The National Hockey League Guide in addition to Record Book comes out every fall, in addition to 1 usage of the majority that ever fascinates is the thespian register inward the dorsum of the book. Everyone who has ever played inward an NHL game gets a line of type - from Gordie Howe to Trent Kaese.
Howe played inward 1,767 games, piece Kaese played inward one. They larn the same amount of type. (I don't hateful to alternative on Kaese; I just hollo back him from his days alongside the Sabres.)
In an strange way, it's almost similar beingness a fellow member of a club. You are inward or you lot are out. The numbers are only different. And how many immature boys grew upwards wanting to run into their refer inward that list?
Ken Reid belike has looked over that list, in addition to he became to a greater extent than curious than most most the guys who had "one" inward the games played column. So he tracked them down, which must conduct maintain been a hard work inward about cases.
Eventually, Reid constitute plenty one-game wonders to fill upwards a book. "One Night Only" is that book, a squeamish petty tribute to those who briefly served.
The stories to a greater extent than oft than non follow a pattern. During the course of didactics of a season, somebody on the NHL squad gets wound in addition to a replacement is needed - commonly inward a hurry. The telephone telephone goes downwards to the little leagues, in addition to somebody collects his sticks in addition to heads to the NHL metropolis for a minute of glory. Some of the players conduct maintain it all inward stride, maybe because they took usage inward preseason games in addition to figured they would conduct maintain plenty of to a greater extent than opportunities. Then in that location are those who know they are catching a interruption inward the middle of a season, in addition to taste the ride.
The goalies powerfulness depict the most sympathy here. Frequently they are called upwards every bit a backup, in addition to essentially needed to fill upwards a uniform in addition to non expected to play. NHL teams continue lists of goalies who had a uniform expose but never got on the H2O ice except to pay the starter on the dorsum at the terminate of the game. But a few did arrive into a game inward a relief role. One goalie got to become into a game alongside 4 minutes left. That's non long, but it was skilful plenty to set him inward the club.
As you'd expect, most of the guys are relatively anonymous. The big exception is Don Cherry, who turned upwards inward a Bruins playoff game inward Montreal inward 1955. Cherry, who became famous every bit a thespian in addition to coach, wound his shoulder the next summertime playing baseball game in addition to never got about other chance. Don Waddell, who worked every bit a full general managing director in addition to charabanc inward the NHL, powerfulness hold upwards No. two on the fame listing of those inward the book. But otherwise, the players returned to the minors in addition to inward many cases headed to Europe for a adventure to play regularly.
Most of the players hither are a chip proud of the fact that they reached the NHL at all, fifty-fifty if they conduct maintain a petty kidding most it. Others just considered it usage of their hockey experience, in addition to don't precisely brag most it.
If there's a drawback to the format, it's that the stories commencement to read the same agency later a piece - in addition to this isn't a long book. After all, in that location are solely in addition to so many ways that a one-game career tin conduct maintain shape. My estimate is that a collection of such stories from all sports powerfulness conduct maintain worked a petty ameliorate for about readers.
On the other hand, limiting the subjects to hockey players powerfulness arrive to a greater extent than interesting for those who follow hockey closely, in addition to therefore would hold upwards a skilful target for purchasing. "One Night Only" is pleasant in addition to slowly reading, in addition to those who read it belike volition come upwards away satisfied.
Three stars
Learn to a greater extent than most this book.
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