Overview

Distinguished sportswriter Elmer Ferguson called him the greatest defensive defenseman of his day. The NHL's revered chief referee Cooper Smeaton ranked him ahead of his defense partner, Eddie Shore. Legendary manager of the Boston Bruins, Art Ross, wouldn't sell him at any price. And yet he goes unrecognized by the Hockey Hall of Fame. Lionel Hitchman, or Hitch, played 12 seasons in the NHL. First with the Ottawa Senators, helping them to a Stanley Cup win, and then with the Boston Bruins for ten years. As the Bruins' captain and first money player, Hitch led them to their first Stanley Cup final and championship and to the NHL's best winning point percentage of all time. His hockey stats belie his real contribution to the success of the Boston Bruins. Hitch was the last original Bruin and the first to have his sweater retired. After his playing career, he went on to coach in the Boston system for several years before parting ways with the franchise. Hitch, Hockey's Unsung Hero, is the story of an unheralded superstar, the times he lived through and the fascinating people who helped shape his character and life choices. It is told through the scribes of the day with interjections by some notable people who knew him well. A few family tales are revealed, including one that helps explain Hitch's absence from hockey's highest shrine.

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9781999029722

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Reviews

. . . Pam Coburn's biography of her grandfather does more than tell the story of a hockey player, it tells the story of the man that Lionel Hitchman was. Perhaps it will even be enough to finally bring this prototypical defensive defenseman his long overdue place in the Hockey Hall of Fame. --Eric Zweig, author of Art Ross: The Legend Who Built the Bruins A great read about one of hockey's unsung heroes. Like Lorne Chabot and one or two other long ago champions, Hitch should be a hockey Hall of Famer. --Brian McFarlane, author of, The Bruins

Author Information

Hitch, Hockey's Unsung Hero, is Pam Coburn's first book, a biography about her grandfather, Lionel Hitchman, the first player to have his sweater retired by the Boston Bruins. To chronicle this untold story, she immersed herself in the world of hockey from a bygone era. In her younger days, Pam played some hockey, but as a figure skating coach, she spent more time helping hockey players improve their skating skills. She also played varsity basketball at the University of Ottawa. Transferring to LaSalle College in Philadelphia, Pam continued to coach skating while completing a business degree. After returning to Canada, she took on progressively complex management positions and spent nearly ten years at Skate Canada as Executive Director and CEO. Pam currently owns a firm specializing in digital communications. With her first book finished, Pam hopes to bring other meaningful stories forward. Visit Pam's author website at https: //www.pamcoburn.com

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