Review: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly: Philadelphia Flyers

By ecnewman
Posted on 03/01/2013 at 3:00 pm

I finally finished it. If you’re the type to keep track, I believe I started this sucker sometime this past August. Then we had that event that must not be named and the book got put to the side as I took a break from Flyers Faithful because for me, no Flyers to watch was a major block on my writing inspiration. But when I boarded the plane to go to Philadelphia on Valentine’s Day, I grabbed my Kindle and pulled it up because I was determined to finish it. So, here we go: The Good, The Bad, & The …

Book Review: Jakki Clarke’s “Flyer Lives”

By Kim Pollock
Posted on 01/24/2013 at 1:00 pm

“As a player takes a trip down memory lane, so does the reader.” That is how author Jakki Clarke describes her new book, Flyer Lives, featuring stories drawn from interviews with various Flyers alumni and current players. Whether you’ve been a Flyers fan from the beginning or have just recently joined the fandom, you’ll love this collection of personal tales from some of your favorite Philadelphia athletes. The idea for Flyer Lives came to be as Philadelphia prepared for the 2012 Winter Classic. Clarke wanted to speak to several players about what it meant to them to be playing in …

Reviewing the Good

By ecnewman
Posted on 08/31/2012 at 12:00 pm

At the moment, I’m making my way through The Good, the Bad & the Ugly Philadelphia Flyers: Heart-pounding, Jaw-dropping, and Gut-wrenching Moments from Philadelphia Flyers History by NHL.com correspondent and former Philly-area beat writer Adam Kimelman. Right now, it’s all good. Stanley Cups, Broad Street Bullies, the Spectrum. The book reads more like a story than others I’ve read which makes it (to me) easier to digest. I do wish there were pictures of each of the players they mention because well, there’s a lot of names. But the beginnings of the Philadelphia Flyers has a lot of charm and obstacles …

Restless

By ecnewman
Posted on 08/17/2012 at 12:00 pm

Waiting for hockey season is becoming intolerable. I was fine for the first couple months, really. Time to take a break from all the outpouring of emotions every game, including the half-excitement, half-bitterness that came with watching Los Angeles hoist the cup. August seems to be when I get itchy for hockey. I think it has to do with the school year starting, so it feels like everything should be beginning. Bought new set of pencils? Check. Bought tickets for Flyers game? Check. Of course this time, it’s even more intolerable because I’m holding off on getting tickets (Flyers are …

School is in session

By ecnewman
Posted on 08/10/2012 at 12:00 pm

Not yet for this almost second-year teacher, actually. My in-service days start next week, so the time is all about preparing for the new school year. In getting ready for classes, I’ve also been thinking about Flyers Faithful and other books I’d like to read and review for you. So, I’m offering you a chance to choose. Below is a list of books that I’ve been thinking about purchasing. Tell me which one you’d prefer I start with. You can comment on this post or email me at ecnewman@flyersfaithful.com. The Good, the Bad & the Ugly Philadelphia Flyers: Heart-pounding, Jaw-dropping, …

Shameless Self-Promotion

By ecnewman
Posted on 07/06/2012 at 12:00 pm

But I did ask permission from the Powers That Be here on Flyers Faithful. I’m published today. It’s one of the craziest things I’ll ever get to say and perhaps the most exciting. It’s a bit like giving birth, though all the labor is mental and emotional (only occasionally physical). I’ve been writing somewhat seriously since January 2000 when I was stuck in a college class that I had to take but didn’t find interesting. I wrote several stories and about twenty poems in a month. I figured that was a sign of some kind. My book, Phase, is not …

Review: Ice Hockey Made Simple: A Spectator’s Guide

By ecnewman
Posted on 06/15/2012 at 12:00 pm

First written in 1993, Ice Hockey Made Simple: A Spectator’s Guide by PJ Harari and Dave Ominsky, has been reprinted and updated numerous times. Although not quite as current as one would expect. As I started reading, I put complete trust that everything would be up to date. Why wouldn’t it be? I’ve been watching hockey since 2010 and the basic set-up of hockey hasn’t changed since then. The only thing I can think of that has evolved has been the discipline on head hits (but that’s another rant and a half). So, when I read within the first ten pages …

New Book Time

By ecnewman
Posted on 02/10/2012 at 12:00 pm

With the magic of my Kindle Fire, I have gotten my next book to review. Due to my lack of hockey history, I’ve decided that it’s time to educate myself. Should I start with general hockey history or narrow it down? Enter 100 Things Flyers Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die by Adam Kimelman. Yes! Right? I have to defend myself constantly as a Flyers fan up here in Northern Illinois, I ought to know my stuff. The book came out in 2010, so that might mean it’s dated, but we’ll see if that hinders it at all. …

Drumroll

By ecnewman
Posted on 01/27/2012 at 12:00 pm

I finished it! Finally! (from google images) I just closed The Final Call: Hockey Stories from a Legend in Stripes by Kerry Fraser just minutes ago and I feel so accomplished. My brain is still teeming with a surplus of names and teams and dates, but I’m glad I read it. I think I could probably answer a few more hockey trivia questions than before. Just a few. My critiques of early posts still hold. The timeline jumps all over the place and that’s annoying. So many names dropped that it was like the first time I read Lord …

Friday the 13th (that bodes well)

By ecnewman
Posted on 01/13/2012 at 12:00 pm

Today (Thursday night, really) is my birthday. I share it with Claude Giroux and we won’t talk about the years in between I and the All-Star superstar ginger. It’s the first big snow here in Illinois and I’m driving down to Nashville tomorrow (Friday the 13th, oh dear) to see the Preds and Flyers play in Music City. A very full couple of days. I have been racking my brain on why I, an English teacher, English nerd and voracious reader, am having a heck of a time finishing The Final Call by Kerry Fraser. It is not an exceptionally long …

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