Hockey Moms: The Heart of the Game

by Theresa Bailey, Terry Marcotte

A celebration of the unsung heroes behind the game, including first-hand stories from moms of the NHL’s biggest stars Hockey Moms laces together the stories of NHL hockey moms like Kelly McDavid and Ema Matthews with those of mothers who never expected their children to set foot on the ice. With insight, warmth, honesty and humour, more than thirty hockey moms share their own journeys as they figure out how to juggle trips to the rink with raising a family, building their own backyard rinks, finding ways to pay for new gear and dealing with the sometimes-heartbreaking setbacks faced along the way. We learn first-hand, through personal examples, that there are different pathways that lead our children where they want to go. Often, it’s mothers who carry the emotional burden of helping kids navigate their path. Hockey Moms features untold stories of the highs and the lows, the challenges and the triumphs, from the women who are the heart of the game. A perfect gift for the more than 600,000 hockey moms in Canada.

Genres: Nonfiction

320 pages, Hardcover

Published October 18, 2022

Reviews

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me a while to read this book. Not because it wasn’t interesting, but because I couldn’t read a chapter without crying. Each one brought tears to my eyes. This was such a moving book. Some chapters I could relate to quite well.

Even if you’re not a hockey mom, if your child plays another sport or plays a musical instrument etc, this book can hit home. Thank you so much for writing this book.

[Ann-Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a fellow hockey mom I was curious to read about our shared “hobby”. Lots of interesting tales from hockey moms but there we’re 2 core things missing:

A) More about the everyday player, us parents who have kids less than AA who are avid members in the re system but don’t do it for the NHL but for the love of the game. Most hockey families are these kinds and we we’re underrepresented in the stories told.

2) Female players. It’s one of the fastest growing sports for girls, we have double age cohort making it harder to develop, lack of representation on all levels, inconsistent policies on imports etc and no body contact….. a few token tales are in the book. Not enough to help change minds or highlight the awesome female players & their moms.

Generally enjoyed this book. keep up the good work!

[MC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for this great read! As a hockey mom of 2 and a volunteer that holds several roles with our hockey association, I really enjoyed reading about each player/family. I love my time at the rink with my boys and all of the lifelong hockey friends that I have made. There's no place that I would rather be. The note at the end of the afterword really resonates with me: "This journey has always been about hockey, yet none of it is really about hockey at all. I've never understood that more than I do in this minute."

[Robin | BookAdoration Marchadour · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.5 stars rounded up)
Hockey Moms is a collection of short stories about some of the most famous NHL players we know today and the roles their mother’s played in their development and love for the game. It is packed full of sentimental anecdotes. One that rang most true for me is the car ride home. Every hockey mom knows that those car rides home after the game are when some of the best conversations take place. ❤️

[Jenny Brydges · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to this one on Spotify driving home with kids from arenas. We all enjoyed the stories. They always asked me to put it on. I'd listen to it again if they asked.

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The best parts were the stories of now-famous NHL players and their Moms and their experiences.
It wasn't a super memorable read, and it isn't one that I will be thinking about long after finishing.

[Kelli Hewitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re into hockey, then this book is for you. If you’re a hockey mom, then this book is really for you! It’s extremely well written and I’ll admit, it was kind of fun reading about people or kids that I know. Also, this book written by someone I know as well and she should be incredibly proud of the work she’s done in this book. My experience as a hockey mom wasn’t always positive and my interest in hockey is meh at best, so I didn’t find the subject matter my cup of tea per se. But I don’t want that to dissuade you from reading this book. It’s well written, the stories are relatable, and each chapter brings its own lesson or piece of advice that can be used on or off the ice. What I did love was putting moms at the heart of hockey because really, aren’t the mommas the ones doing the heavy lifting a lot of the time? It was nice to see women/moms recognized for their hard work and sacrifice and how it plays out in the hockey world. 4⭐️

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. The collection of experiences from a variety of hockey moms is fantastic. I laughed and I cried. And I especially cried at the end with the authors note when her son finished playing hockey. As a hockey mom myself I get it. It was interesting to see that the paths for all while a little different are ultimately the same: spending time with our kids encouraging and supporting them while they do the things they enjoy. Thank you for this book!! And for those of you that are not hockey moms I still encourage you to read it. These strong women can teach you many things about yourself and your kids through their stories and I’m sure each of you will find a piece that resonates with your experiences too.

[Shane Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay I love hockey and everything about it. But this hockey story is for the moms.

I’m not a mom but I know how hard my parents worked to get me into sports as a kid or join after school activities. We didn’t have much growing up but they still enrolled me into sports. My dad worked and my mom was sick but she still brought me to all the activities I wanted to do. She made sure I was active and out there doing the stuff I love.

This story touched me and it felt like home and I didn’t even care that it was about Matthew’s and McDavid upbringing.

Overall, it liked it and it’s always hard for me to rate/review someone else’s story, therefore I rate on how I felt reading it

[Sylvia Bakker · Rating 1 out of 5]

For me, the best part of the book was the forward by Bobby Ryan. His unique story is a page turner. There were a few other interesting stories of underdogs, but for the most part, these are stories of hockey moms who have the resources to move across the country for their 7-year-old who shows promise or of the hockey mom who pulls their kid out of their home association when their child doesn't make a certain team. All the things that seem irrational to the rest of us. But what was really disheartening was hearing the many stories of how the irrational moves worked, and the kid made it to the NHL. I was hoping for more Bobby Ryan-type stories.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick wonderful read. I laughed, cried and reminisced about “our hockey days”. The fav part of our hockey days for me was the time driving to and from the arena alone with the son I was with for that game. Such wonderful memories that I will cherish forever!!! I will always love hockey despite all its flaws and problems. Always room for improvements.

And, YAY for hockey moms. Move over dads!

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me quite a while to finish this book. I started with ebook and then put the audiobook on hold. I definitely think the audiobook is the way to go. I enjoyed learning lots of different facts and stories from all the hockey moms.

I only knocked off a star because the audio narration wasn’t super engaging.

[Avery Runstedler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enlightening, uplifting stories of the mothers of some of hockey's greatest stars both past and present. I would have liked the author to interview both the mother and the player in order to obtain some enhanced stories that often having two guests brings out. Overall, highly recommend!

[Jocelyn McAllister · Rating 3 out of 5]

If your kid played another sports, it’s how he got to be the hockey player he is..

This was was not great..obviously if you’re already a hockey mom you know the cost and a Book doesn’t have to confirm it

[Brianne Tripp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every hockey mom needs to read this book. Beautiful stories from all levels of hockey. Many stories of adversity, and inspiration for female players, as well as those with various disadvantages, setbacks, and failures.

[Aimee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. In a world, at a time that loves to hate on hockey players and their families it’s so nice to hear the stories from the people from the “heart of the game” that truly understand the family that hockey brings.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reminder of the fact hockey isn’t just about hockey, and an acknowledgment of the mothers who are all in.

[Lisa Hank · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not even a hockey mom but dated a professional hockey player. I cried at the end, a really good book. There were stories that weren’t as good in the book, but overall had my heart.

[Brandy Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a hockey mom, many of these stories hit me right in the feels. The quotes are amazing and some of the statements made to coaches are being tucked away for future use 😜

[Lisa Chambers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read - I took awhile to read it as it's a book you can read a couple chapters and leave it. Loved the moms stories

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I loved all the stories and a lot of them were so touching. There was also some good advice for me - new hockey mom and some great perspective

[Tracy Gillespie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book to the fullest! I have been a hockey mom for 15 years so I could relate to a lot of this book! It was very hard to put down!

[Elena Kyriakos]

It felt very repetitive even though each chapter had a different focus

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it, as a hockey Mom and hockey grandmother brought back lots of memories.