Hockey Superstars, 1994-1995

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.

Romanuk, a TSN broadcaster, has again produced two books in one. As in
the 1993–94 edition, the “meat” of this hockey sandwich consists
of 16 glossy, full-color mini-posters (they resemble oversized hockey
cards) of National Hockey League superstars: 11 forwards, 3 goalies, and
2 defencemen. On the back of each poster is a box of “tombstone”
data plus two columns of chatty prose containing brief biographical
information and quotations by and about the player.

The print sandwich’s “bread” includes two matte-paper “Record
Keeper” sections that call for readers to “fill in the
blanks”—for example, by recording their favorite team and keeping
track of its progress throughout the season or by predicting final team
standings, the Stanley Cup winner, and the members of the NHL’s
all-star teams. Space is also provided for young hockey-playing readers
to record their own personal and team seasonal statistics. Two pages
describe—and, via drawings, illustrate—the hand signals referees use
to indicate rule infractions. Though the book continues to invite
readers to record the names of the NHL’s major individual awards, it
still inexplicably omits the Conn Smythe and Bill Masterton Memorial
Trophies. The book concludes with a brief trivia quiz.

Because of its consumable nature, this slim volume would more likely be
found in the personal collections of hockey fans in Grades 3 to 7 than
on library shelves. Recommended.