In a cultural climate where sports figures are both castigated and lauded for appearing overtly political, Bruce Berglund demonstrates that “arena gates cannot lock out the forces of political and economic tumult” (82). Berglund's book, The Fastest Game in the World, is a captivating read: altogether a history of the development of hockey locally and globally; a comparison of international styles; an exploration of the role of hockey in world history; and an examination of the growth of the hockey community, from the professional leagues such as the National Hockey League and the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) (and their fans) to youth hockey in North America (and its parents). Berglund examines the interconnectivity of the international hockey community at all levels and what hockey, in particular, has meant to forging a national identity on the international stage.
Berglund begins with a history of the early development of hockey through...
