Overview

"Bobby Clarke, Bernie Parent, and Dave Schultz may have been the heart and soul of the Philadelphia Flyers' iconic Broad Street Bullies teams on the way to two Stanley Cup victories-- but Joe ""Thundermouth"" Watson was the voice and conscience. From using frozen horse turds as pucks in his native Smithers, British Columbia, through his fourteen-year NHL playing career--including two All-Star selections--to suiting up regularly for the Flyers Alumni Team deep into his seventies, Watson may be the ultimate hockey lifer. With an unmistakable voice that boomed as loud as the hits he laid on opposing forwards, Watson was a fixture of 1970s hockey just as the league was becoming the NHL that we know today--growing from six teams when he joined in 1964 to twenty-one by the time he retired in 1979. Along the way, he roomed with Bobby Orr, became part of one of the first sibling tandems in NHL history, and scored the dramatic shorthanded goal against the powerhouse 1976 Red Army team that--as legendary coach Fred Shero joked--""set Russian hockey back twenty years."" In retirement, he couldn't leave the game alone-- cementing his status as a Philly legend by serving as a top advertising executive in the Flyers front office for more than four decades, creating and running a thriving alumni program, and eventually being inducted into the team's Hall of Fame. As much a love letter to the sport of ice hockey as it is a memoir of life on and off the ice, Thundermouth is an old-fashioned sporting autobiography and a riveting snapshot of a time--as Bernie Parent might say--when hockey was hockey."

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9781637559505

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Reviews

"""Besides being the ultimate warrior as a competitor and teammate, two words come to mind when describing Joe: authentic and unfiltered. His book is the same way, minus the legendary handshake. If you survive his grip, you will have just brushed up against a world-class human being."" --Bill Clement, two-time NHL All-Star, Hockey Hall of Fame broadcaster ""Joe and I have been buddies for almost sixty years. We were teammates for almost our entire careers in Boston and Philly. We've had so many great times together, on and off the ice. It's fun to relive some of them. We could do a whole book just on the stuff we got into together. I always appreciated his friendship, his leadership, and his enthusiasm. It's a beautiful thing! Also, he helped me a lot as a goalie. Joe always played the man, and nine times out of ten, I knew where the shot was going whether it was coming from a left-handed or right-handed shooter. He bailed me out many times over the years. Of course, I bailed him out even more. Just kidding, Joe!"" --Bernie Parent, Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender ""Joe is one of those unforgettable people. He was--and still is--an intense competitor on the ice and quite the off-ice storyteller. I'm sure you'll enjoy reading about his many decades in and around our great sport."" --Bobby Clarke, Hockey Hall of Fame center ""Joe was one of a kind. A great teammate, friend, and mentor for us young guys making a step into the NHL. He competed hard and was demanding in a LOUD way of us young guys. Our dressing room was never quiet if Joe was around! He had humor and a presence about him. I thank him to this day for helping me with my career. As Joe says in the book, a leader is someone who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way. He lives by those words."" --Bill Barber, Hockey Hall of Fame left wing ""When I was chasing my dream to be a Philadelphia Eagle in 1974, Joe Watson had his ultimate dream come true as a key part of the Stanley Cup champion Philadelphia Flyers. Thundermouth is a down-to-earth and unpretentious recollection of Joe's trek from the rural mill town of Smithers, British Columbia, to the tough streets of South Philly. Reading his book made me laugh and cry. Joe--along with his brother Jimmy--is still beloved by the tough Philly fans and community after all these years. After reading Thundermouth, you will be inspired to take the ultimate risk to make your wildest dream come true!"" --Vince Papale, former Philadelphia Eagle, co-author of The Last Laugh, and subject of the feature film Invincible"

Author Information

Joe Watson played in the NHL for fourteen seasons, winning two Stanley Cups in the 1970s with the Philadelphia Flyers as a key defenseman on their legendary Broad Street Bullies teams. As a player, he was a two-time All-Star selection and a member of the Flyers Hall of Fame. After his playing career, he served for decades as a top advertising executive with the team, closing more than $50 million in sales with major brands. In 1984, he established the Flyers Alumni Team, which has raised millions of dollars for charity and provided opportunities for former players to play exhibitions promoting hockey around the world.

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