YORKTON - When it comes to the NHL there is a long history.
Entwined in that history are hundreds of interesting smaller stories, which for Canadian author Eric Zweig has been a rich vein from which to collect stories for what has now become two books with the release of Hockey Hall of Fame True Stories 2 from Firefly Books.
While the cover shows Joe Sakic and Brian Leetch and Jaromir Jagr most of the stories here go back still farther into the halls of hockey highlighting the likes of Sprague Cleghorn and Lester Patrick, which means for a fan with many miles upon him such as myself, the book takes me back to my early fandom when I devoured the history of the game in a range of books.
So a quick plug from the publisher’s website; “Immerse yourself in the intense rivalries, epic showdowns and historic clashes that shaped the NHL's early years, providing a fresh prospect on the quest for hockey supremacy. Delve into the narratives surrounding the sport's most prestigious awards, accompanied by newspaper clippings and of-the-moment reactions. Learn about pivotal rule changes, the intriguing stories behind their inception, and even the experimental rules that didn't quite make the cut. Witness the birth of hockey broadcasting as it takes its first steps onto the radio and television airwaves. Discover the origins of the iconic 3 stars tradition, the excitement of barnstorming hockey trips and the early days of hockey cards and parades. Prepare to be shocked as you learn about the peculiar injuries and illnesses that befell some of hockey's greatest stars. From polo injuries to snow blower misadventures, these tales highlight the quirky and unpredictable side of the game.”
The variety of stories here are engaging, and I must say I love that each story is rather condensed. You don’t need to devote hours here. You can steal a few minutes in your day, read a take or two, and move on, happy for the little break and a good story.
It’s not surprising given the content that the author enjoyed penning this one.
“It was fun. It’s my job but I can take a little bit of fun away from it too,” said Zweig in a recent interview with Yorkton This Week.
It helps too Zweig admitted he likes going down the rabbit hole of history.
“I like looking stuff up,” he said, adding he’s always like unearthing interesting stories “ ... so I’d kind of be doing this anyway.”
While this one is a follow up book for Zweig, it is also one he sort of indulged himself more in writing than the first.
“Here are stories I’ve always sort of known and wanted to tell,” he said, adding he again went generally farther back into the history. “. . . I kind of doubled down on old stuff.”
From a personal perspective Zweig said he holds a deep interest in the older history of the game, and that interest is fully reflected in the material included in the book.
In that regard Zweig said often the stories are integral to the sport being in-part at least foundational “to the game we have today.”
That glimpse of how the game once was and how the past influenced today’s game is intriguing when encapsulated in a somewhat inter-connected series of near vignette stories – an effort for which Zweig deserves kudos.
Certainly, the style of book should make it a popular gift over the upcoming holidays, ideal for hockey fans, especially for those with some gray hair upon their heads.
