These Books are Treats for Hockey Fans

by Harvey Frommer

For the even the most die-hard hockey zealots out there as well as the average sports fan, two new books are sure to provide hours upon hours of researching, browsing and reading pleasure.

The books are "Total Hockey: The Official Encyclopedia of the NHL" (Total Sports Publishing, $54.95,1878 pages) and "The NHL Official Guide and Record Book 2000" edited by Dan Diamond (Total Sports Publishing, $21.95, 544 pages).

The "Official Encyclopedia" is a monstrous load just to pick up, but it's well worth the effort. There is just about every kind of data, information, anecdote one would want - biographical and statistical information on just about anybody who ever played the game - and a lot more stuff you can simply skate by.

Sections well worth dwelling on include an 800-entry biographical list, cross-era player comparisons, evolution of on-ice strategy, unusual events and hockey legend and lore. The book seemingly covers everything, from the sport's origins in Ireland to the 2006 Winter Olympics.

Andrews McMeel Publishing, Total Sports, and the National Hockey League have teamed up to produce "Total Hockey: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Hockey League." A lot of cooks worked together to create this broth which is a tasty treat for fans of the ice game.

"Total Hockey" is authoritative, complete, and fact-filled, a volume total in scope, covering not just the National Hockey League in the most comprehensive fashion ever, but also chronicling pre-NHL hockey, minor league and club hockey.

More than 75 writers, statisticians and hockey historians contributed to this omnibus. There is info on the Origins of Hockey, the Business of the Game, the Entry Draft, and the history of Hockey Strategy. There is a huge international section and data on the 2002 and 2006 Olympic team selections. World youth hockey is reviewed. There are over 1,000 entries in the biographical dictionary.

And there are also huge player and goaltender statistical registers with complete career stats: junior, college, senior, minor pro, NHL, Olympic, and international tournaments for 5,000 players. Expanded statistics for modern players include power-play, short handed, game-winning goals and plus/minus.

Special adjusted scoring stats compare players' numbers from different eras.

"The NHL Official Guide and Record Book," is issued annually to reporters, broadcasters, scouts, and general managers by the National Hockey League. It is a publication that tracks and documents much of the sport's key details. The book includes a guide to all NHL teams, a summary of the 1998-99 season, the complete NHL book, the Stanley Cup record book, and player and goaltender registers.

BOOKENDS: For those long winter months that still lie ahead for most of the country and for those who like statistics, two publications from St. Martin's Press belong on your library shelf. They are "The Sports Encyclopedia Pro Football ($19.99, 633 pages) and "The Sports Encyclopedia Baseball 1999" ($19.99, 744 pages). Big in size, detailed in scope, highly organized and priced right - both books are weapons to help settle most questions (even tiny trivia) about baseball and football.