A Great Game
A Great Game: The Forgotten Leafs and the Rise of Professional Hockey is a non-fiction work authored by Stephen Harper in 2013, which examines the early development of professional ice hockey within Canada during the early 1900s.
Synopsis
This volume chronicles the emergence of Toronto’s initial professional hockey franchises, including the Toronto Professional Hockey Club (active 1906–09) and the Toronto Blueshirts (established in 1911). It also addresses the resistance faced from entities such as the Ontario Hockey Association and Toronto Telegram publisher John Ross Robertson, who opposed the professionalization of teams.
Publication
The writing process spanned eight years before its release on 5 November 2013 by Simon & Schuster. Earnings from the book are directed to support the Canadian Forces Personnel and Family Support Services. Additionally, the book investigates innovations like artificial ice rink technology. Harper collaborated with author Roy MacGregor for research support.
Reception
In a review for Quill & Quire, Perry Lefko described the work as "a lengthy essay or thesis typical of a hockey historian." John Allemang of The Globe and Mail appreciated the book for unveiling a lighter aspect of Stephen Harper’s persona despite occasional linguistic shortcomings. The Toronto Star acknowledged its scholarly approach while commending its emphasis on early 20th-century hockey history, a subject frequently neglected in hockey publications.