Overview
In his hilarious, gritty, and touching debut, Bill Keenan-a hockey star once on the fast-track to the NHL-tells of how he overcame multiple obstacles to find fulfillment and redemption in the strange world of European minor-league professional hockey. Keenan's hockey obsession begins as a five-year-old on Lasker Rink in New York's Central Park-""love at first stride,"" as he calls it. He then becomes the youngest, and skinniest, player on the New York Bobcats, a Junior B hockey team. Later, after his hockey career at Harvard doesn't end as planned-with a fat NHL contract-Keenan decides to play in the minor leagues in Europe, where the glamour of professional sports is decidedly lacking. Part fish-out-of-water travelogue, part coming-of-age memoir, Odd Man Rush will capture the interest of not just hockey fans, but also fans of good writing. Throughout, Keenan's deep affection for the game shines through, even as he describes fans who steal players' clothes from the locker room or toss empty beer cans onto the rink after games. Abusive fans, cold showers, long bus rides-nothing diminishes his love for the sport. ""Because that's the way it works with me and hockey. Even when it's horrible, it's wonderful."" Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Sports Publishing imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in sports-books about baseball, pro football, college football, pro and college basketball, hockey, or soccer, we have a book about your sport or your team. Whether you are a New York Yankees fan or hail from Red Sox nation; whether you are a die-hard Green Bay Packers or Dallas Cowboys fan; whether you root for the Kentucky Wildcats, Louisville Cardinals, UCLA Bruins, or Kansas Jayhawks; whether you route for the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, or Los Angeles Kings; we have a book for you. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.
Full Product Details
Author: Bill Keenan ,
Adam Graves
Publisher: Sports Publishing LLC
Imprint: Sports Publishing LLC
Dimensions:
Width: 15.20cm
, Height: 2.80cm
, Length: 22.90cm
Weight: 0.499kg
ISBN: 9781613218174
ISBN 10: 1613218176
Pages: 304
Publication Date: 21 January 2016
Audience:
General/trade
,
General
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: Temporarily unavailable
The supplier advises that this item is temporarily unavailable. It will be ordered for you and placed on backorder. Once it does come back in stock, we will ship it out to you.
Reviews
An uproarious new memoir... --Vanity Fair Keenan puts a name, face, and voice to the majority the grinders who, despite their singular passion for the sport, do not advance to its highest level. . . . [He] understands the culture and captures it well. Boston Globe Ball Four meets hockey; slap shots abound.... A thoroughly entertaining, lighthearted romp... --The Buffalo News Keenan's life story proves a journeyman's journey makes for one great read. . . He was a minor-leaguer, but his storytelling is major league. --Sal Barry, The Hockey News Bill Keenan is not yet a household name for hockey fans, but that might soon change. --Puck Junk An uproarious new memoir... --Vanity Fair Keenan puts a name, face, and voice to the majority the grinders who, despite their singular passion for the sport, do not advance to its highest level. . . . [He] understands the culture and captures it well. Boston Globe Ball Four meets hockey; slap shots abound.... A thoroughly entertaining, lighthearted romp... --The Buffalo News Keenan's life story proves a journeyman's journey makes for one great read. . . He was a minor-leaguer, but his storytelling is major league. --Sal Barry, The Hockey News Bill Keenan is not yet a household name for hockey fans, but that might soon change. --Puck Junk
An uproarious new memoir... --Vanity Fair Keenan puts a name, face, and voice to the majority -- the grinders who, despite their singular passion for the sport, do not advance to its highest level... [He] understands the culture and captures it well. --Boston Globe Ball Four meets hockey; slap shots abound... A thoroughly entertaining, lighthearted romp... -- The Buffalo News Keenan's life story proves a journeyman's journey makes for one great read... He was a minor-leaguer, but his storytelling is major league. --Sal Barry, The Hockey News Bill Keenan is not yet a household name for hockey fans, but that might soon change. --Puck Junk
An uproarious new memoir... --Vanity Fair Ball Four meets hockey; slap shots abound... A thoroughly entertaining, lighthearted romp... -- The Buffalo News Keenan's life story proves a journeyman's journey makes for one great read... He was a minor-leaguer, but his storytelling is major league. --Sal Barry, The Hockey News
An uproarious new memoir... --Vanity Fair
Author Information
Bill Keenan played hockey at Harvard University from 2005 to 2008 and professionally in Europe from 2009-2012. He no longer plays the game but still has hockey hair. He is currently pursuing his MBA at Columbia Business School and lives in New York City.
