Gotta tell ya, the first reason why I picked this book up in the first place was because one mighty cool member on this site named puckmugger, aka, Scott Noble wrote it. I couldn't help but be intrigued by the fact that a member that writes consistently great hockey reviews decided to write a book on the subject that he is no doubt an expert in: ice hockey. Scott owns his own hockey shop, so his level of knowledge far exceeds that of the average person. Even though he is not a professional player, his love of the game is obvious in his book. Delving into it brought a pleasant surprise along with fascinating facts and hilarious writing.

Just from picking up the cover, you can tell that this is not an encyclopedia-type book that is going to bore you with hockey rules and such. Instead, by the cartoon-looking characters and tongue-in-cheek captions such as "hasn't washed jersey for years," you can see that it is going the way of humor, which is a good thing when you are talking about a sport that has grown men walking along with gap-toothed smiles; although Noble makes sure to tell you that that is a stereotype portrayed all too often.

The book is divided into 20 chapters that detail the many aspects of protective gear and equipment that one should buy before even thinking of taking the ice. Skates, helmets, sticks, shin guards, shoulder pads, gloves, pants, and more are detailed in ways that you wouldn't even think of. Noble gives handy tips on everything to show how you should properly fit yourself with all this equipment and even might save you some money with some of his advice. For me, the first chapter gives a great introduction as Noble proceeds to tell you why anyone in their thirties should even contemplate playing. The 10 reasons (among others) he gives to play are hilarious, such as #7:

Improve your resume-Being a hockey player is a great thing to put on your resume. Often it frightens prospective employers into making outlandish job offers out of fear. Or maybe it's just me since I carry a hockey stick and wear my helmet to job interviews.

His sarcasm is what makes this a fun read as well, such as when he details when people say that they'll get their teeth knocked out. That's why they invented these really amazing devices called facemasks, for example. Men must read his excerpt on how he had a confrontation with his wife because she was wondering where he had been since he was very late after his game because he went to purchase a new pair of skates. He didn't wanna say and the way he narrates the argument is great; the ferocity in her eyes told me that I needed to fear for my life. Ok, I promise, no more quoting from the book!

Although I think that you get the point that Noble is funny in his writing, he makes sure that you know that hockey can be a very dangerous sport if you don't take the proper precautions with your equipment and just by plain using your head. His safety tips are well in hand and could prevent you from making a serious mistake and getting hurt.

Not only is equipment detailed, Noble gives you tips on how to start off a hockey league or join one, on-ice basics, hockey tips, rules of the game, off-ice training, interacting with the refs (as you can guess, probably one of the most funny sections in this book), and the language of the game. So, if you don't know a slap shot from a hand pass, this will keep you informed. On the last page is a chart, detailing the many parts of a hockey rink, such as the blue line and face-off circles.

Throughout the whole book are "Random facts," that are just as the title suggests, all dealing with interesting facts of hockey (duh!). Black-and-white pictures details equipment and shots of hockey action.

Although this book is focused on the sport of hockey, anyone that wants to have a look at a guy who can write some comedic moments and actually make them work within the context of the book, will also enjoy it as well. Even though Noble talks about the 30-something crowd through the majority of the book, any age can enjoy the knowledge and humor throughout. At the mere price of $10, you can't find a better bargain buy than this.

Recommended: Yes