Best of
Hockey

2014

The Assassins Series


Toni Aleo - 2014
    The league’s leading scorer pulls a power play to make things right with the one that got away... A heartbroken rookie vows to turn a one-night stand into a happily ever after... Looking for a second chance, a former superstar encounters the most distracting woman he’s ever met... And one crazy-sexy night with a supposedly nice girl leads to a very big surprise: two blue lines on a pregnancy test.

Portland Storm: The First Period


Catherine Gayle - 2014
    He can’t lose focus now—not with his career on the line. But when his best friend’s little sister makes him an offer he can’t refuse, Eric could lose the drive the team relies on from their captain.Still in a downward spiral after a life-altering event in college, Dana Campbell is desperate to try anything to break away from the horror of that fateful night—even enlisting the help of the only man she trusts completely.No matter how irresistible she is or how tempting the offer, Eric might not be able to cross that line—especially with the team’s chance at the playoffs on the line. Now, Eric has to take one last shot, but will he choose Dana’s Breakaway chance at happiness or the move that could secure his career?ON THE FLYBeing sidelined for far too long due to injuries, Portland Storm player Brenden “Soupy” Campbell is ready to take his career to the next level and make his new position on the team stick. After he meets the general manager’s cute new assistant, Brenden knows he’s right where he’s supposed to be.Determined to change things up On the Fly and establish a future for herself and her children, Rachel Shaw jumps at the opportunity to work for the Storm. She’s not going to let anything—or anyone—get in her way, especially not a sexy and overly cocky hockey star.But when Brenden pulls out all the stops and turns on the charm, Rachel refuses to make the same mistake twice. Now, it’s up to Brenden to cement his spot—both on the team and in Rachel’s heart.TAKING A SHOTRising hockey star Jamie Babcock is ready to take the most important shot of his life—and this time, it’s not on the ice. Dating his teammate’s daughter might be riskier than going head to head with one of the Portland Storm’s rivals. But time is running out—it’s now or never.High school senior Katie Weber knows all too well the woes of adolescence, but throw in a leukemia diagnosis, and her life just got a lot more complicated. With prom looming and a shiny bald head to contend with, Katie might sit at home on the most important night of her potentially very short life. Unless Jamie Babcock, her ultimate crush, finally makes the move she’s been praying for. But that’s not the only miracle she needs.Now Jamie must show Katie just how important she is and how hard she must fight.Before it’s too late…LIGHT THE LAMPHockey star Liam Kallen lost his scoring touch when his wife died. Still broken up over her loss, Liam’s darkness overpowers him, but his new team—the Portland Storm—needs him. A chance meeting brings him face to face with Noelle Payne, the most positive and upbeat woman he’s ever met, and his darkness begins to fade.There’s never been a challenge that Noelle can’t conquer. Brightside optimist to a fault, Noelle refuses to succumb to the luxurious life Liam can give her, as she longs to find deeper meaning and purpose in her life. Now it’s up to Liam to open up and show her that she’s the light he’s needed all along—giving her the greatest purpose of all. He might have saved her, but can Noelle be the light that saves him?

Taking A Shot


Catherine Gayle - 2014
    Dating his teammate’s daughter might be riskier than going head to head with one of the Portland Storm’s rivals. But time is running out—it’s now or never.High school senior Katie Weber knows all too well the woes of adolescence, but throw in a leukemia diagnosis, and her life just got a lot more complicated. With prom looming and a shiny bald head to contend with, Katie might sit at home on the most important night of her potentially very short life. Unless Jamie Babcock, her ultimate crush, finally makes the move she’s been praying for. But that’s not the only miracle she needs.Now Jamie must show Katie just how important she is and how hard she must fight.Before it’s too late…Previously release as part of the SEDUCED BY THE GAME anthology.

Tangled in the Laces


Toni Aleo - 2014
    Lacey Martin is coming back from a hard fight against cancer and is terrified of him but the attraction is too much to ignore. Soon their love is so intense, neither of them see the rest of their lives without the other. Will Karson prove that he will protect her heart at all costs, or will he leave Lacey to pick up the pieces of her life once again?

Double Major


Catherine Gayle - 2014
    It is approximately 35,000 words long.It’s the NHL’s draft day, but the whole Portland Storm team is back together for an entirely different event. Complete with a double wedding, an unanticipated guest, overdue apologies, unexpected goodbyes, and fresh starts, this big day has the potential to get them all called for a Double Major.

Boy on Ice: The Life and Death of Derek Boogaard


John Branch - 2014
    Now, in a gripping work of narrative nonfiction, acclaimed reporter John Branch tells the shocking story of Boogaard's life and heartbreaking death.  Boy on Ice is the richly told story of a mountain of a man who made it to the absolute pinnacle of his sport. Widely regarded as the toughest man in the NHL, Boogaard was a gentle man off the ice but a merciless fighter on it. With great narrative drive, Branch recounts Boogaard's unlikely journey from lumbering kid playing pond-hockey on the prairies of Saskatchewan, so big his skates would routinely break beneath his feet; to his teenaged junior hockey days, when one brutal outburst of violence brought Boogaard to the attention of professional scouts; to his days and nights as a star enforcer with the Minnesota Wild and the storied New York Rangers, capable of delivering career-ending punches and intimidating entire teams. But, as Branch reveals, behind the scenes Boogaard's injuries and concussions were mounting and his mental state was deteriorating, culminating in his early death from an overdose of alcohol and painkillers.Based on months of investigation and hundreds of interviews with Boogaard's family, friends, teammates, and coaches, Boy on Ice is a brilliant work for fans of Michael Lewis's The Blind Side or Buzz Bissinger's Friday Night Lights. This is a book that raises deep and disturbing questions about the systemic brutality of contact sports—from peewees to professionals—and the damage that reaches far beyond the game.

Seduced by the Game


Toni AleoNikki Worrell - 2014
    This anthology of 8 novellas is hot enough to melt the ice these players skate on. Featuring spell-binding novels from popular New York Times & USA Today, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble bestselling authors, including Toni Aleo, Cassandra Carr with Cindy Carr, Jami Davenport, Catherine Gayle, Jaymee Jacobs, V.L. Locey, Bianca Sommerland, & Nikki Worrell. Bianca Sommerland BLIND PASS (The Dartmouth Cobras 0.5): Nothing could stop Tim Rowe, the assistant coach of the Dartmouth Cobras, from falling in love with Madeline, but love alone can’t satisfy every need. Sometimes, to reach the goal, you have to take the chance with a . . . Blind Pass.Jami Davenport Crashing the Boards (Seattle Sockeyes 1.5): Professional party crasher, Izzy Maxwell, needs the cooperation of reluctant party guest Cooper Black, the team captain of Seattle’s new hockey team, but Cooper can’t get past his anger over the team’s relocation to Seattle. Can Izzy melt Cooper’s frozen heart or will this party crash along with her fledgling business?Cassandra Carr and Cindy Carr Hooking Hannah: When Hannah attends the NHL All-Star game, she doesn't expect a hockey player of all people to turn her world upside down. Her sister is married to a player and Hannah never wanted that life. But Scott could change everything. For Scott's part, he has to know the woman who stirred his blood with just a look, and once he does, he realizes he wants Hannah to be his forever. Now to convince her...Catherine Gayle Taking A Shot (Portland Storm 2.5): Katie Weber has had a crush on Jamie Babcock for almost two years, since he joined her father’s NHL team, the Portland Storm as an eighteen-year-old rookie. When cancer takes her health, her hair, and even her friends, she can’t bear to go to senior prom…until Jamie intervenes. Toni Aleo Tangled in the Laces (The Assassins series: Prequel to Laces and Lace):In Tangled in the Laces, Karson King is on the fast track to the NHL. Lacey Martin is coming back from a hard fight against cancer and is terrified of him but the attraction is too much to ignore. Soon their love is so intense, neither of them see the rest of their lives without the other. Will Karson prove that he will protect her heart at all costs, or will he leave Laceyto pick up the pieces of her life once again?V.L. Locey HEIR APPARENT: Superstar Cam Evans is fighting to climb out of a slump that`s growing worse with each day of living in denial. Fresh from the minors, Jacobi Neal is hungry for this chance to play back-up for the legendary goalie. Can two men battle each other, their inner demons, and the sizzling attraction building between them?Jaymee Jacobs A VALUABLE TRADE: Bryan's life gets turned upside when he gets traded to the Dallas Comets, and things get even messier when he meets Georgiana, the Director of Team Services. He's got a lot of work to do to prove his worth to his new team, but Georgiana's sure he'll prove to be a valuable trade.Nikki Worrell Captain My Captain (Prequel to the NHL Scorpions Series): Keith Lambert is the captain of the Philadelphia Flyers—until he’s not. To everyone’s shock, he’s traded to the San Diego Scorpions. As if that’s not bad enough, Phoebe, his girlfriend of two years, decides she doesn’t love him enough to follow.All alone in a new town, Keith is drawn to Kelly, his take out delivery girl. When she shows up at ice girl tryouts, he’s lost. She’s all he can see. Can he convince her to forget her past and take a chance on him or is he destined to be alone in a new town a little bit longer?

The Crazy Game


Clint Malarchuk - 2014
    Standing in the crease facing one-hundred-mile-an-hour slapshots, the entire game riding on your glove hand, standing on your head when necessary-all job requirements for those wanting to be the best goalies in the world. Now imagine doing that job while suffering high anxiety, depression and obsessive compulsive disorder, and having your career nearly literally cut short by a skate across your neck.The Crazy Game takes you deep into the troubled mind of Clint Malarchuk, the former NHL goaltender for the Quebec Nordiques, Washington Capitals and Buffalo Sabres. Even as a boy, Malarchuk faced such deep anxiety that he missed school and acted out at school and with his friends. His OCD changed the way he trained, and he was almost always the last player off the ice. When his throat was slashed during a collision in the crease, Malarchuk nearly died on the ice. Forever changed, he struggled deeply with depression and a dependence on alcohol, which nearly cost him his life and left a bullet in his head.

Mr. Hockey: My Story


Gordie Howe - 2014
    Hockey” himself, Gordie Howe.  Big, skilled, tough on the ice, and nearly indestructible, Howe dominated both the sport and the record books like no one has before or since. Over an incredible six decades, the Hall of Famer had so many accomplishments that he set the record for the most records by any athlete ever in any sport. He also achieved the remarkable feat of playing for six years with his own two sons, Mark and Marty. But Howe did not inspire generations of hockey players simply by rewriting the record books. When people talk about him, it’s the man they revere even more than the player. Despite his ferocity on the ice, Howe’s name has long been a byword for decency and generosity. A family man, a man of his word, a lifelong ambassador for the game, he is a true icon, and now he takes us through it all, from his Depression-era childhood and early obstacles through the ups and downs of his spectacular career, to his enduring marriage and close relationship with his children, to his thoughts on the game of hockey today. There has never been a comprehensive account of Howe’s life from the man himself. Now is the time.

Ally and Griffin


Melanie Marks - 2014
    I whisper timidly, “Does it hurt?” “Yes,” Griffin says with a smile. I murmur, “You’re not really acting like it.” He laughs softly. With a teasing glint dancing in his eyes, he tilts his head the slightest bit. “Do you want me to cry, Cookie-Girl?” He’s only teasing. But still, his injuries look PAINFUL. He smiles ruefully. “Look, I’m trying to act tough for you, okay? Yes, it hurts. Bad.” His grin quirks with amusement. “But having you be my nurse is pretty much worth the pain right now.” Purrr! Sharp cushiness slices through me. Griffin goes on with a smirk, “But yes—it hurts. So, maybe don’t watch me too close, okay?—I may lose my cool nickname.” He says it like he doesn’t really think the nickname is that cool. Like he’s just being ironic. But doesn’t particularly care for it or like being called it. I arch my eyebrow. “You mean, ‘The Grief-Master?’” He kind of grimaces as the words spill from my lips. Glancing quickly at me, he says, “You know I don’t really cause grief to people … right?” He says it softly. “I mean, I cause it to the other team, yeah—but not to girls.” Then he adds softly, “I wouldn’t cause you grief, Ally.” Summary: When Ally is forced to help a “troublemaker” from her middle school (tough, hockey playing, Griffin Piper), she soon realizes that it’s her heart that is in “trouble.” Because handsome Griffin Piper isn’t what he seems. At all. Yes, he’s tough (totally). But he’s also the sweetest boy on earth. And he soon has Ally’s heart turning to mush any time he just looks at her … and he looks at her a LOT!! Ally isn’t sure her heart can take Griffin’s gratitude … or his lingering, twinkling stare. It’s like he can read her crush-y heart—like he knows it’s going to explode just from him looking at her … but that doesn’t stop him from doing it. A lot. In fact it seems to be exactly what he wants—to make Ally’s heart pound. For him. As a bonus, there is also a short story included in this book about a boy in middle school (Matt) and how he secretly has a crush on his best friend, Nicole. Update: This book now also has Melanie Marks' new middle school story: "Friend or Enemy? (... or Crush??)" By Melanie Marks, the author of His Kiss; and Fall For Me (plus a lot of other books) Newest Books: "Matt and Nicole (Middle School)"; and "Summer and Mason (Middle School)" From the author of Best Friend Wars; and Slumber Party Wars

Blind Pass


Bianca Sommerland - 2014
    Sometimes, to reach the goal, you have to take the chance with a . . . Blind Pass.*Previously released as part of the anthology Seduced by The Game

Showtime: One Team, One Season, One Step From the NHL


Ed Arnold - 2014
    In the tradition of Next Man Up and Friday Night Lights, Chasing Hockey Dreams uncovers the world of hockey as rising stars fight their way to the pros.

Uncovering The Ice (Love, Ice Hockey, and Other Games Book 1)


Tamara Clarke - 2014
    When her hockey crush, Sean Bertrand, stumbles upon her stories and reacts negatively, she thinks he's nothing but a crazy person. Their correspondence goes on and against the odds, they get to know each other, even like one another. But will the passion in Vanessa's stories translate to real life or will the fantasy fall flat? **** Revised and updated version of novel, featuring never-before-seen preview of forthcoming sequel. **** Welcome to the world of Major League Hockey. Join the men and women who love the game as they meet, fall in love, and play a whole lot of hockey!

A Crack in the Ice (Love, Ice Hockey, and Other Games Book 2)


Tamara Clarke - 2014
    Things between them seem to be progressing just as they should. Until the unthinkable happens: Sean is traded to another team. Separated by thousands of miles and divided by miscommunication, their relationship starts to crumble. They need to find a way through this or their once serendipitous romance may finally have reached its breaking point. **** Also includes bonus Holiday story, "A Pair of Ice Skates," never-before-published. **** Welcome to the world of Major League Hockey. Join the men and women who love the game as they meet, fall in love, and play a whole lot of hockey!

Hockey Abstract 2014


Rob Vollman - 2014
    Non-traditional statistics are being used in TV and radio broadcasts, front offices are hiring statistical analysts, and newspapers and magazines are including whole new sets of data. It used to be that front offices, agencies, and media outlets would use analytics to get an edge, but now it's being used to avoid falling behind. Soon, venturing forward without an analytics team will be like venturing forward without trainers, or equipment managers.While we fans can certainly continue to enjoy the sport without analytics (and equipment managers), knowledge of the underlying numbers can help stretch that enjoyment. Acting as an invaluable supplement to traditional analysis, modern statistics can be used to test the validity of the conventional wisdom, and to gain insight into what teams are doing behind the scenes --- or maybe what they should be doing!Inspired by Bill James' Baseball Abstract, Hockey Abstract is not an annual guide to read once and place on a shelf, but a timeless reference of the mainstream applications and limitations of hockey analytics.More than just an update, this 2014 edition is 40% bigger and better, and includes heavyweight co-authors Tom Awad and Iain Fyffe. The Hall of Fame, what makes good players good, team-level player usage chart interpretations, shot quality, score effects, the value of enforcers, a deep look at goaltending, and a hunt for the game's best at scoring goals, drawing penalties, killing penalties and working the power play are all among this year's topics.Whether you use Hockey Abstract as a primer for today's new statistics, as a reference for leading edge research and hard-to-find statistical data, or whether you read it for its passionate and engaging story-telling, Hockey Abstract 2014 belongs on every serious hockey fan's bookshelf.

Hockey Morning, Noon and Night


Doretta Groenendyk - 2014
    An approachable book for kids and a heartwarming tale for any adult involved in hockey culture.

The Last Hockey Game


Bruce McDougall - 2014
    This was only the fifth time the teams had ever played each other in the Stanley Cup finals. Toronto led the series 3-2.But this wasn't simply a game. From the moment Foster Hewitt announced "Hello Canada and hockey fans in the United States," the game became a turning point in sports history. That night, the Leafs would win the Cup. The next season, the National Hockey League would expand to twelve teams. Players would form an association to begin collective bargaining. Hockey would become big business. The NHL of the "Original Six" would be a thing of the past.It was "The Last Hockey Game."Placing us in the announcers' booth, in the seats of excited fans, and in the skates of the players, Bruce McDougall scores with a spectacular account of every facet of that final fateful match. As we meet players such as Gump Worsley, Tim Horton, Terry Sawchuk, and Eddie Shack, as well as coaches, owners, and fans, The Last Hockey Game becomes more than a story of a game. It also becomes an elegy, a lament for an age when, for all its many problems, the game was played for the love of it.

Thrills on Ice


Aurelia Osborne - 2014
    With the excuse of meeting a sports injury specialist, she returns to Winnipeg, Manitoba, where she meets hockey star Lucas Crawford. With the help of some new friends, she must come to term with her relationship with her difficult mother/manager and take a leap of faith into something she never thought she wanted: romance.

Hockey Superstars: Past, Present, and Future


Jennifer Rivkin - 2014
    More than just racking up goals, superstars display sharp, play-making minds, as well as leadership qualities. Profiles include essential stats, an overview of each player's skills and achievements, and quotes from the superstars themselves. Male, female, and sledge hockey superstars are also featured in this jam-packed title.

The Puck Stops Here: Hockey Players' Healthy Eating Handbook


Roxanne Tuomela - 2014
    BUILD muscle and GAIN strength. Overcome your poor eating habits NOW & FOREVER. Discover which foods are killing you. You can STOP the vicious cycle of your family’s diseases. No more nagging from your parents on what to eat, you’re in CHARGE now!

Ultimate Guide to Pro Hockey Teams 2015 (Sports Illustrated Kids)


Shane Frederick - 2014
    Learn about each pro hockey team, including its history, greatest coaches and players, and interesting trivia. Discover everything you ever needed to know about the Stanley Cup and which teams come out on top!

Defining Moments: The Toronto Maple Leafs


Mike Leonetti - 2014
    This book shares over 100 Maple Leaf moments that defined, started, or rejuvenated a career. This up-to-date volume of work tells the story behind each amazing player and is packed full of Hall of Famers and other great stars of the past and present.    A hundred great moments in Leaf history, including over a hundred players categorized into ten themes, such as fan favourites, leadership, tough guys. Including Leafs’ greatest players, such as Syl Apps, Darryl Sittler, Dave Keon, Börje Salming, Mats Sundin, Joffrey Lupul, this book brings together the greatest stories in the Toronto Maple Leaf history.

It's Our Game


Michael McKinley - 2014
    Could be the mighty Soviets. Could be the vainglorious Americans. Doesn’t matter, as long as the guys, and more recently, the women, who come from the farming villages, logging towns, and bustling cities of Canada show up to play the game the way we invented it to be played. That’s the way it’s been for a hundred years.No game matters more than the one that pits our best against the world’s best. From the earliest days of the past century, when milkmen still did their rounds in horse-drawn carts each morning, to the Sochi Olympics, where both the men and women stood on their blue lines with gold medals around their necks as the Canadian flag was raised.This beautiful book, with rare archival images, celebrates a hundred of the greatest moments from Hockey Canada, the organization that has given Canada its most cherished hockey memories. It’s Our Game is the definitive account of a century of Canadians working to be the best at the sport they love most.

Center Ice: The Stanley Cup


Jamie Winters - 2014
    This exciting title details the history of Lord Stanley's cup including the greatest team with the most wins, historic rivalries, and history-making moments.

National Hockey League


David Rausch - 2014
    The combination of high-interest subject matter and light text is intended for students in grades 2 through 7"--