DowntownBooster
Registered User
Just wondering if any hockey fans on HFBoards have read the book ‘The Hot Line’ by Geoff Kirbyson and what your thoughts were once you finished it. I found it to be a very good read and learned many interesting things about the Jets that occurred during the WHA years and beyond that I wasn’t aware of. One of the tidbits that I found most interesting was comments by other players on the team (as well as any new players that joined the team during that time) was how hard the Hot Line practiced. They apparently worked so hard during practice that the games would seem easier by comparison. Hull, Hedberg and Nilsson set the tone for the other players to work hard during practice as well. They were self-driven to be the best. It wasn’t the coaches who were demanding of the players but rather the Jets players themselves. I always knew the Jets of that era changed the way the game was played with their hybrid European/North American style and that they had some of the most skilled players in the world but at the time I didn’t realize how much work the players themselves put into their team development. I was fortunate to have attended many games during that era but after reading the book I wish I would have taken in even more games. I think many of us at the time took them for granted and didn’t realize just how special that team was as well as the great hockey we were watching here in Winnipeg.
I sure wish the book would be mandatory reading by our Jets players of today. Not only would they get a better idea of how much the Winnipeg Jets team means to the fans here but I think it could help them get inspired to become that self-driven team from years ago instead of just relying on Paul Maurice and the coaching staff to get the best performance out of them. I think we’re getting to the point of having enough skilled players on the team to achieve so much more but if the players themselves would also commit to becoming the hardest working team like we had with Hull, Hedberg and Nilsson, who knows what they could achieve. It was also refreshing to learn that players wanted the opportunity to play for the Jets rather than how we now always hear about players that don’t want to come here because of the cold weather and playing in a fishbowl. Perhaps it’s just a different era nowadays and what transpired in the past can’t be replicated but I sure enjoyed reading the book as it helped me appreciate even more what we once had and how well the Jets represented Winnipeg on the world stage.
I sure wish the book would be mandatory reading by our Jets players of today. Not only would they get a better idea of how much the Winnipeg Jets team means to the fans here but I think it could help them get inspired to become that self-driven team from years ago instead of just relying on Paul Maurice and the coaching staff to get the best performance out of them. I think we’re getting to the point of having enough skilled players on the team to achieve so much more but if the players themselves would also commit to becoming the hardest working team like we had with Hull, Hedberg and Nilsson, who knows what they could achieve. It was also refreshing to learn that players wanted the opportunity to play for the Jets rather than how we now always hear about players that don’t want to come here because of the cold weather and playing in a fishbowl. Perhaps it’s just a different era nowadays and what transpired in the past can’t be replicated but I sure enjoyed reading the book as it helped me appreciate even more what we once had and how well the Jets represented Winnipeg on the world stage.
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