Hockey's Golden Era: Stars of the Original Six

Al Stray is manager of the Port Credit Public Library.

Featuring color action photos from the archives of Harold Barkley, this
book sets out to “recapture the exhilarating magic” of 1957–67,
hockey’s golden era. It was a time when there were only 120 players in
the league and it was not unusual for fans to know all of their names.
It was a time of innovation, as witnessed by the introduction of the
curved blade, the helmet, and Jacques Plante’s mask. It was a slower
time—a time of train travel, low-scoring games, and one-goalie teams.
And it was a time when most players played for the sheer love of the
game.

The book is divided into six chapter, each devoted to the highs and
lows of one of the “Original Six”: the Boston Bruins, Chicago Black
Hawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, and Toronto Maple Leafs.
Some 70 players are profiled. As interesting as their biographies and
statistics are, it is Barkley’s color action photographs that bring
the game to life.

This most enjoyable book begins with a foreword by Frank Selke Jr., who
interviewed most of the players profiled during his career as a Montreal
Canadiens broadcaster, and concludes with a section on records and
awards for the years 1957 to 67.