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Table of Contents
About The Book
The most comprehensive look at championship hockey culture: Why some teams always win, why some teams perennially lose, why some surefire stars never become superstars, and what execs see in unheralded players who grow into fan favorites.
Team builders make the biggest decisions in hockey, and indeed in all of sports. They set the culture. They are the ones ultimately responsible for whether a Stanley Cup is raised at the end of the season. In the NHL, it all starts at the top.
In this book, journalist Craig Custance takes readers behind the scenes of championship hockey culture where the most impactful (and most secretive) leaders in the NHL operate. For over three years, he has journeyed everywhere to get exclusive time with the most powerful people in hockey: an owner’s suite, a private championship ring ceremony, a Pennsylvania country club, a Florida pickleball court, and a bookstore in a northern Michigan resort town, among other locations. In total, the owners, presidents, general managers, and executives featured in this book have won twelve Stanley Cups, an Olympic gold medal and, in one case, led a boycott that changed the sport forever.
For hockey fans, there are stories behind memorable trades, the biggest free agent signings and insights into how some of the most successful teams of the last two decades were built. There are never-been-told details about trade demands, a prominent hire that was regretted immediately, and the story of how one general manager risked his life to sign a player he thought could alter his franchise.
For those interested in the secrets of sports management, this book details the hiring process, the path to the highest levels of success in hockey, the values in risk-taking, and the character traits most consistent in eventual champions.
Team builders make the biggest decisions in hockey, and indeed in all of sports. They set the culture. They are the ones ultimately responsible for whether a Stanley Cup is raised at the end of the season. In the NHL, it all starts at the top.
In this book, journalist Craig Custance takes readers behind the scenes of championship hockey culture where the most impactful (and most secretive) leaders in the NHL operate. For over three years, he has journeyed everywhere to get exclusive time with the most powerful people in hockey: an owner’s suite, a private championship ring ceremony, a Pennsylvania country club, a Florida pickleball court, and a bookstore in a northern Michigan resort town, among other locations. In total, the owners, presidents, general managers, and executives featured in this book have won twelve Stanley Cups, an Olympic gold medal and, in one case, led a boycott that changed the sport forever.
For hockey fans, there are stories behind memorable trades, the biggest free agent signings and insights into how some of the most successful teams of the last two decades were built. There are never-been-told details about trade demands, a prominent hire that was regretted immediately, and the story of how one general manager risked his life to sign a player he thought could alter his franchise.
For those interested in the secrets of sports management, this book details the hiring process, the path to the highest levels of success in hockey, the values in risk-taking, and the character traits most consistent in eventual champions.
About The Author
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For over a decade, Craig Custance has been a national hockey writer at ESPN and The Athletic, developing a reputation as a trusted source for thoughtful and comprehensive coverage of the NHL. He’s the author of the book Behind the Bench: Inside the Minds of Hockey’s Greatest Coaches, named as one of the greatest hockey books of all time by Book Authority, and was the longtime host of the in-depth interview podcast The Full 60. He’s currently the Head of Creative Development at The Athletic, a New York Times company. He lives in Michigan.
Product Details
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster (October 15, 2024)
- Length: 320 pages
- ISBN13: 9781668035443
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Raves and Reviews
“Should a hockey fan buy this book? Yes. Undoubtedly.”
— Raw Charge
“To no one’s surprise, Custance goes out of his way to interview and talk with various friends, former players and peers of each coach, in an effort to give a holistic view of who they are, not just as head coaches but as people.”
— Stanley Cup of Chowder
“The idea of sitting down with all these respected coaches and watching great games together is an unbelievable concept. The execution from Craig Custance is top notch. Hockey fans will love this book but if you're coaching sports at any level, it should be required reading.”
— Mike Valley, NHL goalie coach
“NHL coaches know so much and usually say so little, but Craig Custance cracks them open and finds all kinds of insight, humor and honesty through the biggest moments of their careers. You get to relive the games, and see them through fresh eyes. I love this book.”
— Bruce Arthur, Toronto Star
“Craig Custance is a modern journalist with an old-school storytelling style. What he gives you on every page is insightful perspective and entertaining prose.”
— Kevin Allen, USA Today
“These are the great games that I remember watching and covering. You're always thinking, 'Why did the coach do that? What was he looking for there?' Now we know the answers.”
— Elliotte Friedman, Sportsnet
“It takes a unique person to get access to the brightest minds in hockey; it takes someone special to get them to open up; and it takes an extraordinary individual to bring all of that together in what will be this season's must-read hockey book. Craig Custance is that guy.”
— Bob McKenzie, author of Everyday Hockey Hero's Vol. 1
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): The Franchise Hardcover 9781668035443
- Author Photo (jpg): Craig Custance na(0.1 MB)
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