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

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.

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.

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.

This is the first book that I've read that was written by Wayne Coffey. His writing is original, crisp and full of interesting details about the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team. He juxaposes the life stories (then, since then and now) of the U.S. players into three periods of the semifinal win over the Soviet Union. I give him credit for bravely deciding that this kind of format could work. For the most part, he pulls it off. But his narration of the game, and his tale, seemed to slow down in some places, especially in the second period. Still, I skated on. I did so because my curiosity was fed: What was it like for those players as individuals in 1980 and what became of their lives here in the first decade of the 21st century? Coffey satisfied my appetite and I believe any bloke who follows hockey with soft, mild or rabid interest would find this work worthy. The 4-3 over the Soviets was not so much a miracle as it was a carefully planned ambush, brilliantly executed by coach Herb Brooks and 20 focused players who were in the best shape of their lives. The 1980 Olympic Winter Games were seminal for U.S. hockey players; those Olympics were a door-opener for hundreds of future U.S. players who played in the National Hockey League. Coffey, like all good writers, spices up his tale with curious and charming details. There is opinion and recollection by some members of that 1980 Soviet team, too. That added to the depth of the book. Mr. Coffey worked hard to find and visit members of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team. He matches his diligent footwork with fine writing. This book is worth your money and reading attention.

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.