Today, we're looking at 99 Stories of the Game, by Wayne Gretzky, with Kirstie McLellan Day.

I'm sure I don't need to tell any of my readers who Gretzky is. He's one of the biggest names in hockey, even nearly 20 years after his retirement.

This book is laid out more or less chronologically as far as hockey history. Along the way, the authors make you feel like you are sitting in a comfortable setting with them, discussing hockey history in a conversational manner, rather than simply delivering the information. It makes for a much more enjoyable read.

Gretzky offers his point of view, based on his extensive hockey experience, both as a player, a coach and someone who's been creating hockey history for his entire career.

Topics such as expansion, the Olympics, the WHA and other significant issues over the course of the NHL's 100 years are touched on and mentioned. They don't spend a lot of time on any single issue, preferring to bring as much information as possible in six to ten pages per chapter. I feel that this makes the book work a lot better. The reader is left to decide if the topic is worth more research on their own time, while providing the causal reader with enough information to satisfy curiosity on the issue at hand.

It's a great read overall. Definitely worth the time to explore the entire history of the league in a single volume.

Links for the book:

Powell's City of Books, Portland, Oregon:
http://www.powells.com/book/99-stories-of-the-game-9780399575471/62-0


Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/99-Stories-Game-Wayne-Gretzky/dp/0399575472/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1495316965&sr=1-1&keywords=99+stories+of+the+game