The Boys of Winter: The Untold Story of a Coach, a Dream, and the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team

The “Boys of Winter” is a detailed and comprehensive account of the Miracle on Ice. The book has an emphatic structure to it that was conceived by design. And contains information that you will find nowhere else. The game against Russia in the semi-finals (before the gold medal game) is described in detail with a sprinkling of the lives of every player before and after the game as they come into play. This was a stroke of genius. Wayne Coffey admits this was not his idea but came from a colleague. The very criticism that Coffey’s book gets is the very reason why the book is so captivating and its greatest strength. I wanted to know more about that game. How it enfolded. And I wanted to know more about the players. Before and after Lake Placid. This book supplied both. I have everything there is to own on Miracle. Both movies, documentaries, and numerous books. Including the authorized book on Herb’s life. My father and Herb Brooks were friends. I met Patti Brooks, and have recently conversed with her on FB. Dismiss any criticism in the ensuing comment section. This is the best book of all. These people do not recognize the organization and structure of the book. Probably never played hockey. I did. The journalistic praises heeped upon Wayne Coffey are true and deserved. Buy the book. You will be glad you did.

Great book & an creates an even greater Sense of pride.

Beautifully written, this is a very rewarding read about the “boys” (young athletes) on the 1980 US Hockey Olympic team and their epic victory over the dominate and older Soviet team. The narrative creatively inserts each player’s bio into a summary of the game’s play-by-play. I’m not a hockey expert so many references literally skated (had to do it) over my head. It was a slower, educational read for me, and is probably more engaging for those with a solid understanding of hockey history and geography. There are a lot of cross-references. Still, the bullet points are universal: dreams, focus, hard work and sacrifice. It’s a feel-good, and a revealing portrait of amateur competition.

Wayne Coffey is a wonderful sportswriter for the NY Daily News, so seeing his name on this book gave me every reason to believe I would like it. I was right. A huge amount has been written and done about this team. There was a full-length movie, an outstanding HBO documentary and a made-for-TV movie (Karl Malden as Herb Brooks). This book fills a lot of the gaps and gives a lot of insight into the individuals. I especially appreciated that Coffey interviewed many of the Russians, his sections on Tarasov and Tikhinov are fascinating. Unlike Mr. Barat, I was able to follow the narrative of the book, it did not bounce around too much for me. And while I would have preferred more coverage on the other games the team played, before and during the Olympics, that is a mild quibble. The biggest gotcha in the book is when it talks about the game that the US played against the USSR two weeks before the Olympics. That game was won by the USSR 10-3 and it wasn't that close. Other sources said that both teams were trying 100%. Coffey believes that Brooks held back the US team a lot, not wanting to show his hand to them. I rarely give 5 stars to a book, this one deserves them.

This book is written in a manner that simply draws you into its grasp and never lets you go. From the beginning to the end, you get to know the players and the coaches, as well as the supporting staff. I've had the great honor to meet Ken Morrow in person and visit with him a little while. The storied perspective he shares at the close of this book echoes his comments when I had the immense honor of meeting him...this only to attempt to lend some credibility to my point of view on this book. A consummate gentleman and humble individual to be certain! I rate this book among my favorites and highly recommend it to all hockey fans and historians alike. Very well done, Mr. Coffey, very well done indeed.

Written very differently than expected, but the mini biographies of the team members was outstanding!! Truly a miracle given all circumstances!! Very good read!

Celebrity bios are something that my mom lives for, but if it's hockey (and figure skating for that matter) polar bears couldn't keep me away. I was glad that Coffey put out this blunt and artistically written piece defining "the greatest moment in sports history" because the Miracle HBO documentary left me flat (just under an hour but had great classic clips of the '80 team's tourney tour) and Disney's Miracle was heartwarming but left out the nitty-gritty (and by that I mean UGLY) of what these guys had to endure to SURVIVE on Herbie's team let alone make the cut. Coffey's prose style was especially impressive splicing together each player's background and the US-USSR game's play-by-play as if the actors in Miracle were having flashbacks (hope you're reading this O'Connor!) during the game. The book's foreword was written by none other than #30 himself, the Golden Goalie, Jimmy Craig. Now I've read a few articles (that I could find) on Jim back in his hockey heyday (including the SI issue where he was featured on the cover) and judging by the tone of his interviews Coffey was right on the money about his complexity and uncensored opines, but he seemed pretty shy. On the other hand, the team's on-ice chatterbox certainly grew into that role (judging by the guy's website advertising his corporate motivational speaking tours) off the ice since his NHL life turned out to be one of those celeb morality tales. Whatta salesman- and he became one after retirement. But it was nice to hear from the flip side, Craig's Minnesotan counterpart, #1 and the answer to a trivia question, Steve Janaszak. This bond salesman who became a Long Island transplant turns out to be cool as a cucumber over the fact he got NO ice time during the Olys and very little game time overall for that season, despite being MVP the season prior when Minnesota U won the '79 NCAA. The saddest account was #15 Mark Wells, his was a true Cinderella story battling a crippling back injury, a failed business, and pain killer addiction after winning the gold. As for the Charlestown native growing up rough in an all-Irish 'hood, #17 Jack O'Callahan proved himself to be the badass (and then some) for Brooks, the Blackhawks, and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. And if you're wondering why #16 Mark Pavelich was a no-show for the '02 Olys (and ironically he has the most decorated NHL career out of the group) the story of a hunting trip with his best friend gone horrifically wrong might provide some illumination. Those are just a few of the stories, take them to heart as this book makes them real people and that's what fueled mythos of the Miracle Team. Also, you can't help but NOT hate the Russians. Yes those evil Commie Reds (BTW communism is a bunch of crap or Cuba and to a SEVERELY lesser extent North Korea would be paradises) are human too with foibles, families, and a crazy coach that looks like a chicken. Stan Laurel- I mean Boris Mikhailov, pfft! You can't beat that guy? Pfft!

I am normally a science fiction reader, but this book was fantastic. I didn't know a single thing about hockey before turning these pages. It's opened up a new world for me. I'm really glad I started with Wayne Coffey, an author with heart. I felt the love of the game. I can't wait to learn more. I would recommend this for long time, knowledgeable hockey fans as well. It read like a play by play with back stories and history strategically placed. I couldn't put the book down. It is a beautiful story.

After watching the movie countless times! I came across this book. It offers a more in depth look at both teams in the build up to the game and the players lives afterwards. Enjoyable read and still brings out the goosebumps at all the right times!

Un libro molto interessante per coloro che amano l'hockey. È un libro molto dettagliato e contiene tante informazioni. I liked it.

...look forward to read this fabulous story about the 1980's miracle at lake placid! Wayne Coffey is a trustfully writer.

Great book for a speedway addict

A very well researched book about the USA olympic ice hockey team and its triumph against the odds over the mighty Russian red machine.