CM Magazine: Hockey's Hottest Series.

________________ CM . . . . Volume VI Number 16 . . . . April 14, 2000

Hockey's Hottest Series.

James Duplacey.
Toronto, ON: Kids Can Press, 1999.
32 pp., pbk., $6.95.

Subject Headings:
Hockey players-Juvenile literature.
National Hockey League-Juvenile literature.

Grades 2-6 / Ages 7-11.
Review by Deborah Mervold.

**** /4

Hockey's Hottest Goalies.
ISBN 1-55074-561-1.

Hockey's Hottest Wingers.
ISBN 1-55074-596-4.

excerpt:

It has been a long time since Patrick Roy began his NHL career back in 1985. Not much has changed. Roy still twists his neck like a bird. He still talks to his goal posts for good luck. He still wins. Roy has unique style. To stop pucks, he drops to his knees and stretches his pads from post to post. That position lets him stop low shots. Roy uses his upper body, blocker and glove to stop the high shots. This style has made 'Saint Patrick' a top goalie. One of the fastest glove hands in all of hockey belongs to Roy. With that speedy mitt, he can snare shots from any angle.
What else does it take to be a winning goalie like Roy? He has lots of confidence. Roy believes that no one can put the puck past him, even in overtime. Having legs like steel springs also helps Roy be a winner.
All of these things make Roy a top goalie. He has won more playoff games than any other goaltender. Roy's talent has also put his name on the Stanley Cup three times.
Roy has won the Vezina Trophy for top NHL goalie three times.

These two new titles are part of a series of four books on "Hockey's Hottest." James Duplacey, the author of many books about hockey, is also the former curator of the Hockey Hall of Fame. Each of the titles is organized in alphabetical order and includes fifteen players. These top ranked players are each given a two page spread with an illustration on each page. A head shot is included of each player as well as two action shots. There is a pull-out section in the centre with repeated illustrations of each player in banner format. On the back of the full-colour, four page banner are the addresses and web sites for each of the NHL clubs.

Each player is described in clear, concise language suitable for younger readers. Positive information is given with reasons as to why the player is important as a player and a role model for the game. Information is brief but detailed enough so that readers will learn something about each player. One sentence in darker print is included for each player to emphasize some important characteristic or fact about him. For example, Brett Hull is renowned for his "goal scoring." His one sentence descriptor is: "No one scored more goals in the 1990's than Hull." Younger or reluctant readers would be able to read the descriptor and enjoy the illustrations without reading the text. Sometimes, quotations are given from the player or team players to show the qualities of the player. Text includes some specific information as well as questions or points of considerations for the reader. The text may encourage further study on the players for interested readers.

The book can be enjoyed on many levels. Information is interesting for hockey fans and modern biography fans. The format is appealing for the intended age level. A Table of Contents and alphabetical organizational make the text easy to use for research or general reading. These two books would be excellent additions to libraries and personal libraries for reluctant readers and hockey fans in the early and middle years.

Highly Recommended.

Deborah Mervold is a teacher-librarian and a Grade 12 English teacher at W.P. Sandin Composite High School in Shellbrook, SK.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Published by
The Manitoba Library Association
ISSN 1201-9364

TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THIS ISSUE - April 14, 2000.