What It Means to Be a Red Wing: Detroit's Greatest Players Talk about Detroit Hockey [Hardcover]

Kevin Allen (Author), Art Regner (Author), Steve Yzerman (Foreword)

Book Description

Series: What It Means to Be | Publication Date: September 1, 2006

There are few things in sports as meaningful as lacing up one's skates to take the ice for the Detroit Red Wings, the NHL's proudest franchise. Only a chosen few can understand its impact, and they share their experiences in this compilation of personal stories and reminiscences. Detroit hockey fans, for the first time ever, can now fully grasp What It Means to Be a Red Wing.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"As you read these Red Wings players' stories, you'll find that regardless of their era, or their success or failure on the ice, we all share the common bond of not only a love and passion for hockey, but the commitment to uphold the tradition of a team--our team--the Detroit Red Wings."
--From the Foreword by Steve Yzerman

"When I was traded to Chicago, my heart was still with the Red Wings. That's why I retired in 1960 [at 34]. I was still a Red Wing. I had it tattooed on my chest, and on my forehead, and on my backside. That's why I quit. I didn't quit because I believed I was finished. I quit because I was just existing. I wasn't living."
--Ted Lindsay

From the Inside Flap

The Detroit Red Wings first reached prominence in the mid-1930s, winning two straight Stanley Cups to establish themselves as the elite NHL franchise of that era. Then, behind the talents of players such as Marcel Pronovost, Vic Stasiuk, Glenn Hall, and the legendary Gordie Howe, the Wings reigned again in the 1950s and captured two more Stanley Cups. Steve Yzerman, Brendan Shanahan, and Scotty Bowman lifted the Red Wings back to glory in the late 1990s, adding three more Cups to the collection and ushering in a new era of greatness that is alive and well today. The Red Wings' history is as rich as that of any other franchise in the National Hockey League, and it is through the hard work, sweat, and determination of these players and coaches and scores of others that Detroit has become known as Hockeytown, USA.

What It Means to Be a Red Wing celebrates that history and the personalities who helped create it. For the first time, Red Wings fans get an inside look at the significance and impact that taking the ice and defending the greatest tradition in professional hockey has had on their heroes. These first-person accounts from dozens of Detroit hockey legends describe their experiences on and off the ice and give readers a true sense of what those experiences have meant to them.

Players such as Ted Lindsay and Marty Pavelich reminisce about their careers, which began back in the 1940s, as do 1950s stars Johnny Wilson, Benny Woit, and others. Bill Gadsby and Pete Mahovlich were among the franchise's most famous faces during the 1960s, and their stories will help fans recall that era, while the next two decades are captured in the memories of icons such as Red Berenson, Paul Woods, Eddie Mio, Jacques Demers, and Tim Cheveldae.

The most recent success has come at the hands of players like Chris Chelios, Kris Draper, and Luc Robataille. And Bowman's riveting reflections of his tenure behind the bench will give readers insight into one of the greatest coaching minds of his time.

Most Detroit hockey fans will not get to experience the thrill of skating up the ice during the Stanley Cup finals, but after reading this compilation they will surely have a deeper understanding and appreciation of what it means to be a Red Wing.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Triumph Books (September 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1572438851
• ISBN-13: 978-1572438859
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 8.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #345,479 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #16 in Books > Travel > United States > States > Michigan

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This one is keeping me very happy in bed., November 22, 2006

By 

S. Co (Livonia, MI) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: What It Means to Be a Red Wing: Detroit's Greatest Players Talk about Detroit Hockey (Hardcover)

What a great read! As the youngest daughter growing up in Detroit, I grew up in a family that loved professional hockey and college football . . . I watched from the fringes. Hockey did intrigue me, but I never really got hooked into the sport. As I went through the bookstore recently I spotted this book on the Redwings. I saw that it was individual stories and I thought that might be a great way to get a taste for what I may have missed, since my family goes on and on about the Wings. So glad I made the purchase. What a wonderful read. A few stories each night before bed, what a great way to retire. Each one is insightful and I was really drawn in. Guess what, I think I'm hooked . . . I will now be attending some live games. Go wings!!!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I loved it but..., May 22, 2007

By 

T. Lester (Charleston, SC) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: What It Means to Be a Red Wing: Detroit's Greatest Players Talk about Detroit Hockey (Hardcover)

I mulled over this book for a long time thinking it was some fanboy "history" lesson, but I broke down and bought it anyway. I was so thrilled after I started reading it to see that it was all from the players' words! I loved reading about the guys from the 40s all the way to now. It is a inspirational book and it makes me proud to be a fan even though I was not born into hockey. No I was not a recent convert or riding their tails when they won, I started with the in the 80's (yes when they were not at their all time best). Anyway, the only thing about the book I was disappointed with is it did not have Gordie Howe's words (even though he wrote his own book, he could have something in it), Larionov, Federov, Vernon, and many others who did not contribute. Of course, it could have been the authors choice to not include them so I hope there will be a volume two!!! Still, this is a fabulous book to have if you really are a fan of the Red Wings and a fan of hockey.

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific read, November 13, 2009

By 

Joyce A. Hiegel "50's girl" (Detroit suburb) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: What It Means to Be a Red Wing: Detroit's Greatest Players Talk about Detroit Hockey (Hardcover)

Bought these books for my dad and father-in-law who are 90 and 88. They lived thru many years of Red Wing memories. They enjoyed the books very much and I know we will hear many many stories as a result of their reading. Thank you.