Freedom to Win: A Cold War Story of the Courageous Hockey Team That Fought the Soviets for the Soul of Its People―And Olympic Gold

by Ethan Scheiner

A classic David & Goliath tale, complete with colorful heroes, cold-hearted villains, and nail-biting games—with the hockey rink serving as an arena for a nation’s resistance.

During the height of the Cold War, a group of small-town young men would lead their underdog hockey team from the little country of Czechoslovakia against the Soviet Union, the juggernaut in their sport. As they battled on the ice, the young players would keep their people’s quest for freedom alive, and forge a way to fight back against the authoritarian forces that sought to crush them.

From the sudden invasion of Czechoslovakia by an armada of tanks and 500,000 Warsaw Pact soldiers, to a hockey victory over the Soviets that inspired half a million furious citizens to take to the streets in an attempt to destroy all representations that they could find of their occupiers, Freedom to Win tells a story that ranges from iconic moments in history to courageous individual stories. We will witness the fearless escape by three brothers who make up the core of the national team. We will experience thrilling world championship games. We will watch as one brave player takes a stand and leads ten thousand people in a tear-filled rendition of the Czechoslovak national anthem amid chants of “freedom!” while a revolution rages in the streets of Prague. And we will cheer as the team takes on its nemesis one last time with the Olympic gold medal at stake.

At the heart of Freedom to Win is the story of the Holíks, a Czechoslovak family whose resistance to the Communists embodied the deepest desires of the people of their country. Faced with life under the cruel and arbitrary regime that had stolen their family butcher shop, the Holík boys became national hockey icons and inspirations to their people.

Filled with heart-pounding moments on the ice and unforgettable slices of history, Freedom to Win is the ultimate tale of why sports truly matter.

Genres: Sports, Nonfiction, History, Hockey

416 pages, Hardcover

Published July 4, 2023

Reviews

[S.P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like sports OR international politics, you’ll like this book. If you’re fascinated by the intersection of sports AND politics, you’ll love it. In addition to being detailed and well-researched, it’s a character-driven, politically-charged underdog story, which adds an element of emotional depth and excitement that makes this nonfiction work difficult to put down. In short, it’s a page-turner. What’s not to love?

[Baycha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good information on Czechoslovakia history and sports politics. I learned a lot.

My type of nonfiction, read like a sports anime.

[William J Brock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

Lots of history that I was not aware of and found extremely interesting! I wish I would have read this before I met and skated with Bobby Holik I didn't realize what an amazing family that he was from As someone whose passion is hockey with a great interest in history in general, this was an outstanding read!

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Possibly a bit too wordy and too long, but otherwise this is a fantastic book for anyone interested in Czech history and culture, the Prague Spring, and ice hockey. Scheiner is able to follow one hockey family for much of the book, and tells the story of 80 years of Czech history and hockey largely through them. The hockey wars, post-1968, between the Czechoslovaks and Soviets are legendary, and in this book we learn how monumentally important those games were to the everyday lives of Czechs and Slovaks. A story that begged and deserved to be told.

[Art Shattuck · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books I have ever read. Interesting subject, excellent flow, and well researched. I learned a lot. If you like sports or history or underdogs this book is for you. Hope, hard work and getting up when you are knocked down. In light of current events in Ukraine this is a must read. Do yourself a favor and read this book.

[George W. Malone]

I became much more aware of life under communism and the role hockey played in keeper spirits up and fighting the communists on the ice I was able to compare my life in America vs. Bobbys father as I am just a year younger than he would be. I count my blessings and appreciate my Freedom more than ever.

[Jon Litterine · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book itself was fine. A good mix of hockey and history but it’s clear the author knows little about the sport. The terminology used regarding the games was often awkward, especially for a hardcore fan of hockey like myself, and it came across as sloppy.

[Calvin Daniels · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great story although at times bogged down or it might have been a 4.5. Reads about 50-60 pages too long.

[Doug Hauser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little known book, but absolutely fantastic. You don't have to be a hockey fan to enjoy this book.

[Chris Schaffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent!

[David Fitzpatrick · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dnf

[Timothy Welland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing story, very well researched. These books are always a little dry but this one managed to be a pretty fun read.

[Emilia Wardrop · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book that outlines the history of ice hockey in Czechoslovakia including personal stories of hockey pioneers and those who followed. However, it is not just a hockey book; it talks about historical events that took place over the last nearly 80 years—such as communism, the Russian invasion in 1968, the Cold War, the events of 1989, and the Czechs winning the Olympic gold in Nagano in 1998. It captures how these events were experienced by hockey players and their families.

This is an extremely well-researched book that likely included hundreds of interviews, capturing the nuances of the rivalry between the CSSR and the USSR, as well as the dynamics between Czechs and Slovaks and other aspects of life in Czechoslovakia. Full of facts, yet it reads like a novel!