Hockey Dad : True Confessions from a (Crazy)

A revealing look at the good, the bad and the ugly of the minor hockey culture as seen through the eyes of a Hockey Dad cum Hockey Coach who just happens to be one of the most recognized hockey personalities in North America. This Hockey Dad, Bob McKenzie, is not afraid to look into the mirror and candidly assess and reveal his own strengths and weaknesses. He has anecdotes that will make you laugh, stories that will bring a tear to your eye, and insights into this minor hockey world that can only come from having lived through the highs and the lows and everything in between with two boys who grew up in an environment where minor hockey was their epicenter.Michael is now a 22-year-old entering his junior year playing NCAA hockey on scholarship, one step away from the professional ranks. Shawn, now 19, had his competitive minor hockey life cut drastically short at age 14 because of complications from multiple concussions. While Michael has attempted to, and continues to try to, scale the heights within hockey, Shawn has, at times, had to navigate the depths. Their deeply personal stories, and how their father dealt with them (sometimes well, sometimes not so well), are a compelling look into the world of minor hockey-a major Canadian passion.From hysterically funny anecdotes, to debates on numerous hockey issues, praise and criticism for the system, and personal reflections on the game, this book is an insightful, irreverent, and moving look at a slice of hockey culture that is not so much a recreation as it is a way of life.

Bob McKenzie, the Hockey Insider, has been covering the game for more than 30 years and is one of the most trusted voices and recognized names in hockey journalism. His unparalleled contacts, combined with an abundance of hockey knowledge and a life-long passion for the game, have made McKenzie one of the most respected people in the business. He is annually selected by The Hockey News as one of hockey’s 100 most powerful and influential people.

The Toronto native joined Canada’s first and number-one all-sports channel, TSN (The Sports Network), in 1987 as a part-time freelance analysts on the NHL on TSN. He has been a fixture on the network ever since, appearing regularly on SportsCentre, That’s Hockey and the NHL on TSN, covering the NHL, IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship, NHL Draft, NHL Trade Deadline, NHL Free Agency and the Olympic Winter Games. His written work appears on www.tsn.ca. In addition to his broadcasting career, the graduate of Ryerson Polytechnic Institute’s Journalism Program started in newspapers at The Sault Star in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. He was also Editor-in-Chief of The Hockey News for nine years and Hockey Columnist for the Toronto Star for six years.

Prologue	p. vi
It was always in the (Hockey) Cards	p. 1
Breaking the Ice: It's Never Too Early	p. 5
Family Expansion and Our Little Nerd	p. 8
"I hate Larry Marson" and Dissing Mr. Hockey	p. 12
Big changes and the Grand Deception	p. 17
"C'mon, Drop the Damn Puck Already"	p. 21
Crossing the Line; Giving Mike the "Tap"	p. 27
The Straight Poop on Playing Up	p. 33
It's Fair to Say We're Not Morning People	p. 39
Breaking the Golden Rule: "Grab Your Sticks"	p. 45
So, That's How You Want to Play the Game, Is It?	p. 52
"I Didn't Realize You Had Only One Son"	p. 60
Was It Commitment or Should I Have Been Committed?	p. 67
Talking the Talk, Walking the Walk: A Coach Is Born	p. 73
Falling into the Trap, in More Ways Than One	p. 79
Vengeance Is a Dish Best Served Curved	p. 86
The Best Reward, Bar None, and Hockey Parents From Hell	p. 95
The Four-Point Plan: Not as Stupid as I Look	p. 101
Tough Love and Learning Our Lessons the Hard Way	p. 109
Of Gun-Shy Dogs and a Crisis of Confidence	p. 119
No Need for a Coin Toss: 'Twas the Best Year Ever	p. 128
Rejected: The Parents Always Take It Harder Than the Kid	p. 139
New-And-Improved Shawn Makes A U-Turn for the Better	p. 146
Teach Your Children Well on the "Balance" Beam	p. 154
The Draft Year: Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places	p. 161
Discretion Isn't Always The Better Part of Valor	p. 171
Making the Big Time: Shawn Steps It Up	p. 177
Turn out the Lights, the Party is Over	p. 184
Into The Abyss and The Long, Hard Road Back	p. 196
On the Comeback Trail; This Is No-Contact Hockey?	p. 205
Major Junior Versus College: Making the Right Call	p. 216
Bada Bing, Bada Boom: Once a Buzzer, Always a Buzzer	p. 227
Play Every Game Like It's the Last; It Just Might Be	p. 239
Crazy Hockey Dad's Magical Mystery Tour	p. 246
Blowing the Whistle and Doctor, Doctor	p. 255
You Try Cutting the Grass of a Quality Control Inspector	p. 263
Epilogue	p. 272
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

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Hockey Dad : True Confessions from a (Crazy) Hockey Parent

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Author Biography

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