As engaging as the great game itself, the stories behind the National Hockey League are entertaining, fascinating and, at times, unbelievable. Faux facts emerge from urban legends, conspiracy theories and coincidences, leaving sports fans to debate truth and fiction in the world of hockey trivia. Few are better qualified to both debunk falsehoods and nail down amazing facts than TSN stats archaeologist Kevin Gibson, whose book Of Myths and Sticks blows the whistle on all hockey matters from the mainstream to the obscure. What was the date of the first NHL game? Who scored the first goal and which team won? Did Gordie Howe ever actually have a Gordie Howe hat trick? Gibson offers definitive answers to these fundamental questions, but also contributes fascinating background nobody else thought to ask about, such as game-time weather, contract disputes and the flu epidemic that claimed the lives of two players and cancelled the 1919 Stanley Cup Final. Gibson scores laughs with true facts from between the posts, noting that legendary Canadiens goalie Georges Vezina sired 24 children ("he was known for saves on the ice and scoring off"), and that the Quebec Bulldogs' shameful record of 4--20 may have been due, in part, to the worst nickname ever for a goaltender ("Holes"). The myth of the Original Six is down-sized to the Original One, as Gibson points out that the Montreal Canadiens is the only team to have been around at the start of the NHL and to have retained their original team name. Other highlights include hall-of-famers, hall-of-shamers and an extensive "On This Date" chapter that highlights 366 trivia-worthy moments from 95 years of hockey history. Combining extensive research, humor and keen curiosity, Of Myths and Sticks is hockey's version of MythBusters--what's true, what's not, and how can we make finding out almost as entertaining as watching the game.

Here Stan "the Hockey Maven" Fischler profiles more than fifty of the greatest characters from NHL history, including Gordie Howe, Steve Yzerman, Sergei Fedorov, Brendan Shanahan, Harry "Apple Cheeks" Lumley, and more. Go into the ice, and into the locker room with our favorite players from Detroit hockey history. Fans can read about everyone from the legendary Gordie Howe (who was almost killed by a body-check that fractured his skull before he went on to become known as "Mr. Hockey") to Nicklas Lindstroem (who became the first European to win the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2002). With a deft pen, Fischler describes the Red Wings' greatest accomplishments from his front-row seat in the press box. Beyond the stats and facts, this veteran sportswriter brings fans off the ice and into the locker room to share a treasure trove of stories and anecdotes from this legendary franchise. Within these pages, fans will taste the adrenaline as the Red Wings rack up eleven Stanley Cup Championships and cheer with the crowd as Pete and Jerry Cusimano toss the first "good luck" octopus onto the ice. Without a doubt, Detroit Red Wings: Greatest Moments and Players is a must-have for any Red Wings fan.

A history of Rangers goalies through the ages! New York Rangers fans have always loved their goaltenders and, throughout their history, the Blueshirts have been blessed with some of the very best in the game. Through the first nine-plus decades of their existence, eighty-eight men from Canada, the United States, and Europe have toiled between the pipes at Madison Square Garden. They all shared the same responsibility, yet each brought their own style, personality, character, and idiosyncrasies to the position and provided unique memories for those of us who watched them. In Guardians of the Goal, each one of these brave men is discussed in chronological order, while providing an overview of their era and the general managers and coaches they played for. Such players highlighted in this book include: - Mike Richter - Ed Giacomin - John Vanbiesbrouck - Henrik Lundqvist - Davey Kerr - And many more. Regardless of whether they were a franchise goalie, a flash in the pan, or an emergency fill-in, each of these "Lone Rangers," or as Steve Baker once called them, "The few, the proud, and the very busy," have one thing in common: they all tried their best to keep that little one-inch by three-inch piece of frozen, vulcanized rubber out of the gaping twenty-four square foot chasm behind them. Some were more successful than others, but as you will see, although they may occasionally "steal" a game, in most cases a goaltender is only as good as the team in front of him. Guardians of the Goal is just that: an ode to those Blueshirts who laid it out night in and night out, leaving it all out on the ice for our Rangers.

Longtime sportswriter and baseball fan Stan Fischler goes beyond the generic sports tale, recounting the funniest, most incredible stories from throughout the Great American Pastime's long history. Covering teams from across the league, Fischler details the following feats, and 95 more: Joe DiMaggio committed a case of outfield robbery against Hank Greenberg A spectator made a pitching change for the Dodgers Reggie Jackson earned the nickname "Mister October" One-armed Pete Gray plays center field for the St. Louis Browns Don Larsen pitched a perfect game against the Dodgers in the World Series Gregg Maddux won the Cy Young Award four times in a row So get ready to take the field with some of baseball's greatest and most hilarious players and coaches alike! Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Sports Publishing imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in sports books about baseball, pro football, college football, pro and college basketball, hockey, or soccer, we have a book about your sport or your team. Whether you are a New York Yankees fan or hail from Red Sox nation; whether you are a die-hard Green Bay Packers or Dallas Cowboys fan; whether you root for the Kentucky Wildcats, Louisville Cardinals, UCLA Bruins, or Kansas Jayhawks; whether you route for the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, or Los Angeles Kings; we have a book for you. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

An Original Six NHL member, the Broadway Blueshirts boast one of the most renowned histories in the last hundred years of North American professional hockey. With the New York Rangers returning to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in twenty years in the 2013 2014 season, their presence is more prominent than ever. In this newly updated edition of New York Rangers: Greatest Moments and Players, first published in 2007, hockey's premier historian recounts all of the Rangers' luminaries such as Andy Bathgate, Brian Leetch, and current goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, as well as their most telling moments on the ice. Throughout the years, Stan Fischler, a Manhattanite of almost half a century, has covered both the Blueshirts' highs and lows. Regarded as the dean of American hockey journalists, he has been covering the sport for sixty years, and has been following the Rangers even longer. With over ninety books on hockey published to date, there is nobody better to narrate the history of one of hockey's most celebrated clubs, the New York Rangers, than Stan Fischler. Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Sports Publishing imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in sports books about baseball, pro football, college football, pro and college basketball, hockey, or soccer, we have a book about your sport or your team. Whether you are a New York Yankees fan or hail from Red Sox nation; whether you are a die-hard Green Bay Packers or Dallas Cowboys fan; whether you root for the Kentucky Wildcats, Louisville Cardinals, UCLA Bruins, or Kansas Jayhawks; whether you route for the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, or Los Angeles Kings; we have a book for you. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

In Stan Fischler's latest hockey classic, "Behind the Net," Fischler includes a collection of short, zany (but true ) tales that have taken place over more than a half century of hockey-watching. An easy read for fans of all ages with photos to accompany the anecdotes, this book offers a unique perspective into the NHL from one of today's most prolific hockey writers. Different from the typical NHL "game" stories, this book details everything, from the hilarious to the absurd. Fischler details the time that: Bill Mosienko scored three goals in 21 secondsRene Fernand Gauthier accepted a challenge to shoot the puck in the oceanSam LoPresti faced 83 shots on goal in one gameAnd 98 more unique stories So lace up your skates and hit the ice with "Behind the Net," a comprehensive collection sure to entertain any hockey fan, regardless of team allegiances.

In Behind the Net, first published in 2013 and now for the first time in paperback and newly updated, Stan Fischler includes a collection of short, zany (but true!) tales that have taken place over more than a half century of hockey-watching. An easy read for fans of all ages with photos to accompany the anecdotes, this book offers a unique perspective into the NHL from one of today's most prolific hockey writers. Different from the typical NHL "game" stories, this book details everything, from the hilarious to the absurd. Fischler details the time that: Bill Mosienko scored three goals in 21 seconds Rene Fernand Gauthier accepted a challenge to shoot the puck in the ocean Sam LoPresti faced 83 shots on goal in one game And 98 more unique stories! So lace up your skates and hit the ice with Behind the Net, a comprehensive collection sure to entertain any hockey fan, regardless of team allegiances. Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Sports Publishing imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in sports books about baseball, pro football, college football, pro and college basketball, hockey, or soccer, we have a book about your sport or your team. Whether you are a New York Yankees fan or hail from Red Sox nation; whether you are a die-hard Green Bay Packers or Dallas Cowboys fan; whether you root for the Kentucky Wildcats, Louisville Cardinals, UCLA Bruins, or Kansas Jayhawks; whether you route for the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, or Los Angeles Kings; we have a book for you. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

One of the National Hockey League's "Original Six," few teams in professional hockey have enjoyed more success than the Detroit Red Wings. In this newly revised edition, Stan "the Hockey Maven" Fischler profiles over fifty of the greatest characters from this unforgettable franchise. Fans can read about everyone from the legendary Gordie Howe (who was almost killed by a body-check that fractured his skull before he went on to become known as "Mr. Hockey") to Nicklas Lindstrom (who became the first European to win the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2002). With a deft pen, Fischler describes the Red Wings greatest accomplishments from his front-row seat in the press box.

Beyond the stats and facts, this veteran sportswriter brings fans off the ice and into the locker room to share a treasure trove of stories and anecdotes from this legendary franchise. Within these pages, fans will taste the adrenaline as the Red Wings rack up 10 Stanley Cup Championships and cheer with the crowd as Pete and Jerry Cusimano toss the first "good luck" octopus onto the ice. Without a doubt, "Detroit Red Wings Greatest Moments and Players" is a must-have for any Red Wings fan.

The intrastate rivalry between the Islanders and the Rangers is like no other in the NHL. Playing in the same league and with home rinks mere miles from one another, these two teams face off against each other multiple times a season. With devoted fans on either side backing their personal hometown favorites, the cross-town series between the two is often just as heated as championship games. In Rangers vs. Islanders, Fischler and Weinstock expertly narrate the entirety of the on-ice feud between the Islanders and Rangers. All of the major events are covered in-depth: from the Islanders' founding in 1971; to the first meet-up in 1972; to the infamous 1975 playoff series; to all eight playoff meetings during the '70s and '80s; to the notorious Game Five of the 1984 playoffs; to the pair's first-ever shootout in 2005; to the Islanders' controversial move to Brooklyn in 2014; and every other major event in between. In addition to the heated on-ice action, Fischler and Weinstock also include all of the greatest off-ice moments in the legendary rivalry. With chapters on the impact of fans and interviews with players, coaches, and managers, Rangers vs. Islanders is a must-have for every true hockey fan, whether they root for the Islanders or the Rangers. Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Sports Publishing imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in sports books about baseball, pro football, college football, pro and college basketball, hockey, or soccer, we have a book about your sport or your team. Whether you are a New York Yankees fan or hail from Red Sox nation; whether you are a die-hard Green Bay Packers or Dallas Cowboys fan; whether you root for the Kentucky Wildcats, Louisville Cardinals, UCLA Bruins, or Kansas Jayhawks; whether you route for the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, or Los Angeles Kings; we have a book for you. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

Written by hockey's most authoritative author, this is the definitive collection of Boston Bruins history. In his newly revised edition of" Boston Bruins: Greatest Moments and Players," "hockey maven" Stan Fischler examines the storied history of the Boston Bruins from their first game in 1924 to their epic Stanley Cup victory in 2011. Beyond the stats and facts, this veteran sportswriter brings fans off the ice and into the locker room to share a treasure trove of stories and anecdotes from this legendary franchise. Within these pages, Bruins fans will read about all of Boston hockey's most famous names--Phil Esposito, Bobby Orr, Eddie Shore, Milt Schmidt, John Bucyk, and many more.