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Title details for 99 by Wayne Gretzky - Available

99

Stories of the Game

by Wayne Gretzky
Mike Chamberlain
Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
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1 of 1 copy available
In this sports memoir, Wayne Gretzky weaves memories of his legendary career with an inside look at professional hockey and the heroes and stories that inspired him.

From minor-hockey phenomenon to Hall of Fame sensation, Wayne Gretzky rewrote the record books, his accomplishments becoming the stuff of legend. Dubbed “The Great One,” he is considered by many to be the greatest hockey player who ever lived. No one has seen more of the game than he has—but he has never discussed in depth just what it was he saw.
For the first time, Gretzky discusses candidly what the game looks like to him and introduces us to the people who inspired and motivated him: mentors, teammates, rivals, the famous and the lesser known. Weaving together lives and moments from an extraordinary career, he reflects on the players who inflamed his imagination when he was a kid, the way he himself figured in the dreams of so many who came after; takes us onto the ice and into the dressing rooms to meet the friends who stood by him and the rivals who spurred him to greater heights; shows us some of the famous moments in hockey history through the eyes of someone who regularly made that history.
Warm, direct, and revelatory, it is a book that gives us number 99, the man and the player, like never before.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    October 18, 2016

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9780735289086
      • File size: 350831 KB
      • Duration: 12:10:53

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • AudioFile Magazine
      The National Hockey League celebrated its 99th birthday in 2016, and who better to be its ambassador than the man who wore number 99 on his jersey? Sadly, though, while Wayne Gretzky's love of the game pervades every word of this chronicle, Mike Chamberlain's narration reveals his lack of familiarity with hockey. He mispronounces the names of several well-known players and misses some common insider references. If you can tune out those harsh notes, Gretzky's tales--part memoir, part history--are a delight for nostalgic fans who remember watching his majesty on the ice, as well as his class and sportsmanship. D.B. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine
    • Publisher's Weekly

      October 10, 2016
      For the National Hockey League’s 99th season, Gretzky (number 99), its greatest player ever, offers a look at back at some of hockey’s pivotal moments and its greatest pioneers—and for hockey fans, the book is great fun. Gretzky’s well-known love for the game and respect for its history are evident in his narration. The book breezes through short histories of NHL teams, from the formation of the original six teams to expansion and the World Hockey Association, as well as memorable events such as the 1972 Summit Series between Canada and the U.S.S.R., the Miracle on Ice, and the 1984 and 1987 Canada Cup tournaments. And of course the book is filled with a robust cast of great players, from the NHL’s original superstar, Howie Morenz, to Gordie Howe, Gretzky’s teammates and contemporaries, and the influx of great Russian and European players. There is even a short chapter on the experiences of hockey’s first black players, Willie O’Ree and Herb Carnegie. It’s fun to have “the Great One” narrate some of hockey’s key moments, but the book feels hastily assembled, and for hardcore NHL fans, much of the history will be familiar. The book also lacks any real insights or revelations from Gretzky’s own playing days. He remains one of hockey’s great ambassadors, but as a hockey historian, he just misses the net.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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