A Great Game traces the tumultuous beginnings of professional hockey in Canada and beyond. Drawing on extensive archives and illustrations, it captures the fierce on-ice contests and the battles behind the scenes that shaped the sport.
From hard-boiled businessmen to star players, the narrative unfolds the early Stanley Cup rivalries and the debate over amateur ideals versus paid professionalism. You’ll meet the pioneers whose passion and perseverance laid hockey’s foundations.
In particular, the story of Toronto’s forgotten teams – the Professionals of 1908 and the Blue Shirts of 1914 – reveals how even melting rinks and muddy ice could not stop the sport’s growth. These early Leafs set the stage for today’s powerhouse franchises.
Rich in period detail and sweeping in scope, this book offers fans a fresh perspective on hockey’s first decades. It celebrates the sport’s rough play, hometown loyalties, and the business dynamics that endure to this day.
- In-depth archival and newspaper research
- Illustrations and historic photographs
- Profiles of early star players and owners
- Exploration of amateurism vs professionalism
- Coverage of North American hockey expansion
