Before the Stars

Godin] "has written a book titled Before the Stars: Early Major League Hockey and the St. Paul Athletic Club Team to inform latecomers and the historically challenged that hockey from another era warrants a gigantic stick salute." Pioneer Press "Before the Stars paints a fascinating history of the evolution of the sport from its amateur days to the arrival of the professional version we know today. . . . It takes readers back to a time when players iced seven-man teams using rovers, angry skaters swung at opposing coaches and referees, goal umpires raise white flags to signal goals, and fans watched games in massive hippodromes and celebrated their teams in torchlight parades. This captivating history of the sport's early years is a must read for any hockey fan." Let's Play Hockey Advance Praise: “Roger Godin’s tireless research unveils a hidden chapter in the State of Hockey’s history through the story of an early powerhouse. This book offers a time travel ticket that hockey fans will find hard to refuse.” John Rosengren, author of Blades of Glory: The True Story of a Young Team Bred to Win “Godin’s insight into Minnesota’s hockey heritage and the team that paved the way for hockey prominence in the state is a must read for all who value the historical traditions of hockey in the United States.” Tom Sersha, Executive Director, U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame “A very engaging history of hockey. Roger Godin puts the reader on the ice, in the lives, and in the arenas with the players of the times.” Jeff Sauer, former longtime men’s hockey coach at the University of Wisconsin and the all-time leader in WCHA victories 352 pages 7.25 x 10.25 inches ISBN: 9780873514767