new hockey biographies

Three new hockey biographies show all sides of the sport, from romantic to raw and troubling

This article was published more than 9 years ago. Some information may no longer be current.

Detroit Red Wings right wing Jordin Tootoo. Chris Carlson/The Associated Press

The Crazy Game: How I Survived in the Crease and Beyond

By Clint Malarchuk with Dan Robson

HarperCollins, 260 pages, $32.99

Mr. Hockey: My Story

By Gordie Howe

Viking, 242 pages, $32

All The Way: My Life on Ice

By Jordin Tootoo with Stephen Brunt

Viking, 224 pages, $32.95

Canadian publishers hatch as many books about the national pastime as there are ponds from Sheet Harbour to Pickle Lake, at least – more than one could reasonably read and also hold down a steady job.

There are unassailable standard bearers in the canon of hockey literature, among them Searching for Bobby Orr (Stephen Brunt), The Game of Our Lives (Peter Gzowski), The Home Team (Roy MacGregor), The Game (Ken Dryden), that have made things difficult for those of us who've also tried, yet have given us something to aim at.

The natural assumption is that hockey is so popular, any book on the subject will succeed. That's why so many come out, and so many are awful. On all matters relating to hockey, Canadians are frenzied and educated. Something they feel is this Romantic and Epic and Part of Us can't easily be spun. Many hockey books are too narrow, the product of obsessive writers who cover the sport for a living and find Every. Little. Thing. So. Interesting. Or they reclaim familiar subjects long ago made threadbare by over-examination. (Surely, even for us, there is such a thing as too much hockey.)

There are several ways to tell a hockey story and all involve grabbing emotion, history, hope, disappointment or an icon by the throat, ideally all at once.

It helps if the story is fresh, topical, interpreted cinematically, says something about our nation and who we are, or is so beautifully composed that the joy comes simply from reading. Barring that, rugged confessional, well written, works nicely. In a world where so much in sport that happens away from the field of play is stage-managed artifice, rugged confessional can be as good it gets.

This season brings three player-focused books – each on three distinct athletes – that attempt to explain and explore either sprawling or emotionally complex subjects.

Mr. Hockey: My Story by Gordie Howe is out 68 years after his NHL debut and attempts to be the definitive account of the legend's career. All The Way by Jordin Tootoo with Stephen Brunt, and The Crazy Game by Clint Malarchuk with Dan Robson, are gut-churning stories that look back and lean forward.

Howe's story is well known. (He has written, with help from his wife and son, two previous books and is the subject of a number of others). His recently deteriorating health suggests that Mr. Hockey will be his final take on life and an immense sport-defining career. In examining his Depression-era upbringing and mining Howe's rich family life, the story is a satisfying trip through Canadiana and does a lovely job of explaining the ways Howe's life off the ice shaped his life on it. Fans of the player or merely the history of the game (and if you respect one, you respect the other) won't be disappointed by this attempt to be epic, and tell the small stories in a big way.

The hockey lives of Jordin Tootoo and Clint Malarchuk aren't romantic in this way. They are muscular and disturbing, and this makes them, particularly as long narratives unspooled over years, quite satisfying.

Everyone knows Tootoo. From Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, he is the only Inuit to play in the NHL, making the Nashville Predators out of training camp in 2003. Shortly after he was drafted, when Jordin was 19, his older brother, a junior hockey player, committed suicide. The title of the book comes from a phrase Terrance used in his suicide note, urging Jordin to do all he could to make the NHL. But making the NHL did not make Jordin's life easy. He loved to party, and abused alcohol to cope with his brother's death, the impoverished, troubled environment he grew up in, and his newfound attention.

The narrative alternates between the voices of Tootoo and Brunt. Tootoo's is brutal and abrasive, but so is the subject matter. Brunt's gentler prose opens each chapter, softening the coarseness and offering important context in a refined way. The transitions are effective.

It's a tough book to read. Tootoo's childhood in Rankin Inlet, his alcoholic parents, his brother's suicide, that he partied much of his NHL career away, churns in an unburdened, uncomfortable gallop. The story is brawny and nothing is sugar-coated, but he's no dumb jock.

Tootoo says he's been sober since completing a league-mandated rehab program in December, 2010. Interesting are his thoughts on fighting and how he has evolved over the seasons, how removing alcohol from his life and dealing with his anger has changed – but not eliminated – his role as a tough guy.

The book is unusual. Most athletes wait until their careers are done and confessionals are rare. (See Mr. Hockey .) It's fair to say Tootoo, after eight seasons in Nashville and two diminishing ones in the Red Wings organization, is challenged to keep his current spot with the New Jersey Devils. He is much closer to the end of his hockey career than the middle.

The Crazy Game follows more the athlete pattern. Malarchuk's playing career ended 22 years ago, and he hits bedrock with this story. He worked the crease for 11 seasons for the Quebec Nordiques, Washington Capitals and Buffalo Sabres, a good-at-times, but never great, goalie. Then, on March 22, 1989, as he puts it, "I woke up famous. Not NHL-famous, but CNN-news-cycle famous."

In what may be the most horrifying public sports injury ever suffered, an opponent's errant skate slashed Malarchuk's throat and he nearly died on the Sabres home ice. His recounting of the accident, only about two pages of the book, is almost impossible to read closely. It's obvious he's still shaken by what happened. But there's much more to his story.

Malarchuk has suffered from anxiety, depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder since he was a child, and all were exacerbated by the accident. He drank too much and burned through three marriages. The book opens with him putting a gun to his chin and pulling the trigger in front of the woman who is still his fourth wife.

Robson, who writes for Sportsnet Magazine, has constructed a compelling narrative that is somber but never dips into self-pity. There's a lot of self-awareness among this raw and tortured subject matter.

Malarchuk is open about how difficult the process was, and it is a satisfying reveal. He was the Calgary Flames goaltending coach as he was working on the book, nearing the end. Reliving his past brought back his depression and he drank to self-medicate. With help from Flames GM Brian Burke and the NHL substance abuse program, Malarchuk returned to rehab and has been sober since.

The Crazy Game leaves you feeling that nearly bleeding out on the ice in the middle of a hockey game is the least traumatizing thing that's happened in his life. Malarchuk's expansive confessions around mental health may have been terrible for him, but it will only be a good thing for the rest of us.

In the end, as with everything, the most reward comes with the deepest reveal, the one that leaves you a little breathless, a little shaken, and leaning forward, thanks to looking back.

Shawna Richer is Sports Editor of The Globe and Mail.

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The Hockey Fanatics’ Definitive List of Hockey Books

25 Hockey Books All Hockey Fans Should Read

Being a self-proclaimed Hockey Fanatic means that you eat, sleep and breath hockey. When I started the Hockey Fanatic site back in 2011 , I wanted to share all of the great experiences that come along with being a hockey fan. I wanted to create a site for the true hockey fan where they could go to find fun hockey lists, notable hockey stats and entertaining hockey anecdotes. It’s pretty been a one-man show. I am the author, I’m the editor, I’m the hockey fan who uses the Hockey Fanatic as a great hockey resource.

My inspiration is a simple one. I am passionate about hockey. No, I never got to play at the high level that I probably should have, but I’ve been involved in so many facets of the game. I’ve been an official, I’ve been a players, I’ve coached a little, I’ve been a spectator and my most important job I’m a hockey parent.

My collection of hockey books is impressive to say the least.  I believe I have every book written about the Edmonton Oilers (save one). I enjoy the tails that former NHL players, coaches and executives tell. I especially enjoy the writings of Ken Dryden who has authored some of the greatest hockey books to have ever been published. Mr. Dryden even inspired me to write my own hockey book: Burning the Midnight Oil: The Story of a Lifelong Oilers Fan .

With the holiday season coming up, you might be in the market for a Christmas gift for that special hockey fan in your life. May I recommend a good hockey book?  There are so man, but to help you decide on which hockey book to consider I present to you The Hockey Fanatics Definitive list of 25 hockey books that all hockey fans should read.

Within our list of the top twenty-five hockey books that all hockey fans should read are books for the past 50 years. There are too many to list here but there have been some great books that have come out over the past decade that could have easily made this list as well.

Honorable Mention : Hockey Card Stories: True Tales from Your Favourite Players – Ken Reid – This is a fun book.  Amazon describes the book as “Hockey Card Stories reveals what was really going on in your favourite old hockey cards through the eyes of the players depicted on them. Some of the cards are definitely worth a few bucks, some a few cents ― but every story told here is priceless. Sportsnet’s Ken Reid presents the cards you loved and the airbrushed monstrosities that made you howl, the cards that have been packed away in boxes forever, and others you can’t believe ever existed.”

#25: The Hockey Sweater – Authored by Roch Carrier (1979) . An all-time classic and iconic piece of Canadian literature. Amazon’s recap of the classic short story: In the days of Roch’s childhood, winters in the village of Ste. Justine were long. Life centered around school, church, and the hockey rink, and every boy’s hero was Montreal Canadiens hockey legend Maurice Richard. Everyone wore Richard’s number 9. They laced their skates like Richard. They even wore their hair like Richard. When Roch outgrows his cherished Canadiens sweater, his mother writes away for a new one. Much to Roch’s horror, he is sent the blue and white sweater of the rival Toronto Maple Leafs, dreaded and hated foes to his beloved team. How can Roch face the other kids at the rink?

#24. The Boys of Winter: The Untold Story of a Coach, a Dream, and the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team – Wayne Coffey – In 1980, the United States Olympic hockey team pulled off one of the greatest upsets in sports history, winning the first medal round match against the Soviet Union. Lead by the visionary coaching of Herb Brooks, whose motivational techniques have since been immortalized in the film Miracle, the 1980 US Olympic Hockey team pulled out the Miracle on Ice. If you’re a fan of Team USA you’ll love this read.

#23. Play Better Hockey: The Essential Skills for Player Development – Ron Davidson – for the hockey player in your life, “Play Better Hockey: The Essential Skills for Player Development” (second edition) of Ron Davidson’s best-selling volume has been retooled with even more individual skill advancements for the modern player. From fundamentals to high-level skills, Play Better Hockey gives players the tools they need to become the next superstars of the NHL by focusing on the development of individual hockey skills and by promoting a mastery of body positioning, skating and stick work.

#22: The Hammer: Confessions of a Hockey Enforcer – Dave Schultz – Published in 1981, The Hammer depicts the career of former Broad Street bully Dave Schultz. The Hockey Fanatic listed Dave Schultz as the second best NHL fighter of all-time . Schultz still holds the NHL record for most penalty minutes in a single season, at 472. Learn more about what it was like being an NHL tough guy during the heyday of 1970’s NHL hockey.

#21. Tretiak: The Legend – Vladislav Tretiak – Published in 1987, Tretiak: The Legend provides an enlightening look into the hockey career of one of the greatest goaltenders the world has ever seen. It provides the story of Vladik Tretiak’s personal life and his relationships with his coaches, teammates and rivals. Relive the Canada / Russia hockey battles from the lens of a Soviet player. If you are a fan of the Russia/Canadian hockey rivalry (and Cold War politics) you should like this book.

#20. A Great Game: The Forgotten Leafs & The Rise of Professional Hockey – Stephen J. Harper – Published in 2013, relive the history of hockey’s first decades and the early star players of the game. A Great Game shows how much about hockey has stayed the same with string hard-nosed play, fervent hockey fan hometown loyalties, owner-player contract disputes, partisan news coverage, and how big money were issues from the get-go. Hockey is a great game and learning about some of the early history shows how the game has grown but maintained critical aspects to be the game we all love to play and watch.

#19. Unbreakable: 50 Goals in 39 Games: Wayne Gretzky and the Story of Hockey’s Greatest Record –Mike Brophy and Todd Denault – there are a few books out there about Wayne Gretzky.  I included this one because this is simply one amazing record that may never be broken.  This book focuses on the 1981-1982 season in which he only needed thirty-nine games to score fifty goals. The fun of this book is that you get to be on the ice during each one of these games, as Gretzky describes them. I have been waiting to read this book and cannot wait to dive in. Originally published in 2016.

#18. Crossroads: My Story of Tragedy and resilience as a Humboldt Bronco – Kaleb Dahlgren – On April 6, 2018, the Humboldt Broncos were going to a playoff game when a semi-truck struck their bus in which the collision resulted in sixteen deaths and thirteen injuries. Among the victims was Kaleb Dahlgren, who suffered a fractured skull and dislocated shoulder. Dahlgren tells his story of resilience in the face of the Broncos bus tragedy. He describes his journey from being hospitalized and in critical condition to making a full recovery and eventually returning to play for the Broncos. This is his story…

#17. Hockey Moms: The Heart of the Game – Theresa Bailey / Terry Marcotte – In the Hockey universe we can argue that there is no one more important than the Hockey Mom.  Hockey moms: The Heart of the Game is a great collection of stories and celebration of the unsung heroes behind the game, including first-hand stories from moms of the NHL’s biggest stars. Hockey Moms laces together the stories of NHL hockey moms like Kelly McDavid and Ema Matthews with those of mothers who never expected their children to set foot on the ice.

#16. Over the Boards: Lessons from the Ice – Hayley Wickenheiser.  The greatest women’s hockey player of all time, Hayley Wickenheiser shares the lessons that won her four Olympic gold medals, and hard-earned wisdom.  Published in 2021, Hayley shares the hard-won lessons she learned on and off the ice that helped her not only have a record-breaking hockey career but craft a life filled with joy, growth, and challenges.

#15. Cujo: The Untold Story of My Life On and Off the Ice – Cutis Joseph / Kirstie McLellan Day – Published in 2019, this is a book that a number of people have recommended to me over the past couple of years.  A 31 best seller, Amazon describes this book as… “in this revealing memoir, Joseph talks about his highly unusual upbringing and what led him to put on his first pair of skates. Written by Kirstie McLellan Day, the world’s top writer of hockey books, this book surprises and entertains, and shares on- and off-the-ice tales no fan has heard before: the untold story behind the legend.”

#14. Burke’s Law: A Life in Hockey – Bryan Burke / Stephen Brunt. Published in 2020, Burke’s Law is an entertaining journey through the life of an NHL executive and one of the biggest hockey personalities. Some great stories of his days as an NHL GM, junior player and advocate of the game. Want to learn how he pulled off the trade at the draft to land both Henrik and Daniel Sedin?  It’s in there too.  Great read.

#13. Playing with Fire – Theoren Fleury -Published in 2009 and co-written with author Kirstie McLellan Day, Theoren Fleury documents how he became a star player in junior and in the NHL, Stanley Cup champion and an Olympic gold medalist despite battling drug and alcohol addictions that ultimately ended his NHL career. A best seller, Playing with Fire sold over 80,000 copies within six weeks of its release.

#12. A Helluva Life in Hockey – Brian McFarlane – Brian McFarlane is one of the great storytellers of the game of hockey.  Published in 1989, A Helluva Life in Hockey is a captivating memoir from Canada’s foremost hockey historian and a beloved NHL commentator. McFarlane has written 96 (with one in the works) books on hockey, selling over 1.3 million books.

#11. Orr: My Story – Bobby Orr – there are so many great hockey memoirs out there (as you can see on our list). Published in 2014m Bobby Orr’s “Orr My Story” is a great look into one of the games and sports most loved athletes.  Many will still describe Bobby Orr as the greatest hockey player to play the game. As Chapters-Indigo describes the book: “In the end, this is not just a book about hockey. The most meaningful biographies and memoirs rise above the careers out of which they grew. Bobby Orr’s life goes far deeper than Stanley Cup rings, trophies and recognitions. His story is not only about the game, but also the age in which it was played. It’s the story of a small-town kid who came to define its highs and lows, and inevitably it is a story of the lessons he learned along the way.”

#10. Mr. Hockey: My Story – Gordie Howe – Published in 2013, Mr. Hockey: My Story is a great read about the playing career of arguably the NHL’s best all-around player Gordie Howe. Mr. Hockey shares some insights into how different the game was in the 40’s and 50s and when he was young regarding player contracts, players getting paid peanuts, and playing through horrible travel conditions. From the fields of Saskatchewan to the ice of Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Gordie Howe is Mr. Hockey.

#9. Call Me Indian: From the Trauma of Residential School to Becoming the N.H.L.’s First Treaty Indigenous Player – Fred Saskamoose – Published in 2021, an amazing story of how Sasakamoose was taken from his home and sent to a residential school but went on to play in the NHL and played against some of the greatest players in the history of the league. Learn about how Fred Saskamoose became the first Indigenous player to make the National Hockey League.

#8. The Russian Five: A Story of Espionage, Defection, Bribery, and Courage – Keith Gave. Published in 2018, The Russian Five is a great account of how the 1990’s Detroit Red Wings became the dominant powerhouse in the NHL largely because of the Russian Five.  They is a great documentary on this as well, but the book is an amazing read of how the Detroit Red Wings went from outhouse in the eighties to penthouse in the nineties.  This is the story of espionage, defection, and bribery that brought five Russian players to the Detroit Red Wings dating back to the early eighties.

#7. 99: Stories of the Game – Wayne Gretzky with Kirstie McLellan Day – Published in 2016, The Great One” shares some of his favourite stories as he recalls memories of his legendary career with an inside look at the sport of professional hockey, and the heroes and stories that inspired him.

#6. Beauties: Hockey’s Greatest Untold Stories – James Duthie – Published in 2021, Duthie has compiled a number of great stories some fun some funny. The Roberto Luongo foreward is worth the price of this book alone.

#5. The Rebel League: The Short and Unruly Life of the World Hockey Association – Ed Willes.  From Bobby Hull’ s astonishing million-dollar signing to how the Edmonton Oilers had to smuggle fugitive forward Frankie Beaton out of their dressing room in an equipment bag, The Rebel League includes a bunch of great anecdotes of the WHA. A very entertaining read. Originally published in 2005, The Rebel League is one of The Hockey Fanatic’s all-time favourite hockey books.

#4. Game Change: The Life and Death of Steve Montador and the Future of Hockey – Ken Dryden – Ken Dryden is a Conn Smythe winning goalie and a best selling author. Published in 2107, Game Change is a powerful examination of hockey’s failure to address the growing issue of head shots and concussions in hockey. Well researched and very convincing, Dryden writes about the life of Steve Montador from his youth and his minor hockey days in Ontario to the end of his NHL career due to multiple head injuries and his untimely death at the age of 35. Dryden looks at the scientific quest to better understand the short and longtime effects of concussions and describes the history of game of hockey to illustrate how players are more vulnerable than ever to these types of head injuries.

#3. Willie: The Game-Changing Story of the N.H.L.’s First Black Player – Published in 2020, I must say that this is one of my favourite hockey books that I have ever read. Written by Willie O’Ree and Michael McKinley, the book details how O’Ree, not unlike Jackie Robinson in baseball became the for African-Canadian to play in the National Hockey League. Simply put, Willie O’Ree is an amazing man with courage, skill, ands smarts to excel at the game of hockey. Willie O’Ree was inducted into the NHL Hall of Fame in 2018 and was a key component in the creation of the NHL Diversity program.

#2. The Game – Ken Dryden – Published in 1983, The Game by Ken Dryden is one of the greatest books written of all time. Much of the book is about Dryden’s Canadiens teammates, life on the road, and details of the life of a professional hockey player. It is a behind-the-scenes look at the Montreal Canadiens 1978-79 team that would go on to win the Stanley Cup. Gain insights about some of the games all-time great players from one of the players themselves. Ken Dryden was not like other pro hockey players, it is an amazing view of the game and the locker room from one who was within the inner sanctum. Sports Illustrated has list “The Game” as one of the greatest sports books of all time.

#1.  The Game of Our Lives – Peter Gzowski – released in 1981, this was the first real hockey book I remember reading. The original cover of the book actually features Wayne Gretzky on it. The book recounts the 1980-81 season Peter Gzowski spent travelling around the NHL with the Edmonton Oilers. What makes this book so much more amazing is that it details the Oilers pre-Stanley Cup championships, describes all of those great Hall-of-Famers as they were just stating their NHL careers. You don’t have to be an Edmonton Oilers fan to appreciate this but it you are an Oilers fan you will love this book!

There you have it, The Hockey Fanatic’s Definitive list of hockey books that all hockey fans should read. Of course, there are many more hockey books that are amazing reads, but this list covers a diverse perspective of the game. Heck did you know there is even a hockey romance book category of hockey books? What’s the best hockey book ever? Well, that’s for you to decide. We’re hoping our list will whet your appetite to pick up a good hockey book and learn about some of the game’s greatest events and players that have played, coached, parented or officiated the game.

5 Great Hockey Books for Kids

You may have noticed that we included one children’s hockey book on our list. There are many great hockey books for children, so we will feature some of the best hockey books for children in an upcoming post, but for now here’s five great hockey books for kids.

#5. I Am a Zamboni Machine – Kevin Viala (2014) Younger hockey fans will love seeing this big Zamboni machine in action! Featuring simple facts and colourful illustrations, this book follows a Zamboni as it does its job to clear and resurface the rink.

#4. The Moccasin Goalie – Written by William Roy Brownridge (2016). Danny has a disability that prevents him from being able to wear skates, but that doesn’t stop him from playing the sport he loves with his friends, hockey. Only one of his friends gets picked for the town team, but later on Danny has the chance to prove that he could be a good asset to the team.

#3. Goodnight Hockey – Michael Dahl (author) / Christina E Forshay (illustrator) – 2017 . Any fans of the Goodnight Moon children’s book? Goodnight Hockey is the perfect bedtime board book for every hockey fan! The rhyming text, exciting illustrations, and classic sport combination are a hat-trick of fun for the whole family.

#2. Just One Goal – Robert Munsch (author) Michael Martchenko (illustrator) – 2008 . Ciara is tired of hauling her hockey gear across town to play on the rink. It makes no sense―there is a perfectly good frozen river in her own backyard! But her dad says it’s too jagged, and her mom says it’s too bumpy, and her older sisters don’t see why she can’t keep going all the way across town, just like they did. But Ciara won’t let anybody stop her. And with a little help from the neighbourhood, she knows that her team, the River Rink Rats, will finally win a game on their own brand new rink.

#1. The Hockey Sweater – Authored by Roch Carrier (1979) . An all-time classic an iconic piece of Canadian literature. Amazon’s recap of the classic short story: In the days of Roch’s childhood, winters in the village of Ste. Justine were long. Life centered around school, church, and the hockey rink, and every boy’s hero was Montreal Canadiens hockey legend Maurice Richard. Everyone wore Richard’s number 9. They laced their skates like Richard. They even wore their hair like Richard. When Roch outgrows his cherished Canadiens sweater, his mother writes away for a new one. Much to Roch’s horror, he is sent the blue and white sweater of the rival Toronto Maple Leafs, dreaded and hated foes to his beloved team. How can Roch face the other kids at the rink?

Other hockey book lists that you might be interested in:

• Celebrate the NHL Centennial with the top 100 hockey books: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog/2018/1/22/celebrate-the-nhl-centennial-with-the-top-100-hockey-books
• 26 awesome hockey books (Today’s Parent) https://www.todaysparent.com/family/books/21-awesome-hockey-books/
• 25 Must Read Books about Hockey and the NHL: https://www.onmybooklist.com/hockey-books.html
• 30 in 30: Notable Hockey Books https://sihrhockey.org/2020/pubs/30_in_30.cfm
• 17 Best Hockey Biography Books of All Time (Editor’s Note: We do not necessarily agree with the books featured on this list, but there are still some fine choices). https://bookauthority.org/books/best-hockey-biography-books

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New biography about 'Wild Bill' Hickok debunks popular myths about the American gunman

After more than 22 years of research and writing, Craig Crease is looking forward to debunking popular myths about frontiersman "Wild Bill" Hickok, including one based in Springfield.

On June 3, Crease's first biography, "The Wanderer: James Butler Hickok and the American West" is to be released. The 500-plus page book is published by Caxton Press, an Idaho-based publisher known for its books on the American West. The biography documents the life of James Butler Hickok, more commonly known as "Wild Bill" Hickok, from "cradle to grave," Crease said.

Based in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina but originally from Kansas, 72-year-old Crease said he's always had an interest in people who are a bit "off center," which is what drew him to Hickok. He also has a vested interest in the American West, as he spent about 30 years as an independent consultant for the National Parks Service on the history of the region. As he began to read about Hickok, however, Crease said some stories didn't seem to add up. He wanted to dig deeper.

In addition to academic research, Crease referenced a series of recollections gathered by a late author who wrote about Hickok. According to Crease, these recollections are first-hand accounts from folks who interacted with Hickok. They provided Crease with a better idea of the type of person Hickok really was. Crease did not disclose the name of the late author or the institution where these recollections are located.

"The Wanderer" features several photographs, including one captured of Hickok in Springfield.

In 1865, Hickok was living at Lyon House, a boarding house formerly located at 318 South Ave. in downtown Springfield. Today, this is where Systematic Savings Bank is located.

"There was a photographer; his name was Charles Scholten. Scholten took a photograph of him (Hickok) in the Lyon House. That photograph was lost, but it had originally been a photograph that 'Harper's (New Monthly) Magazine' had used partially to come out with an article that made Hickok nationally famous," Crease said. "It was lost until 1989."

According to Crease, in 1989, the photograph resurfaced at a military supply store in Springfield.

Building a case against common myths, including those set in Springfield

Researching and writing "The Wanderer" felt like building a case against the countless myths that surround Hickok, Crease said. Many of these myths, he added, make Hickok out to sound crueler and crazier than he actually was. A common story is about Hickok's horse, Black Nell, which was perpetuated in Springfield.

According to Crease, in 1865, when Hickok was living in Springfield, a "Harper's New Monthly Magazine" reporter came into town, looking to write a story about Hickok.

"Not only does he describe Hickok as a frontier hedonist ... he (wrote that Hickok) has this incredible horse, Black Nell, that at Hickok's whistle will immediately lie down on the grass and not move," Crease said. "He used to ride Black Nell into the saloons of Springfield and have Black Nell stand up on the billiard table and jump out onto South (Avenue), right through the front doors. It was a complete lie. Hickok didn't tell him that story. Back when that story came out, Hickok said, 'The horse story is not true.'"

After about 22 years of conducting research for "The Wanderer," Crease said he took advantage of being home during the COVID-19 pandemic to write the biography.

More: Historical fiction novel 'The Flower Sisters' explores West Plains dance hall explosion

"Rather than sitting around and watching Netflix and Hulu during the whole time, I wrote a book," Crease said with a laugh. It took him 15 months to write the biography in full.

Who was 'Wild Bill' Hickok?

Hickok was born May 27, 1837 in Troy Grove, Illinois and grew up in a sophisticated, well-educated family. He is famously known as a solider, scout, lawman, gambler and actor. He is also considered one of the greatest gunfighters in the American West. As Tiger Woods is to golf and Michael Jordan is to basketball, Hickok was to gunfighting, Crease said.

More than his stay at the Lyon House, Hickok is known in Springfield for his involvement in a shootout at Park Central Square. On July 21, 1865, Hickok shot and killed skilled gunfighter David Tutt on the Square because Tutt was flaunting a watch he had won off Hickok in a game of poker the day before. Information about the shootout is available on the Square and inside the History Museum on the Square.

Over his career, Hickok shot and killed six individuals. He hung his gun up after accidentally shooting and killing a colleague in Abilene, Kansas in 1871.

After a life of fame, Hickok was shot and killed on Aug. 2, 1876 during a poker game in Deadwood, South Dakota. He was 39 years old.

Where can you purchase 'The Wanderer: James Butler Hickok and the American West'?

Once released, "The Wanderer" will be available for purchase on the Caxton Press website and Amazon for $27.95, Crease said. He also expects the biography to be picked up by retail and independent bookstores.

Greta Cross is the trending topics reporter for the Springfield News-Leader. She has more than five years of journalism experience covering everything from Ozarks history to Springfield’s LGBTQIA+ community. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretacrossphoto. Story idea? Email her at [email protected] .

Chicago Blackhawks | Connor Bedard scores 2 goals again as Canada…

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Chicago blackhawks | connor bedard scores 2 goals again as canada downs denmark at hockey worlds.

Dylan Cozens, Dawson Mercer and Pierre-Luc Dubois also scored for Canada, whose goaltender Jordan Binnington stopped 19 shots in the Group A game in Prague.

Chicago Blackhawks teammates won’t be ‘friends on the ice’ while representing different countries in the World Championship

Center John Tavares recorded an assist as he joined the team for the first time after the Toronto Maple Leafs were eliminated by the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup.

Bedard also scored two in Canada’s 4-2 win over Britain on Saturday in their tournament’s opening game. The 18-year-old rookie for the Chicago Blackhawks opened the scoring 2:24 into Sunday’s game with a shot from the blue line that went through traffic in front of the goal.

Cozens doubled the advantage in the opening period by wristing the shot into the roof of the net on a power play.

Bedard added his second early in the final period with a one-timer from close range.

Mercer added the fourth for Canada into an empty net as Denmark pulled goaltender Frederik Dichow with two minutes left and Dubois completed the win on a power play.

Christian Wejse had reduced the lead to 2-1 on a rebound in the middle period.

Last year’s bronze medalist Latvia prevailed 3-2 over France in overtime in Group B in Ostrava.

Earlier, Finland shut out newcomer Great Britain 8-0 for its first victory. Oliver Kapanen scored a hat trick and Mikael Granlund had four assists for the Finns who recovered from a 1-0 shootout loss to the host Czech Republic in the opening game.

Finland goaltender Emil Larmi made 14 saves for the shutout in Prague.

For the British, it was a second straight loss after a 4-2 defeat to Canada in its first game.

Slovakia also registered its first win, a 6-2 victory over Kazakhstan in Group B.

Switzerland plays Austria in Group A and Sweden meets another newcomer, Poland, in Group B later Sunday. t

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Slovakia upsets the US in OT at ice hockey worlds and Finland eases past Norway

The Associated Press

May 13, 2024, 1:48 PM

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PRAGUE (AP) — Slovakia upset the United States 5-4 when Milos Kelemen scored with 1:04 left in overtime at the ice hockey world championship on Monday.

The Americans were handed their second loss in three games.

Libor Hudacek, Simon Nemec and Patrik Koch also scored for the Slovaks and goaltender Samuel Hlavaj stopped 39 shots in Group B in Ostrava.

Down 4-1, the Americans made a three-goal comeback within 12:06 of the third period to force overtime.

Shane Pinto scored the second for the Americans between the pads of Hlavaj, Brady Tkachuk added an unassisted goal on a solo effort, and Luke Hughes scored with a snap shot with 3:22 left.

Kelemen with his first goal and Hudacek gave the Slovaks a 2-0 lead in the opening period.

Matt Boldy reduced the advantage to 2-1 on a rebound but Simon Nemec scored for Slovakia with a slap shot and Patrik Koch added the four goal 8:47 into the frame. They prompted U.S. coach John Hynes to substitute goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic with Trey Augustine.

Nedeljkovic allowed four goals from 16 shots. Augustine made eight saves.

The U.S. lost to Sweden 5-2 in its opening game and beat last year’s runner-up Germany 6-1.

Oliver Kapanen and Arttu Hyry scored two each for Finland to ease past Norway 4-1 for their second win in three games in Group A.

Following his hat trick in Sunday’s 8-0 rout of Britain, Kapanen tops the goal scoring table with five.

Norway remained without a point.

Later Monday, the Czech Republic faced Switzerland in Group A and Sweden met Germany in Group B.

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

Copyright © 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.

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Projected Lineups for the Canucks vs Oilers – Game 3

The Vancouver Canucks take on the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place tonight for Game 3 of their second round series. Here are the projected/expected lineups, sourced from NHL.com staff writers, independent correspondents and others.

Related:  2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs Round 2 Hub

(1P)  CANUCKS  AT (2P)  OILERS

Western Conference Second Round, Game 3

Best-of-7 series tied 1-1 

9:30 p.m. TVAS, SN, SN1, TBS, truTV, MAX

Canucks projected lineup

Pius Suter — J.T. Miller — Brock Boeser

Linus Karlsson — Elias Pettersson — Ilya Mikheyev

Dakota Joshua — Elias Lindholm — Conor Garland

Nils Aman — Teddy Blueger — Sam Lafferty

Quinn Hughes — Filip Hronek

Carson Soucy — Tyler Myers

Nikita Zadorov — Ian Cole

Arturs Silovs

Casey DeSmith

Scratched:  Mark Friedman, Phil Di Giuseppe, Noah Juulsen, Christian Wolanin

Injured:  Thatcher Demko (undisclosed), Nils Hoglander (undisclosed)

Status Report

• Karlsson may replace Hoglander, but Tocchet said a decision has not been made.
• Aman replaces Di Giuseppe on the fourth line.

More from THW:

• NHL Rumors: Bruins, Panthers, Maple Leafs, Canucks
• Canucks Get a Proper Taste of Oilers Hockey in Game 2
• Oilers Take Game 2 in Overtime 4-3 vs. Canucks

Oilers projected lineup

Leon Draisaitl — Connor McDavid — Zach Hyman

Warren Foegele — Ryan Nugent-Hopkins — Evander Kane

Dylan Holloway — Ryan McLeod — Corey Perry

Mattias Janmark — Derek Ryan — Connor Brown

Mattias Ekholm — Evan Bouchard

Darnell Nurse — Cody Ceci

Brett Kulak — Vincent Desharnais

Stuart Skinner

Calvin Pickard

Scratched:  Sam Carrick, Sam Gagner, Troy Stecher

Injured:  Adam Henrique (lower body)

Status report

• Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said how much time Draisaitl and McDavid play together on the same line again in Game 3 will depend on what the Canucks do with their lines.
• Brown is in for Henrique, a forward who played Game 2 after missing the opener.
• Connor McDavid Seized the Day in Oilers’ Game 2
• NHL Rumors: Maple Leafs, Senators, Bruins, Oilers
• 5 Takeaways From Oilers’ Game 2 Overtime Victory Over Canucks

Related:  2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs Bracket

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Can You Find The 13 Book Titles Hidden in This Text?

By J. D. Biersdorfer May 13, 2024

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Welcome to Title Search, the Book Review’s hidden-text puzzle. This edition celebrates sports, and the titles of 13 such books — including history, biography and memoir — are hidden below within an unrelated text passage. As you read along, tap or click the words when you think you’ve found a title (including any punctuation like question and exclamation marks). Correct answers stay highlighted. When you uncover each title, the answer section at the bottom of the screen grows to create a reading list with more information and links to the books.

A new literary quiz lands on the Books page each week and you can match wits with previous puzzles in the Book Review Quiz Bowl archive .

It had already been a season on the brink of true disaster for the proud Tigers fans and today wasn’t going well. The opposing pitcher struck eight men out in the first three innings and the Tigers had only just managed to find a way to first base after a “ball four” call.

“Can’t anybody here play this game?” sighed Barkley, the manager, to Coach Prime in the dugout. “I know they’re going all in, but we need to move forward here.”

Prime ignored him, as he was watching the guy who had taken two bases after a massive outfield error and was coming home to score. “Oh, this big cat has at least one life left,” he replied.

Explore More in Books

Want to know about the best books to read and the latest news start here..

The complicated, generous life  of Paul Auster, who died on April 30 , yielded a body of work of staggering scope and variety .

“Real Americans,” a new novel by Rachel Khong , follows three generations of Chinese Americans as they all fight for self-determination in their own way .

“The Chocolate War,” published 50 years ago, became one of the most challenged books in the United States. Its author, Robert Cormier, spent years fighting attempts to ban it .

Joan Didion’s distinctive prose and sharp eye were tuned to an outsider’s frequency, telling us about ourselves in essays that are almost reflexively skeptical. Here are her essential works .

Each week, top authors and critics join the Book Review’s podcast to talk about the latest news in the literary world. Listen here .

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