So You Want Your Kid to Play Pro Hockey?

An examination of hockey’s truly unique culture, “So You Want Your Kid to Play Pro Hockey” aims to take you on a journey from childhood to manhood, from hockey aspirations in small town Canada to hockey oddity in Eastern Europe and the Southern US. You will learn more about the sides to hockey that people don’t talk about or most people don’t examine. Hockey is more than just glitz and glam, fame and fortune. For most hockey players, reaching the top of the mountain is only a pipe dream. For those lucky enough to get close it is an accomplishment. However, just like climbing a mountain, the closer you get to the top, the rockier and more volatile the trek becomes. Hockey is a great deal more than just a sport for many and its documentation should justly reflect the many sides of the game's culture. "So You Want Your Kid to Play Pro Hockey" examines and enlightens readers about relevant and controversial themes such as, "Politics in Hockey", "Hockey Misconceptions", "Hockey Predators", “Wives, Girlfriends and the Hockey Lifestyle", "Booster Clubs and Superfans" and "Alcohol and Drug Addiction in Pro Hockey" among many others. Go to any bookstore and you can pour over hundreds of books about hockey. You can read a biography on almost any NHL star or books from great media minds such as Stephen Brunt and James Duthie. There are tales of triumph and glory, documenting some of the greatest moments in hockey history from the views of hockey’s leading experts. I have enjoyed reading many of these books but with “So You Want Your Kid to Play Pro Hockey” I’m looking to do something a little different from a unique perspective. I’m not famous. I have never won a Stanley Cup or even played an NHL game. You can’t turn on Sportscenter or Sportsnet and see me chewing the fat with Nick Kypreos. What I am is a voice from behind the scenes in the hockey culture. Unlike players like Gretzky and Crosby or sports writers like James Duthie and Stephen Brunt, I have ridden the buses in the majority of the minor leagues and have played hockey for a living in countries and cities that most people don’t even know how to pronounce. We always hear stories of greatness from superstars that represent such a minuscule percentage of the hockey playing nation. I want to document a path that a greater portion will venture upon and tell a story that unveils both the good and the bad. A small town upbringing with deep seeded hockey roots, coupled with junior hockey, NCAA, and minor pro experiences that span the globe have shaped the database and references for this book. From selected experiences of others, both well-known and unknown along with my own experiences grinding a path in hockey; I will guide you along the oft-rocky path from the culmination of a childhood dream to its seemingly disappointing yet strangely fulfilling end. Along the way you will gasp with disbelief, laugh hysterically, and ultimately develop a better understanding of the anatomy of hockey and all its moving parts. For most this book will be an eye-opener about what goes on behind the scenes of the various levels of hockey. It will answer a lot of questions and will also enlighten you on how complex the hockey world really is. For a select few others it will be a ride down memory lane and will uncover some fond and not so fond realities. For those who have ventured upon the path less travelled in the hockey world it may also help to make you think about what hockey has meant to you. “So You Want Your Kid to Play Pro Hockey” lays it all on the line to enlighten hockey fans, parents, critics, arm-chair coaches and players alike about a world beyond slap shots and penalties. If you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes, between the whistles, and on the road or you just want a trip down memory lane, grab a cold beer or hot coffee, put on your favourite Gordon Lightfoot album and get ready for a riveting ride.