5 Great Hockey Books for the 2025 NHL Playoffs (Canada Edition)
🏒 Books You Need to Read If You Love the 2025 NHL Playoffs
The 2025 NHL Playoffs are in full swing, and if you’re a fan of the Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadiens, Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs, or Ottawa Senators, you're probably already planning your evenings around puck drop. It’s the best time of the year for hockey fans—and for Canadian teams, the dream of bringing the Stanley Cup home feels closer than it has in years.
Unfortunately for us here in Calgary, despite a valiant effort, our boys came up just short—by one point. Painful, yes. But that’s hockey.
Even though our team’s out, me and Jennifer are still watching every game. Will the Edmonton Oilers recapture the magic of last season? Could the Montreal Canadiens repeat their Cinderella run from a few years ago? Is this finally the year the Maple Leafs shake the doubters and make a serious playoff push? The Winnipeg Jets had a banner season—maybe it’s time for a full-blown Canadian Whiteout.
That’s the beautiful thing about the Stanley Cup Playoffs (and sports in general): once the ref drops the puck, the players write the endings. And often, reality is more unpredictable—and more inspiring—than fiction.
Speaking of fiction (after all, this is a bookstore, not a hockey magazine), we put together a list of five amazing hockey books that capture the energy, drama, and pride of playoff hockey(or sports in general)..
Whether you're killing time between games or looking for a good read for a fellow fan, here are…
Top 5 Hockey Books for 2025 Playoff Fans
📕 Don Cherry’s Hockey Stories and Stuff by Don Cherry & Al Strachan
Love him or hate him, Don Cherry is one of the most recognizable voices in Canadian hockey. With a coaching career that saw him win Coach of the Year honours in both the NHL and AHL, and decades behind the desk on Coach’s Corner, “Grapes” has never been shy about sharing his thoughts—often entertaining, sometimes controversial, but always memorable.
In this book, written with sports journalist Al Strachan, Don Cherry shares his all-time favourite stories from his career in hockey. And if you know Cherry, you know he’s got a few. From behind-the-bench moments to locker room legends, this one’s packed with the kind of tales that only he can tell.
Perfect for: Fans of classic Coach’s Corner, lovers of hockey folklore, or anyone who enjoys a good old-fashioned opinion.
🃏 Hockey Card Stories by Ken Reid
If you grew up flipping through stacks of hockey cards, this one’s for you. In Hockey Card Stories, Sportsnet’s Ken Reid reconnects with the players behind those iconic (and sometimes ridiculous) old cards to uncover the stories you never knew were there.
From superstars like Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito to guys who only played a single NHL game, every card comes with a tale—some funny, some unexpected, all full of hockey charm. You’ll find airbrushed disasters, unforgettable haircuts, legendary goalie masks, and even the occasional fashion faux pas from the '70s and '80s.
Perfect for: Hockey fans who love nostalgia, collectors, or anyone who’s ever asked, “What was going on in that photo?”
🏒 The Rink: Stories from Hockey's Home Towns by Chris Cuthbert & Scott Russell
Hockey isn't just a sport in Canada—it’s part of who we are. In The Rink, broadcasters Chris Cuthbert and Scott Russell take readers on a journey through the heart of the game, from frozen ponds in small towns to iconic arenas across the country.
With touching stories and beautiful photography, this book captures the soul of Canadian hockey—the local rinks where communities gather, dreams are born, and lifelong friendships are forged. Whether it’s kids chasing pucks under the northern lights or neighbours packed into a barn for a Saturday night game, The Rink is a love letter to the places where hockey truly lives.
Perfect for: Anyone who’s ever laced up on outdoor ice, cheered for a local team, or felt a hometown swell of pride during a big win.
🏒 Home Game: Hockey and Life in Canada by Ken Dryden & Roy MacGregor
Back in the ’80s, Ken Dryden gave us The Game—arguably the best non-fiction hockey book ever written. At the same time, Roy MacGregor delivered The Last Season, hailed as the finest hockey novel around. Then in 1989, these two iconic voices in Canadian storytelling joined forces for something special: Home Game.
Inspired by Dryden’s CBC series, Home Game is more than a book about hockey—it’s a celebration of the sport’s deep roots in Canadian life. From street hockey in the suburbs to epic Canada vs. Soviet showdowns, this beautifully photographed book captures hockey in all its forms, showing how the game shapes us from the ground up.
With over 95 full-colour photos and stories that feel both familiar and profound, it’s no surprise Home Game became a national bestseller. Loved by critics and everyday fans alike, it remains a must-read for anyone who believes hockey is more than just a game.
Perfect for: Fans of Canadian hockey culture, thoughtful storytelling, and the connection between sport and identity.
🏒 Father Bauer and the Great Experiment by Greg Oliver
Father David Bauer wasn’t just a coach—he was a visionary who reshaped Canadian hockey from the inside out. In Father Bauer and the Great Experiment, journalist Greg Oliver brings to life the man who believed that playing for your country wasn’t just about winning—it was about representing something bigger.
In the early 1960s, Bauer helped create the first true national Canadian hockey team, made up of student-athletes who balanced elite play with education and character. Whether leading the program at St. Michael’s College or building Team Canada from the University of British Columbia, he was more than a coach—he was a teacher, a mentor, and in many ways, a builder of modern Canadian hockey values.
This richly researched biography explores not just Bauer’s teams, but the forgotten years when Canada stepped away from international hockey, and how his influence helped shape the sport through those uncertain times. It’s a moving portrait of one of our country’s most important—and often overlooked—hockey figures.
Perfect for: Fans of Canadian hockey history, biographies, and those curious about the roots of the national team.
🏒 Final Thoughts
Even if your team’s out (we’re with you, Calgary), the playoffs are far from over—and for true hockey fans, there’s always something worth watching, analyzing, or just quietly hoping for. That’s part of what makes this time of year so electric: every game feels like a story in the making.
Go Habs Go!
