A Great Game: The Forgotten Leafs & the Rise of Professional HockeyDrawing on extensive archival records and illustrations, histories of the sport, and newspaper files, Canada’s Prime Minister delves into the fascinating early years of ice hockey. In the tumultuous beginnings of hockey, the fights were as much off the ice as on it. This engaging new book is about the hockey heroes and hard-boiled businessmen who built the game, and the rise and fall of legendary teams pursuing the Stanley Cup. With a historian’s perspective and fan’s passion, Stephen Harper presents a riveting and often-surprising portrait, capturing everything from the physical contests on the rinks to the battles behind the scenes. Stephen Harper shows that many things have stayed the same. Rough play, fervent hometown loyalties, owner-player contract disputes, dubious news coverage, and big money were issues from the get-go. Most important in these early years was the question: Was hockey to be a game of obsessed amateurs playing for the love of the sport, or was it a game for paid professionals who would give fans what they wanted? Who should be responsible for the sport—including its bouts of violence—both on and off the ice. A century ago, rinks could melt, and by halftime the blades screwed to the players’ shoes could be sinking in mud. It was during this time that the unsuccessful Toronto Professionals of 1908 and the victorious Toronto Blue Shirts of 1914 battled for the city’s very first Stanley Cup. Against the fanatical opposition of amateur hockey leaders, these “forgotten Leafs” would lay the groundwork for the world’s most profitable hockey franchise. In paying tribute to these hockey pioneers and the contagious loyalty of their fans, Harper resurrects the history of hockey’s first decades. Lavishly illustrated with photographs of the game’s greatest arenas and earliest star players, this entertaining and original book will captivate you from start to finish. |
Contents
1 | |
CHAPTER TwO | 23 |
CHAPTER THREE | 41 |
CHAPTER FOUR | 61 |
CHAPTER FIvE | 79 |
CHAPTER SIx | 95 |
CHAPTER SEvEN | 117 |
CHAPTER NINE | 157 |
CHAPTER TEN | 181 |
CHAPTER ElEvEN | 199 |
CHAPTER TwElvE | 219 |
CHAPTER THIRTEEN | 237 |
OvERTIME | 261 |
Other editions - View all
A Great Game: The Forgotten Leafs & the Rise of Professional Hockey Stephen Harper Limited preview - 2014 |
A Great Game: The Forgotten Leafs & the Rise of Professional Hockey Stephen Harper Limited preview - 2013 |
Common terms and phrases
Allan Cup Amateur Athletic Amateur Hockey annual meeting Arena Berlin Dutchmen Blue Shirts Brantford Bruce Ridpath CAAU Canada centre championship city’s club’s Corbeau country’s Courtesy of Toronto December Eastern fans February final franchise galt goal Hall of Fame Hewitt Hockey Hall hockey’s Jack January John Ross Robertson Kenora Thistles lacrosse lacrosse Club league’s liffiton lineup Mail and Empire Mallen manager Manitoba Maple leafs March Marlboros match Miln Miln’s Montreal Shamrocks Montreal wanderers Mutual Street Rink National Hockey Newsy lalonde O’Briens OHA’s Ontario Hockey Association OPHl organization Ottawa Silver Seven play profes Professional Hockey league Pros puck Quebec Queen City referee Rolly Young ronto score season senior Shots on Sport sional skating squad Stanley Cup TEAM gP w l team’s Tecumsehs Toronto Globe Toronto Hockey Club Toronto Mail Toronto Professionals Toronto Public library Toronto Star Toronto Telegram victorias w l T gF wellingtons winnipeg