoyable read.
If you're looking for an wonderful new-release sports memoir, Undrafted certainly fits the bill. I cannot recommend it enough to all the hockey lovers out there, and if you have a hockey fan in your life, it would make a wonderful gift.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for gifting me a physical ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I always enjoy getting a back-stage look into the lives of the sports personalities I watch on TV (when there are actually sports to watch), so of course, I was absolutely thrilled to find a copy of this book in my mail box. There is just something that humanizes these on air characters when I am able to read more inadeptly into their lives. I enjoyed watching Kyper's instant analysis and insights into the game on Sportsnet for many years, and although I was aware he was once a player, I honestly didn't know a whole lot about it. This book definitely changed that.
Sometimes sports memoirs can lacking when it comes to the writing, not the case with Undrafted. The writing has a great flow, and the chronological sequencing offers the most enjoyable reading experience. Starting off providing a look into growing up Greek and the values it instilled in him, to his time in minor and junior hockey, followed by his NHL career, and finally his 21-year career in broadcasting. There are some very interesting stories throughout, and overall I found it an enjoyable read.
If you're looking for an wonderful new-release sports memoir, Undrafted certainly fits the bill. I cannot recommend it enough to all the hockey lovers out there, and if you have a hockey fan in your life, it would make a wonderful gift.
November 25, 2020
I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book. Another library gem it turns out. Really enjoyed his insight as both a player and a broadcaster.
November 10, 2020
A solid memoir from a man who was a distinctive NHL player, a tough guy with some skill, and later a TV and radio hockey insider, known for his honest opinions and his vast sources of inside information. Before reading the book, I knew of Nick mostly through his radio work as a panelist on Hockey Central at Noon. Though I resided in Chicago, I listened to the podcast of this daily Toronto radio program religiously for several years.
Nick's playing career came to an abrupt end when he was on the wrong end of a knockout punch in a hockey fight in Madison Square Garden. Later, in his career at Sportsnet, he was part of a program studying concussions and interviewed the former player who ended his career, 14 years after it happened. That was intriguing.
I was quite satisfied learning more about a guy whose work as a hockey analyst and insider I appreciated so much. I don't believe Nick is active in the media today, which is a shame.
Nick's playing career came to an abrupt end when he was on the wrong end of a knockout punch in a hockey fight in Madison Square Garden. Later, in his career at Sportsnet, he was part of a program studying concussions and interviewed the former player who ended his career, 14 years after it happened. That was intriguing.
I was quite satisfied learning more about a guy whose work as a hockey analyst and insider I appreciated so much. I don't believe Nick is active in the media today, which is a shame.
December 4, 2020
-'may only be on a few hours a week, but there's no question that following hockey is a seven-days-a-week job.' (*thank you, someone, for putting this in writing. I feel it will save marriages)
-'I didn't do well in the 10 games I played for Hershey. I had only 1 assist. It's not a good stat when you have more root canals than points.' p.47
-'He is 5'6" and weighs 119lbs. I think my right leg weighs more than 119 pounds.
-'For depth guys who played my role, I was now amoung the higher paid.' p.88
-(*with Sportsnet during the '04/05 Lockout) 'We would literally be standing on a sidewalk for hours, waiting for any news to break. On top of that we never knew if our producers wanted a two-minute update or a one-hour piece.'
-'I didn't do well in the 10 games I played for Hershey. I had only 1 assist. It's not a good stat when you have more root canals than points.' p.47
-'He is 5'6" and weighs 119lbs. I think my right leg weighs more than 119 pounds.
-'For depth guys who played my role, I was now amoung the higher paid.' p.88
-(*with Sportsnet during the '04/05 Lockout) 'We would literally be standing on a sidewalk for hours, waiting for any news to break. On top of that we never knew if our producers wanted a two-minute update or a one-hour piece.'
July 31, 2023
This book is missing the passion and stories. I get the feeling that if you had a chance to talk to Kypreos for two hours and he openly shared hockey stories, none of those stories would be found in this book.
For example, he played three of the Rangers 23 games in winning the Cup in 94. Was he angry over being a healthy scratch? Frustrated? Did he feel like he could help the team more when they were losing games? We'll never know.
For example, he played three of the Rangers 23 games in winning the Cup in 94. Was he angry over being a healthy scratch? Frustrated? Did he feel like he could help the team more when they were losing games? We'll never know.
October 25, 2020
I got this as a e book from Net Galley for my i pad. I enjoyed reading it. It is a good bio book about Nick's hockey career and career in broadcasting. It would make a good gift for a avid hockey fan,for sure.
November 17, 2020
As a fan of hockey stories I loved this book. I was aware of Nick Kypreos as a player and broadcaster but didn't really pay all that much attention to him. After reading this book I am a fan. He has achieved everything through hard work and more hard work. It's a great story of perseverance and there are a lot of tales of hijinks to make you laugh. Way to go Nick and Perry. Well done.
January 15, 2021
Very good! Nick Kypreos is an excellent storyteller and very genuine. Wishing him the best in his post sportsnet career
November 17, 2020
What a Beauty
Well written, great flow. If you love hockey, you will love reading about Nick Kypreos and his adventures in hockey and broadcasting.
Well written, great flow. If you love hockey, you will love reading about Nick Kypreos and his adventures in hockey and broadcasting.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews