From novels to memoirs to books that probe the culture of the game, here's our pick of the top hockey books.
1. The Game: A Thoughtful and Provocative Look at a Life in Hockey
First published in 1983, Ken Dryden's chronicle of a career with the Montreal Canadiens set a new standard for sports memoirs. It has weak stretches, particularly when Dryden turns philosophical and gets lost in ruminations on The Meaning Of It All. But his journey inside the pro hockey world is honest and unflinching, and most of his insights are timeless. Often called the best hockey book ever, and deservedly so.
2. Net Worth: Exploding the Myths of Pro Hockey
David Cruise and Alison Griffiths examine how the NHL shafted the players for most of the 20th century. If you want to know the source of the mistrust that led to the NHL lockout, this is a good place to start. Appears to be out of print, but was being carried by a couple of merchants at the time this list was made.3. The Age of Longing
"Yes, Buddy Wheeler could skate. He could drink Old Stock Ale and Old Dominion rye too and play softball and cribbage and sell a 1935 Plymouth coupe now and then." In this novel by Richard Wright, a man looks back on his parents' failed marriage and his father's life as a smalltown hockey hero.4. The Red Machine: The Soviet Quest to Dominate Canada's Game
Published in 1990, it remains an excellent history of how the Soviets got so good, so fast. The various triumphs and defeats of the dynasty were directly linked to how the country developed players and assembled teams. Out of print, but worth tracking down.5. The Good Body
"He wasn't a goon at a tea party. But he wasn't not that either." Such is the pass at which Bobby Bonaduce finds himself, a washed-up hockey goon heading home to fake his way through a college graduate program. As drawn by author Bill Gaston, Bonaduce is one of the finest characters in sports fiction.6. Tropic of Hockey: My Search for the Game in Unlikely Places
Dave Bidini packs his gear for the ultimate road trip, chasing pucks as far afield as China, Saudi Arabia and Romania. A great travelogue, supplemented by Bidini's inner journey through life as a hockey fan and player.7. Searching for Bobby Orr
Stephen Brunt follows the career of the man who revolutionized the game, but who remains a private and sometimes dark public figure.8. Open Net: A Professional Amateur in the World of Big-Time Hockey
A classic from the early 1980s. George Plimpton joins the Boston Bruins' training camp as an "amateur goalie," using his perch to examine the curious world of pro hockey. His experience culminates with five terrifying minutes in net during an exhibition game against the Philadelphia Flyers.9. The Code: The Unwritten Rules Of Fighting And Retaliation In The NHL
An inside look at why hockey players fight, what kind of fighting is considered honorable, and when it's considered an appropriate tactic. A must-read for anyone curious about the role of fighting in today's game.10. Thunder and Lightning: A No B.S. Hockey Memoir
As the cover flap tells us, Phil Esposito saw it all during his NHL days: "the booze, the drugs, the women, the wheeling and dealing, the good times and the camaraderie, the bad times and the back-stabbing..." You get the idea. Plenty of attitude from the big lug who perfected the art of the garbage goal.