Blades of Glory: The True Story of a Young Team Bred to Win [Paperback]

John Rosengren (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2004

"By high school, the pressure mounted along with the stakes.
The Jaguars knew they were expected to beat the lower-ranked teams.
When you're No. 1, that means everybody..."

Under the watchful eye of pro scouts and the weight of massive expectations, seventeen young men rank No. 1 in the country. In the tradition of Buzz Bissinger's classic Friday Night Lights, Blades of Glory follows these talented athletes, their coaches, their parents and their fans, offering a captivating glimpse into an elite program and the triumphs and tragedies of real life.

***

"The fervor with which Minnesotans celebrate hockey raises issues about sport and society that transcend Minnesota and reach into communities across the country, wherever kids play and parents cheer them to victory."
-from the Introduction

For a championship team like the Bloomington Jefferson Jaguars, hockey is religion and failing to win is a sin. This is a place where kids dream of playing for the state championship from the time they can pick up a stick, and parents plan their entire social calendar around the season.

John Rosengren was given unlimited, season-long access to every harsh reality and euphoric high these teammates experienced during one full season at the top. Amid the turmoil, politics and pain, Blades of Glory draws into sharp focus the challenges of divorce, teen suicide and performance-enhancing drugs to examine what it ultimately means to win.

Though Blades of Glory follows one hockey team, this story could be set in any gym, rink or field where students train and compete, coaches holler and parents scream from the stands. This is a story of high drama and emotion; intense and poignant, it is what happens to boys with championship dreams...

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Minneapolis sportswriter Rosengren, a lifelong hockey devotee whose "mother sewed breezers for [his] G.I. Joes" but who never played varsity, aims "to tell the story of hockey in Minnesota" by chronicling "a team that would animate the state's hockey culture"--the Jefferson High School Jaguars of Bloomington, coached by "the winningest hockey coach in the state," Tom Saterdalen. Granted unlimited access to the team in its 2000-01 season, Rosengren attended "every team meeting, practice, and game" and became intimately involved with the team, its members' parents, and its fans. Despite some disturbing incidents, such as discovering that some players were taking banned performance-enhancing substances, Rosengren found that the Jaguars' "quest revealed the beauty and goodness of the game" even as it "exposed issues troubling to youth sports." Kind of a Season on the Brink for hockey, Rosengren's portrait of this highly rated team of teenagers--first ranked nationally among high-school hockey teams--its travails, and its accomplishments is not to be missed. Mike Tribby
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

About the Author

John Rosengren grew up in Minnesota playing hockey. He still plays the game and freelances on the side. The award-winning writer's work has appeared in more than 75 publications, ranging from Reader's Digest to Sports Illustrated. He lives in Minneapolis with his wife and their two children.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks (November 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402200471
• ISBN-13: 978-1402200472
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #700,330 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

John Rosengren is an award-winning author of six books. A freelance writer since 1981, he has written articles for more than 100 publications ranging from Reader's Digest to Sports Illustrated. He's a member of the American Society of Journalists & Authors and the Society for American Baseball Research. He teaches in the University of Minnesota's journalism school and at the Loft Literary Center. He earned his master's degree in creative writing at Boston University, where he studied with Saul Bellow and Derek Walcott. He lives in Minneapolis with his wife and their two children.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping expose of a high school sports dynasty, December 7, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Blades of Glory (Hardcover)

At face value, this book is an account of a season at a perennial high school hockey state champion. But at its core, the book describes the hard work, pressure, sacrifice, glory, and heartbreak that America's youth are subject to when they compete to be the very best at their chosen activity.

Once I started the book, I had a hard time setting it down. I am a sports fan with a passion for hockey, but while reading the book I found myself looking through the eyes of a parent with a talented child. What would I be willing to do help them become a champion? What beliefs and values would I sacrificed for my child's victory?

The author is a great storyteller, who holds nothing back in his account of what these boys encounter as they seek a championship.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Story of a Hockey Powerhouse!, February 22, 2004

By 

Steeze77 (Rosemount, MN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blades of Glory (Hardcover)

For the hockey enthusiast or the novice reader, this book has it all. From the historical references of Minnesota High School hockey's past to the dynasty and powerhouse that was the Bloomington Jefferson Jaguars, Rosengren recounts Tom Saterdalen's storied program perfectly. As a Jefferson grad in the mid-90's, I can honestly say I was hooked on this book from the get-go. Hockey was THE sport to be in at our school. I witnessed first-hand what was written about in this book, and it brought back some great memories. My hockey-playing friends and classmates went through a ton of pressure to make the program what it was. But you need not have been a Jaguar to appreciate such a legend as "Sats" and the awesome domination during his thirty-eight-year career behind the bench. He expected a lot out of his players, sometimes too much, but got results that yielded him immortality in the high school hockey coaching ranks. This book also goes in-depth into the lives of these high school hockey players: on the ice, in the classroom, and in their private lives. It explores substance abuse, suicide, peer pressure and other facets of teenage life on and off the playing field. It is truly an inspirational and well-written story, even if you've never heard of the Jefferson Jaguars.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very enjoyable read from a number of perspectives, February 21, 2008

By 

Bobby Butler "Bobby B" (Midwest) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blades of Glory: The True Story of a Young Team Bred to Win (Paperback)

As a sports fan I found Blades of Glory to be a great story of a team's journey toward fullfillment of a life long dream. Rosengren does an outstanding job of highliting the ups and downs of high school athletics and the culture of youth/hs hockey. Additionally, the historical aspects of the book made me more appreciative of past programs and the role the sport plays in the hearts and minds of Minnesota residents.

However, as a high school coach, what I found even more valuable were the qualities and characteristics needed to build and maintain a successful program. Rosengren's brings to life a number of ethical questions that coaches face concerning winning, loyalty, and relationships making this a must read for anyone interested in coaching.