Hockey Night Fever

October 12, 2015
If readers accept the limiting premise that sportswriter Cole (The Canadian Hockey Atlas) proposesâthat "in retrospect, '70s hockey can be seen as a self-contained chapter"âthen this book is great fun, a hop into a time machine to a time when hockey was more violentâ"defined by volcanic disturbances, on-ice disputes that spilling into swelling mobs"âand the players more colorful, with better nicknames. By opting to focus on the main three teams of that decade, the Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers, and Montreal Canadiens, the author has kept on target, but he neglects hundreds of other significent facets of the era, most importantly the creation of the World Hockey Association, and the subsequent rise in player salaries and growth of the NHL Players Association. The book includes original interviews that offer insight, but for the most part, it's a melting pot from many sources, including autobiographies, newspaper reports, and TV broadcasts (Cole's play-by-play descriptions become tedious). The best stories from elsewhere are Don Cherryâpicked, mixed with some stylish writing and views of the political scene. This readable gem doesn't overreach.