Red Wings Essential: Everything You Need to Know to Be a Real Fan! [Hardcover]

Nicholas J. Cotsonika (Author)

Book Description

Series: Essential: Everything You Need to Know to be a Real Fan | Publication Date: September 1, 2006

The Detroit Red Wings have one of the most decorated histories in professional sports, having kept their fans on the edges of their seats for 80-plus years. Whether they were claiming Stanley Cups or rebuilding for their next big run, the Wings have always managed to keep things interesting and entertaining both on and off the ice. If you’re a die-hard fan trying to test your knowledge or a casual observer looking to infiltrate Hockeytown, USA, Red Wings Essential has everything you’ll ever want to know about this star-studded franchise.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"There are a lot of owners and organizations that would take money and profit and put it right in their pocket. Here, it seems to always be reinvested, put toward continuing the love affair between the team and the city." —Brendan Shanahan on the Red Wings ownership

"He’s the kind of guy, when he steps up the whole room just listens. He picks his spots. That’s why he’s such a great leader. A guy can say things, but he goes out and backs everything up." —Kris Draper on teammate Steve Yzerman

"To go out like this and to have the success he’s had is so wonderful, but then to have it end is so sad. I feel as fortunate as anybody alive to say that he was my coach." —Brett Hull on Coach Scotty Bowman

From the Inside Flap

From their first rise to prominence in the mid-1930s to the Gordie Howe era and two more Stanley Cups in the 1950s to the Steve Yzerman–led teams that won three Cups beginning in the late 1990s, the Detroit Red Wings have been one of hockey’s most successful and colorful franchises. Dubbed Hockeytown, USA, Detroit has been home to some of the sport’s most prolific stars and is home to the most passionate fans in the country. At the core of the Detroit Red Wings is a colorful blend of heroes, hated villains, unforgettable goats, lovable flakes, and flukes. The numbers help tell the story of the 80-year-old franchise—and Red Wings Essential is loaded with statistics and trivia—but the real magic of the franchise lies in the players, the characters, and the stories that represent every era of Red Wings hockey. Whether you are the most serious Wings fan in search of previously undiscovered informational nuggets or the more casual fan looking to upgrade your fan status, Red Wings Essential has what you need to call yourself a real fan. Through stories and anecdotes, trivia and stats, and much more, this handy reference will rekindle hockey memories from the early days of the franchise and provide hope, humor, and a little bit of heaven. The hope may come in the form of recounting Red Wings glory—past and present. The humor will be found in the countless locker-room stories that only a true Wings fan can appreciate. And any fan feels a little closer to heaven at the mere mention of certain names in team history, such as Jack Adams, Sid Abel, Howe, Yzerman, Brett Hull, and so many more. It’s all inside these pages—trivia, special top-10 lists, dozens of archival photos, and much more—along with the highs, the lows, and everything in between that helps tell the compelling story of Hockeytown’s beloved Red Wings.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Triumph Books (September 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 157243757X
• ISBN-13: 978-1572437579
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #914,351 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #40 in Books > Travel > United States > States > Michigan

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting book, November 22, 2006

By 

C. Hammond (Ann Arbor, MI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Red Wings Essential: Everything You Need to Know to Be a Real Fan! (Hardcover)

This book is basically a bunch of anecdotes and trivia spread throughout. I enjoyed it, but it's a quick read and isn't a deep book or anything like that. If you want to hear some stories and trivia that aren't so publicized about the team, this is the book for you.

4.0 out of 5 stars From the "Deadwings" (past) to "Hockeytown" (present & future), May 4, 2010

By 

John E. Deans "Film Hawk" (Lexington, KY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Red Wings Essential: Everything You Need to Know to Be a Real Fan! (Hardcover)

The book provides good historical perspective but dwells a little too much on the "present" (1997-now). The earlier historical perspectives tended to cruise by events, people & time which are in fact the roots of Hockeytown. There was a great column written by Mitch Albom about the grit & tenacity which defined Steve Yzerman as ".....forever the Captain." which should have been included in this or any true history of the redwings.

Overall, it was very good but just fell a little short of being excellent.

JED