Hockey Dad: True Confessions Of A (Crazy) Hockey Parent

by Bob McKenzie

A revealing look at the good, the bad, and the ugly of minor hockey culture Known as TSN's "Hockey Insider," Canada's Bob McKenzie is synonymous with the sport and one of its most respected analysts. In Hockey Dad , McKenzie describes firsthand the joys and heartbreak of raising two sons, with entirely diverging athletic futures. He details their separate paths, describing Michael, a 22-year-old playing NCAA hockey on scholarship, and Shawn, now 19, whose competitive minor hockey life was cut short at age 14 because of multiple concussions. Their deeply personal stories, and the trials and tribulations of a father creating futures for them, offer readers a compelling look into the world and culture of minor hockey. With an unwavering look at his own strengths and weaknesses, as well as the entire system of minor hockey in Canada, Hockey Dad is an honest, irreverent and sometimes moving look at a sporting culture that is not so much a recreation as it is a way of life.

Genres: Sports, Hockey, Nonfiction, Biography

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Robert Malcomson "Bob" McKenzie is a Canadian hockey commentator who has covered ice hockey since joining TSN in 1986.
Growing up, McKenzie was a fan of the hometown Toronto Maple Leafs, and his favorite player was Tim Horton.

McKenzie provides analysis for NHL on TSN telecasts, as well as for international hockey events, notably the annual IIHF World U-20 Hockey Championship. He also covered the NHL Entry Draft. Prior to and continuing for several years after joining TSN, McKenzie was editor-in-chief of The Hockey News for nine years and a hockey columnist for The Toronto Star for six years.

McKenzie is heard weekly on the TSN 1040 in Vancouver on the "Canucks Lunch with Rick Ball", as well on TSN Radio 690 (CKGM) in Montreal, on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday on the Morning Show at 8:05 a.m. He is also a frequent contributor to the Ottawa Senators pre-game show on TSN 1200 radio in Ottawa.

Reviews

[Trudy Roy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of Bob going through minor hockey with his sons. So relatable. So many stories that ring true. Excellent read for every hockey parent.

[Bob Grant · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty dull account of Bobs family life at the rink.

[Rob V.]

A pleasure to read stories of a hockey dad and his two sons. It brought back many memories of myself spending hours in cold hockey arenas watching my boys play their favourite game.

[Teebz Hbic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review for Hockey Dad can be found on Hockey Blog In Canada.

[Stefan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bob McKenzie's Hockey Dad: True Confessions Of A (Crazy?) Hockey Parent was a decent enough read. The book is most certainly geared towards hockey parents and those that are familiar with kids minor hockey in Canada.

I am not a parent but I am familiar with the structure and levels of minor hockey, so the book wasn't just a bunch of gibberish to me. Bob tells stories about both of his boys entering and moving through the hockey levels, and the highs and lows they experience along the journey. He also talks about his personal experiences as a Hockey Dad, coaching his boys, and his feeling about some of the situations that occurred along the way.

I watch Bob McKenzie of TSN at least a couple of nights a week during hockey season, so when I saw this book, I decides to pick it up and give it a read, even though it has been out for a good 6 or 7 years as of the time of this review. This book is definitely not for everyone. If you are not a hockey fan, have little interest in kids minor hockey, or are not a Bob McKenzie fan, you are probably going to want to skip this one.

[Dale · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those books where you either relate to it or you don't. People who have not been involved in youth hockey would not make it through the first 50 pages. For me, the book has a few great stories, but leaves me feeling a little self-conscious about how so many of our worlds revolve around youth sports, and whether that's a good thing. As a well-known hockey journalist, McKenzie and his family had a somewhat different experience--access to some things that most hockey parents would not--but the emotions are universal: how it feels when your child gets hurt, how you love to watch them win, and die when you see them heartbroken after a loss. In the end, however, McKenzie tells a good story for the book's intended audience. Personally, I've tried not to be a Crazy Hockey Dad, but it seems to work just fine for the author.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not entirely sure what I thought of this one -- it was interesting enough, and there's a lot of really valuable and useful information about hockey culture in Canada and what it's like for families to grow up with that, but I definitely also found myself occasionally feeling rather "oh Bob McKenzie" and eye-rolling a little. That being said, I now feel SUPER NORMAL for never having slept out more than one night in a line for something, so thanks for that, man. Definitely worth reading at least once, and it is certainly funny in parts.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

Couldn't finish it.

Yes, I did read the description and yes, I realize that since I'm not involved in minor hockey, I might not be the type of reader targeted but since I'm HUGE hockey fan, I thought ...

Turns out: no. The book is meant to be funny and light and it is. In part. It's also 100% directed towards minor hockey and 0% interesting for non-parents.

I like McKenzie on TV. I LOVE hockey. Just couldn't keep going through this book.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bob McKenzie brings a "humorous" side to the hockey parent story from the perspective of a professional journalist. Some heartwarming stories about both his sons and their trials and tribulations going through amateur hockey in Canada advancing to the minor professional leagues. A good read for hockey parents and fans alike.

[Shanelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading "Hockey Dad: True Confessions of a (Crazy?) Hockey Parent". The author, Bob McKenzie, has such a great sense of humour, which ensures that the reader will have several good laughs along the way. I will definitely be reading this book again, especially when I am in need of a good mood booster.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed, a few good laughs & some good advice for new hockey parents.

[Yamato · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great insight into the hockey culture and the systems involved as the kids grow up.
Agree with Bob's final insight that whatever happens, the kids' happiness and health are number one.