It comes as no surprise that there are several high quality books out this year on the Montreal Canadiens. Hockey's greatest team is celebrating it's centennial, after all, and authors, publishers and book sellers are playing a big role in giving fans a taste of Montreal history to take home with them.

There are four main titles for you to consider, plus a DVD:

Habs Heroes: The Definitive List of the 100 Greatest Canadiens Ever
Ken Campbell/The Hockey News
THN senior writer Ken Campbell polled a panel of experts to come up with a definitve 1-through-100 ranking of the top Montreal Canadiens players of all time. Campbell then goes about writing brief biographies for this action packed book. There's plenty of colour photography to compliment the great writing. Published by The Hockey News/Transcontinental Books.

Honoured Canadiens
Andrew Podnieks
When the Montreal Canadiens and the Hockey Hall of Fame got together to work on this joint project, they instantly sought the services of hockey super author Andrew Podnieks. With Podnieks' great research and writing abilities, and the Hall's amazing and exclusive photography, this book looks at each of the 54 Montreal Canadiens players, coaches and builders who have been enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame. The design and layout are spectacular, with the imagery unmatchable. And Podnieks does a good job of covering each enshrinee with great detail. The only thing more noticeable than the striking cover is the shrink wrap around it that prevents you from peeking inside. Publisher HB Fenn authorized a sneak peek inside here at HockeyBookReviews.com

The Montreal Canadiens: 100 Years of Glory
D'Arcy Jenish
This book appears to be the early popular favorite, appearing on the Globe And Mail's best seller list earlier this season, one of only two hockey books to do so this fall. Jenish retraces Montreal's long history through the words of Montreal's sports writers over the years. He must have spent countless hours researching and compiling this work, but it pays off big time. He offers a unique, thorough, and honest history of the Canadiens, warts and all. It is not a history written through nostalgia-coloured glasses like every other Habs history title.

Patrick Roy: Winning, Nothing Else
Michel Roy
This Patrick Roy biography, written by his father Michel Roy, is the English release of the 2007 French mega hit Le Guerrier. Roy remains in the news despite retiring from NHL competition, so this book will be of great interest to many fans, and not just Montreal fans. The book is a little long-winded, but you get an honest look into one of hockey's leading personalities. Roy was at times mysterious and at other times down right controversial. This book looks into it all.

So which is the best?

1. The Montreal Canadiens: 100 Years of Glory by D'Arcy Jenish
2. Honoured Canadiens by Andrew Podnieks
3. Habs Heroes by Ken Campbell/The Hockey News
4. Patrick Roy: Winning, Nothing Else by Michel Roy

There is another book coming in January 15th, 2009. Wiley is reproducing the classic Lions in Winter by Chrys Goyens and Alan Turowetz. It's actually the third edition of this blast from the past.

Oh yes, about that DVD. It's called Montreal Canadiens Greatest Games. Here's the disk lineup:

1. 2/19/08 vs. Rangers (Habs come back from 5-0 down)
2. 11/23/03 vs. Oilers (Heritage Classic)
3. 3/11/96 vs. Stars (Last game at the Forum)
4. 6/9/93 vs. Kings (Habs win 23rd and last Stanley Cup)
5. 5/24/86 vs. Flames (Habs win 22nd Cup)
6. 4/20/84 vs. Nordiques (Adams Division Final, Game 6)
7. 5/10/79 vs. Bruins (Too many men on the ice. Semi-final Game 7)
8. 5/14/77 vs. Bruins (Habs win 2nd of Four Cups in a row)
9. 12/31/75 vs. Red Army (Tretiek puts on a show vs Habs on New Year's Eve)
10. 4/14/60 vs. Maple Leafs (Habs win 5th consecutive Stanley Cup)

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Originally published on HockeyBookReviews.com

As we all know goalies used to play every game without a mask. That all changed by the 1970s as the new generation of goalies all donned facial protection. They wouldn’t even think of stopping pucks without their mask.

So that makes one particular incident in the playoffs of 1971 very interesting. A line brawl broke out in game two of the series between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the New York Rangers. A long delay ensued because one of the Rangers forwards, Vic Hadfield, threw Toronto goalie Bernie Parent’s mask into the crowd of Madison Square Gardens.

New York fans are renowned for their antics, so you knew right away they were not going to give the mask back to the opposition’s goaltender. Toronto executive King Clancy, still as fiesty as he was when he played the game decades earlier, stormed into the hostile crowd after the mask. This got the police involved on the search but that mask was never to be seen again.

In those days it was too expensive to create and carry spare masks. With the game already out of hand, Parent took to the bench and let back up goalie Jacques Plante finish the game.

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When was the last time you watched a game and saw one of the teams execute a perfect breakout or score a tic-tac-toe powerplay goal? There is a reason that when you see it happen on TV, the announcers get so excited about it…because those “perfect” plays happen so infrequently.
A coach of mine used to always say, “The ice is slippery. Take advantage of it.”

Mistakes are going to happen and it is those teams and players who recover quickly that are going to excel. You can be focused and confident before you head out of the dressing room - but how do you react when those mistakes happen on the ice? You have to regroup quickly and refocus on the task at hand. It is the ability to regain your composure quickly that separates the “great” teams and players from the “good” ones.

Let It Go

The most critical thing to do after you have made a mistake during a game is letting it go and to forget about it as quickly as possible. This is often “easier said than done” - especially when you score on your own net or miss a sure goal on an open net. No matter how big you think the mistake was, there is absolutely nothing that you can do to change it. It is now in the past and you can't go back in time and make it go away.

But you do have control over how you react after a mistake.

When you react negatively to a mistake, whether outwardly (like slamming your stick against the boards) or inwardly (by telling yourself that you can't do anything right), you let that mistake take control of you. And you need to stay focused on what you can control. You can't control what happened in the past. You have the choice to either let the mistake get to you or to move on. Since there is absolutely no benefit to dwelling on the mistake, the choice is clear: you have let it go.

One tool that has always worked well for many players is to think about “flushing” their mistakes down the toilet. I know, it sounds a little strange -
but trust me, it works. When you get back to the bench after a tough shift, just take your mistake and “flush it”. Once you “flush it”, it is gone forever - or at least until after the game when you want to take the time to re?ect on both the positive and negative aspects of your performance.

The most important thing is that you move on immediately. Because in hockey, a few seconds can change everything. And your ability to control your mental game can completely transform your physical game.

Until next time,
~Coach Kim

Originally published on Total Female Hockey Club.

In 1986 the Canadian Government paid for a large hockey stick (207 feet long to be exact) to be put into place in Vancouver for our world fair, Expo 86. When it was all over, the town of Duncan, BC over on Vancouver Island, won a contest and became the permanent home of the stick.

It's been deemed the "World's Largest Hockey Stick" although there is a city in Minnesota that has the "World's Largest Freestanding Hockey Stick" outside the US Hockey Hall of Fame. This other stick is 110 feet long and weighs over 10,000 pounds.

Some say that Duncan's stick shouldn't count since it's just a "sculpture" and the one in Eleveth, Minnesota is actually a "real stick". No matter the dispute, it's just kind of fun to see hockey commemorated this way.

There are also others, such as Tim Schmalz, who actually think that there should be something more commemorative and permanent for all of Canada to enjoy. He's on a mission to make a 50-foot sculpture in the name of Canadian hockey, giving us all a national monument for the sport.

He started out on the East coast earlier this year and by this time next year he should reach BC. He's crossing the country, sculpting, and adding to the piece bit by bit, while collecting donations from Canadians to keep it going; this way it will be our monument and not something built by a corporate sponsor. By the end he hopes it will reach the goal height and then it will be cast in bronze. It also hasn't been decided where it will be placed, but several cities have already expressed an interest.

Hockey evolved in Canada and to many it's more than simply our national (winter) sport. It's a lifestyle, a community-builder and something to be proud of. Any structure, sculpture, or giant puck (or maybe even net) in honor of this dedication and camaraderie is a good thing in my books.

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I love children's hockey titles. Not only do these books introduce kids to the great sport of hockey, they also, and far more importantly, get kids hooked on reading. I consider it a great duty to pass on information about kid's hockey books because of this.

Reviewing kids hockey books is not easy though, because different stories are better for some kids than others. I really encourage all parents to thoroughly screen each title before buying, as no one knows their kid better.

I completely admit that I can often have trouble reviewing kids books because a) I'm not a kid and b) the kids that came into my life are teenagers, not little ones. There are no shortage of kid's titles to choose from in 2008, but I could never really suggest a book that would be perfect for every kid.

Until now.

I was recently introduced into a series of books called Brady Brady. The kid in me was instantly taken by the cartoonish illustrations and the brilliant use of colour. It is sure to catch anyone's eye. And better yet I was then wowed by the fun story telling complete with strong moral messages. Fun plus a good message is the necessary equation for any kid's title that I am going to endorse, and Brady Brady tops the list!

Aimed at boys and girls ages 4 through 8, Brady Brady is about a boy named Brady and his love of hockey. With his family, his friends, and his dog Hat Trick, Brady Brady goes on all sorts of adventures and learns great lessons on and off the ice.

Each 32-page book makes reading a fun experience, and promotes common themes such as sportsmanship, teamwork and fair play. That is the biggest reason why school boards across Canada and the United States recognize the series and include it in libraries and curriculum.

To top it all off all the books are extremely reasonably priced, with the jacket price at $7 Canadian! All titles are available at Amazon.ca and Chapters. You can also order copies individually or in multiples at www.BradyBrady.com. Of course, the books are available in any of Indigo/Chapters stores, as well as independent book sellers and select sporting goods stores.

The best selling Canadian children's series is written by Mary Shaw, who began writing when she was dismayed with the lack of engaging reading material for her son, Brady. Co-created with illustrator Chuck Temple, the two have created a growing Brady Brady empire, complete with their own publishing company, spinoff deals and, coming soon, animated media projects.

Brady Brady has also been recognized by big league hockey. The Toronto Maple Leafs, Minnesota Wild and Columbus Blue Jackets have created customized Brady Brady programs to promote grassroots hockey in their communities. And several stars endorse the books, including Bobby Orr, Steve Yzerman, Scott Stevens, Haley Wickenheiser and Cassie Campbell. USA Hockey has also signed on with a licensing agreement.

Here's a complete listing of Brady Brady books. You can't go wrong with any one title, but you will soon be hooked and looking for more. My personal favorite has to be The Great Rink.

Brady Brady And the Great Rink

When Brady tries to build the greatest backyard rink ever, he finds out it’s harder than he thought. But his hard work is about to pay off in a way he never imagined!

Brady Brady And the Most Important Game

When Brady Brady and the Icehogs lose a big game to a rival team, they think it's the end of the world - until they realize what is really important on the ice.

Brady Brady and The MVP

Brady's friend, Kev, learns that it's not only the goal scorers who are valuable members of a team.

Brady Brady and the B Team

Chester's loyalty to the Icehogs is questioned when he misses games and is overheard talking about joining the B Team.

Brady Brady And the Puck on the Pond

Just when Brady thought he had all of the makings for a fun game of shinny on his great rink, his friends are invited to play on an even greater rink! Friendships are tested - will the Icehogs stay together?

Brady Brady: And the Super Skater

When the newest member of the Icehogs encounters some bad luck, Brady helps his teammate see that it will take more than "super-skating" to improve her game.

Brady Brady And the Runaway Goalie

When the Icehogs’ goalie goes missing before the big game, Brady Brady saves the day!

Brady Brady And the Twirlin' Torpedo

Tes is a great player who loves hockey almost as much as Brady. So, when she is teased for being a girl, Brady and the other Icehogs back her up with a picture-perfect plan!

Brady Brady And the Singing Tree

Brady comes to the rescue when his friend Elwood almost quits hockey because of his dad.

Brady Brady And the Big Mistake

Brady's friends are coming to play shinny, and everything has to be perfect - more than perfect. If only he had something he could impress them with. Then it hits. The great idea the turns out to be a big mistake!

Brady Brady And the Great Exchange

When his friend has growing pains, Brady decides to help, and in the end everyone is a winner.

All hockey titles are also available in French, courtesy of Scholastic Canada.

The Brady Brady franchise has also begun to branch out and tackle football with Brady Brady and the Cranky Kicker, and hit home runs with baseball with Brady Brady and the Ballpark Bark and Brady Brady and the Cleanup Hitters

If you're looking for a fun book with great moral lessons to help you pass on the joys of both sports and reading to your little boy or girl, look no further than the Brady Brady series.

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Originally published November 19, 2008 on on HockeyBookReviews.com