The Game

Review"The sports book of the year, or maybe the decade, or maybe the century."—The Globe and Mail"A work of art that defines and represents our game."—Hockey News"[Dryden] has written a very special book, possibly the best [hockey book] I have ever read. His affectionate yet realistic portrait of the players is unrivalled in hockey writing."—Mordecai RichlerThe Game has lost none of its luster since its original publication in 1983, and remains the one book every hockey fan must know....This backstage look at one of hockey’s greatest teams remains one of the best books ever published on any sport."—David Gowdey"An enduring classic, Ken Dryden's The Game has lost none of its luster since its original publication in 1983, and remains the one book every hockey fan must know...This backstage look at one of the best books ever published on any sport."—David GowdeySports Illustrated: One of "The Top 100 Best Sports Books of All Time" (number nine).· Top hockey book.· Top Canadian sports book.· Top book written solely by an athlete.University of Toronto Review: One of "The Top 100 English-Canadian Books of the 20th Century."Named by Sports Illustrated in 2002 as one of the Top Ten in "The Top 100 Best Sports Books of All Time." It was the number-one hockey book on the list.9: "Hall of Fame goalie Ken Dryden was always different. A Cornell grad, he led Montreal to six Stanley Cups, then at 26 sat out a year to prepare for the bar exam. His book is different too: a well-crafted account of his career combined with a meditation on hockey’s special place in Canadian culture.""The best hockey book ever written."—Quill & Quire"If you haven’t seen hockey through Dryden’s eyes, you should."—The Toronto Sun"A [hockey] book so rare that there is actually nothing to compare it to."—Scott Young"A first-rate discussion of hockey by one of hockey’s first-rate players and first-rate minds....Essential reading for anyone serious about hockey as an important part of Canadian life."—Hamilton Spectator"_The Game_ is a beautifully written, insightful, perceptive, revealing look at hockey."—Toronto Star"A book about Ken Dryden, about Quebec, about the rest of Canada, and most of all, a loving book about a special sport."—New York Times"We always wondered what he was thinking about whenever the play stopped and he struck his characteristic pose resting his chin on his goal stick. Now we know. He was composing one of the best hockey books ever written....There is a ‘you are there’ quality to the prose as the author-goalie lets you see everything through his eyes, spicing his vivid descriptions with personal reflections and observations...._The Game_ succeeds both as an inside look at hockey and a portrait of an articulate athlete who knew when to quit."—Winnipeg Free Press"_The Game_ is a brilliant adventure into ourselves. It makes all other books about the sport look preliminary."—Calgary Herald"The best Canadian sports book in years."—Calgary Sun"An incredible memoir, a poetic journey through the life of Les Canadiens. It rises above being just a book about hockey. It’s a book about people, the fragile, delicate moments on the edge of fame and glory, failure and disillusionment. Dryden’s The Game is the complete hockey book."—Windsor Star"As Dryden reminisces, we are presented with a portrait, in broad and vivid strokes, of the players who comprised the best team in professional hockey....All the ingredients of a winner."—Victoria Times-Colonist"No one has ever delivered an account of our national sport as deep as this. On a scale of 1 to 10, give the guy his sweater number—29."—Regina Leader-PostProduct DescriptionWidely acknowledged as the best hockey book ever written and lauded by Sports Illustrated as one of the Top 10 Sports Books of All Time, The Game is a reflective and thought-provoking look at a life in hockey. Intelligent and insightful, former Montreal Canadiens goalie and former President of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ken Dryden captures the essence of the sport and what it means to all hockey fans. He gives us vivid and affectionate portraits of the characters — Guy Lafleur, Larry Robinson, Guy Lapointe, Serge Savard, and coach Scotty Bowman among them — that made the Canadiens of the 1970s one of the greatest hockey teams in history. But beyond that, Dryden reflects on life on the road, in the spotlight, and on the ice, offering up a rare inside look at the game of hockey and an incredible personal memoir. This commemorative edition marks the 20th anniversary of The Game's original publication. It includes black and white photography from the Hockey Hall of Fame and a new chapter from the author. Take a journey to the heart and soul of the game with this timeless hockey classic.