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Pucks on pages: Hockey books worth reading

By Scott Esposito

(Photo by John MACDOUGALL / AFP)
(Photo by John MACDOUGALL / AFP) /
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new york rangers
Mark Messier of the New York Rangers hoists the Stanley Cup championship award trophy over his head (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Images) /

100 Things Rangers Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die – Adam Raider with Russ Cohen

A very compelling and easy read, this essentially a New York Rangers’ media guide but loaded with anecdotes that no team would ever publish. Readers are treated to every facet of the Blueshirts’ storied history, from the early championship teams to the current squad led by franchise goalie Henrik Lundqvist.

Also highlighted are the team’s announcers and the late national anthem singer John Amirante, as well as “Matteau! Matteau! Matteau!” and suggestions for where to dine before a game.  It even takes shots at Rangers’ rivals with chapters titled “Fish Sticks, Anyone?” and “Beat the Crapitals”! You can obtain a new, used, or Kindle edition here.

Like hockey? Think you know all about the New York Rangers? Not so fast! Check out this book! pic.twitter.com/8jcMKBxkyC

Our next Rangers’ book takes readers back to the Emile Francis era and the powerhouse Blueshirts’ teams of the early-1970s.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 02: (l-r) Rod Gilbert, Emile Francis, Jean Ratelle, Vic Hadfield and Ed Giacomin attend Hadfield’s jersey retirement by the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on December 02, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 02: (l-r) Rod Gilbert, Emile Francis, Jean Ratelle, Vic Hadfield and Ed Giacomin attend Hadfield’s jersey retirement by the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on December 02, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

We Did Everything But Win – George Grimm

An informative, fun, and (at times) sad account of the New York Rangers under coach and general manager Emile Francis. Grimm documents how “The Cat” transformed the Blueshirts from perennial losers to a team that made the playoffs for nine consecutive seasons, including the 1972 Stanley Cup Finals.

It also serves as a tribute to the many great Rangers of that era, including the “G-A-G” and the “Bulldog” lines, “Stemmer”, “Sarge” and the Vezina-winning goalie tandem of Eddie Giacomin and Gilles Villemure. The book is available here in Kindle and hard cover.

Up next, a memoir by a hockey writer who was believed to be the longest-serving beat man covering the major North American leagues.

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