Cold steel, cold war, and the epic of hockey Long considered Canadian, ice hockey is in truth a worldwide phenomenon--and has been for centuries. In Hockey: A Global History, Stephen Hardy and Andrew C. Holman draw on twenty-five years of research to present THE monumental end-to-end history of the sport. Here is the story of on-ice stars and organizational visionaries, venues and classic games, the evolution of rules and advances in equipment, and the ascendance of corporations and instances of bureaucratic chicanery. Hardy and Holman chart modern hockey's "birthing" in Montreal and follow its migration from Canada south to the United States and east to Europe. The story then shifts from the sport's emergence as a nationalist battlefront to the movement of talent across international borders to the game of today, where men and women at all levels of play lace 'em up on the shinny ponds of Saskatchewan, the wide ice of the Olympics, and across the breadth of Asia. Sweeping in scope and vivid with detail, Hockey: A Global History is the saga of how the coolest game changed the world--and vice versa.
Industry Reviews
"Hardy and Holman provide an original and compelling narrative of the global spread of hockey, drawing upon the scholarly and popular literature from many different countries, cultures and perspectives. It's ambitious, comprehensive, seamless, and highly readable--an extraordinary contribution."--Bruce Kidd, author of 'Critical Support' for Sport "This book is truly amazing! I've been involved in hockey all my life and I didn't realize all of the history behind it. A great read for all hockey fans and anyone wanting to learn more about a sport that speaks to people in all corners of the world."--Karyn Bye Dietz, 1998 Olympic Gold Medalist "This book captures the sport of hockey from its beginnings throughout the world and how it has evolved into the great international sport that we have today. A must-read for anyone with a passion for hockey."--Bill Cleary, 1960 Olympic gold medalist "Hardy and Holman have produced a classic world overview of our sport. It will unquestionably stand for years to come."--Roger A. Godin, former executive director, United States Hockey Hall of Fame