ConnexionNow in his 70s, he can still recall, all these years later, the night they beat Bobby Orr
In the waning days of the pandemic, sportswriter Ronnie Shuker stuffed his skates, sticks, and backpack into his faithful automobile Gumpy (named for legendary goaltender Gumpy Worsley) and set off on a 30,000-mile, coast-to-coast-to-coast investigation of the many ways hockey touches the lives of Canadians. In The Country and the Game: 30,000 Miles of Hockey Stories (Sutherland House Books), he captures the stories of legends such as Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky, and Gordie Howe while spotlighting the unsung heroes and hidden corners that embody the heart of the sport. These excerpts from the book reveal just a few of the moments — from small-town rivalries to literary reflections — that underscore why hockey isn’t just Canada’s game, but our cultural backbone. Read More
