Whose Puck Is It, Anyway?: A Season with a Minor Novice Hockey Team [Hardcover]

Ed Arnold (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 27, 2002

Every winter, in hockey arenas across North America, as soon as the kids step onto the ice, the abuse begins. Coaches yell at the players, parents yell at the coaches, and everyone yells at the referees. After nearly a decade of coaching youngsters, Ed Arnold decided he wanted kids to learn the fundamentals of hockey but he also wanted them to have fun. He got support in this enterprise from two former NHL players, goalie Greg Millen and forward Steve Larmer. Concerned that the children’s game was being taken far too seriously by both parents and coaches, they also believed that the kids were losing the opportunity to reinvent the game for themselves.

So it came about that in the winter of 2000, when the parents of the would-be Minor Novice Peterborough Petes showed up with their kids for tryouts, they were handed a letter outlining the coaches’ new philosophy. There would be no yelling at players, coaches, or referees. Players would play all positions. They would not be forced to follow a “systems” approach to hockey, but would be left to figure out what to do in a given situation for themselves. And all members of the team would be given equal ice time.

Not every parent liked it, but the kids sure had a good time. Readers of this inspiring book will have a wonderful time, too, as they follow the adventures of the team. Coach Larmer wears a Stanley Cup ring but he meant exactly what he said when he told a reporter that his year with the kids was the most fun he ever had in hockey.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Every winter, in hockey arenas across North America, as soon as the kids step onto the ice, the abuse begins. Coaches yell at the players, parents yell at the coaches, and everyone yells at the referees. After nearly a decade of coaching youngsters, Ed Arnold decided he wanted kids to learn the fundamentals of hockey but he also wanted them to have fun. He got support in this enterprise from two former NHL players, goalie Greg Millen and forward Steve Larmer. Concerned that the children?s game was being taken far too seriously by both parents and coaches, they also believed that the kids were losing the opportunity to reinvent the game for themselves.

So it came about that in the winter of 2000, when the parents of the would-be Minor Novice Peterborough Petes showed up with their kids for tryouts, they were handed a letter outlining the coaches? new philosophy. There would be no yelling at players, coaches, or referees. Players would play all positions. They would not be forced to follow a ?systems? approach to hockey, but would be left to figure out what to do in a given situation for themselves. And all members of the team would be given equal ice time.

Not every parent liked it, but the kids sure had a good time. Readers of this inspiring book will have a wonderful time, too, as they follow the adventures of the team. Coach Larmer wears a Stanley Cup ring but he meant exactly what he said when he told a reporter that his year with the kids was the most fun he ever had in hockey.

About the Author

Ed Arnold is the managing editor of The Peterborough Examiner. A winner of several Canadian Press awards, Arnold is the author of Whose Puck Is It, Anyway? and other books looking at the history of his city and area.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 264 pages
• Publisher: McClelland & Stewart (August 27, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0771007809
• ISBN-13: 978-0771007804
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,551,719 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars inspiring, but thin, October 9, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Whose Puck Is It, Anyway?: A Season with a Minor Novice Hockey Team (Hardcover)

I picked up this book to learn a little more about hockey, and about Canada's hockey culture. I can't say I learned much about hockey itself...I'd agree with the reviewer who said he wished Arnold had said more about what they *did* do. But I did learn a lot about the intensity of being committed to kids and their sport. The coaches' philosophy of hockey is commendable. Perhaps their hugely successful season (not only, or even primarily, in terms of wins) will inspire other coaches to try emphasizing skills, growth, and fun.

I enjoyed reading this book, and of course fell in love with the kids. However, I gave it three stars because I felt it was very poorly written. This was a real surprise since the author is a professional journalist of considerable experience. The writing was choppy, and many ideas were only mentioned rather than developed. I realize this was meant to be a coach's journal, but surely Arnold (or his editor) could have done more to adapt his telegraphic, daybook style into a better narrative.

That said, I've already recommended this book to someone else. And I'd buy it again.

My recommendation: read it to absorb the atmosphere of Canadians loving and living their national sport, but expect to wade through some awkward prose along the way.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun and entertaining, October 2, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Whose Puck Is It, Anyway?: A Season with a Minor Novice Hockey Team (Hardcover)

Wonderful if you've ever coached youth sports, or had a kid in youth sports, or played hockey. There are no X's and O's in here, just an expanded "journal" of the season with some philosophy thrown in. Lots of fun anecdotes about the kids and the coaches, some about the parents, and road trips in the Canadian Winter (brrr). I picked it up on a whim, blew thru it in a day or two.

This book might have been more useful for the prospective coach if showed exactly what they DID do in practice. Arnold discusses what they DIDN'T do - "positional hockey" and systems - but does not go into what they did. It would have been nice to know what skating and stick-handling drills etc the coaches decided did mesh with their "equal ice time, learn and have fun" approach; especially with Steve Larmer and Greg Millen having input into how the team spent practice time. That way a coach might be better equipped to follow in their footsteps.

Still a very fun read. And - highest compliment - if I had a kid in sports, I wouldn't hesitate to let him or her be coached by Arnold.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great writing, great coaching, adorable kids., July 14, 2008

By 

gordieorr (Moscow, Idaho USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Whose Puck Is It, Anyway?: A Season with a Minor Novice Hockey Team (Paperback)

I love hockey books and this one is tops. Don't believe the three star review, Ed Arnold is just the right voice to describe these kids and why he and his co-coaches wanted a chance to teach kids that there are always options to choose from and to encourage them to play with open eyes and respect--never afraid to create.

The characters are fascinating, funny, and the author is very engaging and likable. It's a great hockey story. It's one of those that i was so happy to get back to when i got the chance. A real pleasure read.

There's really no way to rate anything higher than this book. It deserves 17 stars. Thank you Ed Arnold and the community of Peterborough. The Minor Pete's rock.