Tropic of Hockey: My Search for the Game in Unlikely Places [Paperback]

Dave Bidini (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2004

From Toronto to China, Dubai to Transylvania and back, a hilarious, moving account of one man's quest for "pure hockey."

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Canadian writer and rock musician Bidini (On a Cold Road) shares his rediscovery of hockey and the global odyssey that brought him back to his nation's sport. Bidini's narrative is funny and thoughtful as he comes to grips with national identity, which in Canada almost invariably means hockey. The book's central theme is that of a dispossessed fan, one who grew out of the sport as he embraced rock and roll, only to rediscover the joy and beauty of hockey as an adult. An avid recreational player, Bidini tells a funny story about his search for the real game. Bored nearly to death by the clutch-and-grab NHL of the late 1990s, he spends an evening watching Martha Stewart instead of his once-beloved playoffs. "I had no choice but to leave," he quips. And leave he does, searching the earth for hockey in its purest form. From Hong Kong to Manchuria, from Transylvania to the United Arab Emirates, the author discovers players and personalities the casual NHL fan would never imagine. Like all good travelogues, Bidini's carries a healthy dose of soul searching; a great storyteller, he's at his best when he stumbles upon revelations about himself or hockey. Perhaps the book's greatest strength is that it is among the first hockey books written by someone entirely outside the pro game. Free from the behavioral constraints and clannish codes of the locker room, Bidini tells a story about hockey that neither Wayne Gretzky nor the author's beloved Wendel Clark could mimic. Canadians have enjoyed this book for almost two years; it's time American readers got a chance to read this gem. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

The goal of Canadian hockey enthusiast, writer, and musician Bidini was to see whether the true game existed outside of North America. Technically, the game is played consistently around the globe; the real question was the cultural imperatives players brought to the game. Bidini's travelog is thus a humorous cultural expos‚ of people and how they play the game. The adventure included stops in China, Singapore, the Philippines, a rink on the eighth floor of a mall in Hong Kong, the desert city of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, and Transylvania (in Romania), where hockey remains a war between rival ethnic groups. The result is a delightful read that both armchair travelers and aficionados will enjoy. Recommended for public libraries and all sports collections. Larry R. Little, Penticton P.L., B.C.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 312 pages
• Publisher: Lyons Press (September 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592285171
• ISBN-13: 978-1592285174
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,615,177 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a great read, July 20, 2002

By 

firefighter "raisedbywolves" (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tropic of Hockey: My Search for the Game in Unlikely Places (Hardcover)

Anyone who can't resist the chance to spend their free time packing a giant bag of stinking equipment and heading to a hockey rink at hours other people reserve for sleeping or partying can understand.
Dave Bidini finds the same love for hockey in China, Dubai, and Romania, from the beginners to the town favorites. I play hockey in Yokohama, and having travelled with the navy I've found myself hunting rinks in places like Hong Kong, Singapore, Bahrain, and Dubai. His descriptions of the ex-pats, the passionate beginners and intermediate players, the social interactions, and the contrasts and similarities and ups and downs is right on. Not only that, it's a funny, honest book.

Highly recommended for anyone who has forgotten the pure joy of learning the game, not to mention the value of basic facilities, equipment, and opportunity many take for granted.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars There's hockey where?, September 7, 2003

By 

Jeffrey R. Leinbach (Allentown, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tropic of Hockey : My Search for the Game in Unlikely Places (Paperback)

This book ranks with Ken Dryden's books, The Game and Home Game, and Jack Falla's Home Ice as being among the best hockey books I've read, and I've read a ton. Tropic of Hockey is equal parts travel journal (with visits to China, the United Arab Emirates, and Romania), hockey manifesto (weighing in on topics as diverse as the Hungarian invention of the blocker and Wendel Clark), and bawdy anecdote collection (particular highlights are Chinese bathrooms and hockey equipment adjustment). Dave Bidini manages to do all expertly and interchangeably, creating a book that's difficult to put down. The cover of my edition has a quote from Roy MacGregor, a dean of Canadian hockey writing, that calls Bidini, "The Bill Bryson of hockey writing," which is not only a good comparison, but a deserved compliment. Highly recommended for both hockey fans and people who enjoy entertaining non-fiction.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars life's like a bag of hockey equipment..., August 20, 2002

By 

Wayne Murphy (Toronto) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tropic of Hockey: My Search for the Game in Unlikely Places (Hardcover)

I was like Dave that got bored of hockey, his book was interesting and entertaining.
His writing style is probably not for all, but I enjoy it.
This is a man that truly admires the game, and although his hockey skills are not the top of the class, he certainly knows how to have people understand what he is looking for on his travels and the joys he gets from meeting people that also love the great game on ice.