Saves

Dave Jenkinson is a professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Manitoba and the author of the “Portraits” section of Emergency Librarian.

Posterbook consists of eight 35.5 cm x 26 cm full-color action photo
posters of one NHL star goalie (Dominik Hasek) and seven forwards (Teemu
Selanne, Peter Forsberg, Sergei Federov, Wayne Gretzky, Mats Sundin,
Mike Modano, Eric Lindros). The flip side of each of these tear-out
posters contains brief biographical data, regular season and playoff
stats, a listing of the player’s major awards, short personal
anecdotes, and a “What the Players Say” section that provides candid
comments from teammates and opponents.

Goals and Saves have similar formats. Goals focuses on 13 contemporary
NHL goal scorers, usually matched with a player from an earlier era. For
example, Wayne Gretzky is paired with Gordie Howe, while the Finnish
Flash, Teemu Selanne, is balanced by fellow Finn and former NHL star
Jari Kurri. Saves focuses on a dozen current goalies and also provides
links to earlier NHL goalies. The texts are lively and informative, but
what separates these two books from other “hockey hero” books is the
inclusion of an old technology—a stereoscope (cardboard and assembly
required) and a dozen “3-D cards.” A pocket inside the back cover
provides storage for the stereoscope and the cards once they are
detached from the book.

Make-a-Play describes and diagrams 15 plays (e.g., centre breakout,
give-and-go, drop pass) and practice drills (2-on–1 break, the
wraparound, the power play) that are used somewhere in the NHL. The
descriptions of the various plays are clearly written and are supported
by diagrams that illustrate what is to happen. To confirm that these
plays are actually utilized in game conditions, the book includes “Do
NHL players really do this?” sections on such plays as Guy Lafleur’s
taking a drop pass in the seventh game of the 1979 Stanley Cup
semifinals and tying the game. The back cover of this spiral-bound book
consists of a “white board” on which is imprinted an outline of a
hockey rink; an attached marker pen allows readers to diagram their own
plays.

While all four books are home purchases, libraries might consider
purchasing Saves and Goals because their contents will still be of
interest to reluctant readers after the viewer and slides are lost
and/or worn out. Similarly, Make-a-Play will interest young hockey fans
even if the pen is dried out or lost. Recommended with reservations.