Gloves Off - by Behn Wilson (Hardcover)

About the Book

Behn Wilson's NHL career took him from the Flyers to the Blackhawks, the Stanley Cup Finals, and the All-Star Game. In Gloves Off, he shares a gritty, insider look at 1980s hockey and its legendary battles.

Book Synopsis

The player never really leaves the game in professional hockey.

Nearly thirty years passed between the time Behn Wilson put on his first and last pair of skates, years spent pursuing an NHL career and then living the dream he made a reality.

First he played for the Philadelphia Flyers. Then Chicago was home when he joined the Blackhawks. Behn retired in 1988, but not before competing in the Stanley Cup Finals and NHL All-Star Game. Now, in Gloves Off, Behn shares the story of his career--the good, the bad, the exasperating, and the extraordinary. This is an insider's look at how the game was played in the 1980s, one of hockey's most pivotal decades. Read about Behn's experience in the pros, the players he called teammates, and the fights that became legendary.

Gloves Off is an exciting, inspirational journey through one man's career in a glorious--and often merciless--sport.

Review Quotes

Behn took me under his wing in 1977 when I was a fifteen-year-old playing for the Windsor Spitfires. We played again in Junior in Kingston and then again with the Flyers. Behn was a gifted athlete who had a great offensive touch while being steady on defense, and he was without question the toughest player I have ever played with.

I would sometimes feel bad for players who fought Behn because if the outcome was not convincing enough, Behn was coming back for round two before that game ended. He commanded respect from players forechecking, and they were always aware of where he was in the corners. I am happy to call Behn a friend and still find it hard to believe he is writing a book.

--Tim Kerr, former professional ice hockey player.