A Breed Apart: An Illustrated History of Goaltending

Albert Stray is librarian and manager of the Streetsville Public
Library.

In this book, Douglas Hunter, author of Open Ice: The Tim Horton Story,
turns his attention to goaltending, from about 1875 to the present.
Readers will learn how goaltending has evolved and, with it, the game
itself. Included in this evolution are such innovations as the slapshot,
the curved stick, the goalie crease and net, the face mask and pads, and
the catching glove. A particularly dramatic contrast is seen in the
“homemade” belly protector used by Toronto’s Johnny Bower and the
body armor worn by Felix Potvin today.

Interspersed throughout the book are brief biographies of 23 goalies,
past and present, including 11 Hall of Famers. Each player’s
performance is highlighted using a multicolored chart, a format used
throughout. Each chapter/profile is packed with history, hockey trivia,
and archival photographs from the Hockey Hall of Fame.

So who is the greatest goalie? Hunter approaches the subject this way:
“You can compare the greats from one era to another, but you cannot
measure them qualitatively against one another. You can only understand
what made them special at the time they played the game.” After
reading this book, you will agree that goalies are “a breed apart.”