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Journeyman: The Many Triumphs (and Even More Defeats) Of A Guy Who's Seen
Every young hockey player dreams of one day playing in the NHL, of skating on a line with his hero and drinking champagne in the dressing room after winning the Stanley Cup. But kids should watch what they wish for. They may make it to the pros, like Sean Pronger, only to end up playing for sixteen teams over eleven seasons. They may end up on a team with a guy like the Great One, but skate on his line only in practice when the bona fide first-line centre has the flu. And they may end up drinking champagne only because their little brother wins the Stanley Cup. Anyone who's gotten to the NHL the hard way has a story to tell. No one knows the game better than the guys on the fourth line who fight for their jobs every night. They know all too well what it's like to watch from the press box or, worse, to be sent to the minors or traded. Sean Pronger has seen it all. He's played for legendary coaches like Pat Burns and gone head-to-head with guys such as Doug Gilmour and Steve Yzerman in the faceoff circle. He was on the ice for perhaps the most notorious violent attack in recent hockey history. While playing in the minors in Winnipeg, he guzzled beer in an ice-fishing hut with grizzled veterans like John MacLean, and while playing in Europe, he caused international incidents with guys such as Doug Weight. Full of hilarious stories and self-deprecating jokes, Journeyman is a story not only about achieving a dream, but about realizing you've achieved it.
340 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 6, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
March 3, 2018
What did I know about Sean Pronger? Pretty much only that he is the older brother of Chris Pronger, who made the list of 100 Greatest NHL Players in History and also was kind of a dick on the ice (but not Avery levels, at least). Chris is also one of the examples of the bad shit that can happen to professional hockey players - post-concussion syndrome symptoms forced him into early retirement.
But Sean? He may have lacked a little bit of his brother's je ne sais quoi in the ice, but seems like he got the family's lionshare of better personalities. He is funny. This book is actually opened by Chris, who talks with slight humility about how being the star player is maybe not as fulfilling as being the worker bee fourth-liner, because "they probably work harder than anyone else and they may even enjoy it more than anyone else, because every shift means something to them."
A lot of this memoir is just up and down, back and forth between the minors and The Show, it's dizzying to read and must be even moreso to live. It was an intense amount of hard work, with difficulties surrounding moving and trades, but you are left with the knowledge that Sean would never change what he did or how he did it, because the simple fact of the matter is: he got to play hockey, somewhat frequently, in the best league in the world. There's nothing better than that.
Side note: I did enjoy the call out to Fedorov's little brother, who had the talent to make it, but couldn't find the wherewithal to be a team player and not like, a giant goddamn asshole.
What else do you need to know about Sean Pronger? At the end of the book, he makes up a fantasy team of all the best players in the various leagues he's played with or against and makes himself the healthy scratch.
But Sean? He may have lacked a little bit of his brother's je ne sais quoi in the ice, but seems like he got the family's lionshare of better personalities. He is funny. This book is actually opened by Chris, who talks with slight humility about how being the star player is maybe not as fulfilling as being the worker bee fourth-liner, because "they probably work harder than anyone else and they may even enjoy it more than anyone else, because every shift means something to them."
A lot of this memoir is just up and down, back and forth between the minors and The Show, it's dizzying to read and must be even moreso to live. It was an intense amount of hard work, with difficulties surrounding moving and trades, but you are left with the knowledge that Sean would never change what he did or how he did it, because the simple fact of the matter is: he got to play hockey, somewhat frequently, in the best league in the world. There's nothing better than that.
Side note: I did enjoy the call out to Fedorov's little brother, who had the talent to make it, but couldn't find the wherewithal to be a team player and not like, a giant goddamn asshole.
What else do you need to know about Sean Pronger? At the end of the book, he makes up a fantasy team of all the best players in the various leagues he's played with or against and makes himself the healthy scratch.
September 3, 2018
Hilarious, laugh out loud account of life in the pros, and on the bubble. Super informative and great insight into what actually happens in the life of a pro hockey player. The easy reading and self-deprecating humor helps too.
April 5, 2015
This book provides a glimpse into the life of a professional fourth-liner, which makes it both unique and refreshing. Why should all-star hall-of-famers be the only ones with book deals?
I enjoyed reading about the many ups and downs (literally) that a fringe player like Pronger must endure to piece together a career on the ice. Truly interesting stuff.
However, I feel like there are a few details that have been left out. For example, Pronger mentions that, for players like him, a post-retirement career is necessary. This makes sense. But he never mentions what he actually does now that his playing days are over. I can't imagine he's a full-time author.
Also, I was hoping that he might touch on what life is like for the significant other of a journeyman player. "Mrs. Journeyman" is mentioned countless times throughout the book, but I really don't know what she was doing over the years while Sean moved from city to city. Did she move with him every time? If so, did she constantly have to look for new jobs? Did she ever stay put and try to maintain a career of her own? Perhaps she'll write a book of her own one day. I'd read it.
Lastly, I feel like one of the book's greatest strengths is also its greatest weakness: it was written by a hockey player. While I did enjoy Pronger's levity and self-deprecating sense of humour, I just can't stand the way that hockey players talk. That might sound like an odd complaint, but some of the prose just irked me.
Regardless, I'd still recommend this to anyone interested in the topic.
I enjoyed reading about the many ups and downs (literally) that a fringe player like Pronger must endure to piece together a career on the ice. Truly interesting stuff.
However, I feel like there are a few details that have been left out. For example, Pronger mentions that, for players like him, a post-retirement career is necessary. This makes sense. But he never mentions what he actually does now that his playing days are over. I can't imagine he's a full-time author.
Also, I was hoping that he might touch on what life is like for the significant other of a journeyman player. "Mrs. Journeyman" is mentioned countless times throughout the book, but I really don't know what she was doing over the years while Sean moved from city to city. Did she move with him every time? If so, did she constantly have to look for new jobs? Did she ever stay put and try to maintain a career of her own? Perhaps she'll write a book of her own one day. I'd read it.
Lastly, I feel like one of the book's greatest strengths is also its greatest weakness: it was written by a hockey player. While I did enjoy Pronger's levity and self-deprecating sense of humour, I just can't stand the way that hockey players talk. That might sound like an odd complaint, but some of the prose just irked me.
Regardless, I'd still recommend this to anyone interested in the topic.
March 15, 2013
I read this book while reading Ken Dryden's "The Game" at the same time and while Pronger is certainly not as cerebral an author or player as Dryden this book is infinitely more entertaining.
Forever labelled as "Chris Pronger's brother" (and the older one at that) the lesser known Prongs details the occasional highs and many many lows of his career as a marginal NHL-er and minor League-er. He throws in a good mix of on-ice and locker room anecdotes, references to longstanding hockey rumours and balancing his family life against the unpredictabiilty of life as a borderline professional athelete.
Its refreshing to read someone who never became so established as a pro that they stopped looking at the game from the bottom up. Highlights include Sean's hilarious recollections of conversations with his agent, being put in his place by referees when facing off against Steve Yzerman, and the climax of his career in the German League where he finally loses his sanity and starts picking fights with senior citizens.
Fun, self-deprecating and totally irreverent, this is a side of the NHL that we rarely hear about and the story is well told.
Forever labelled as "Chris Pronger's brother" (and the older one at that) the lesser known Prongs details the occasional highs and many many lows of his career as a marginal NHL-er and minor League-er. He throws in a good mix of on-ice and locker room anecdotes, references to longstanding hockey rumours and balancing his family life against the unpredictabiilty of life as a borderline professional athelete.
Its refreshing to read someone who never became so established as a pro that they stopped looking at the game from the bottom up. Highlights include Sean's hilarious recollections of conversations with his agent, being put in his place by referees when facing off against Steve Yzerman, and the climax of his career in the German League where he finally loses his sanity and starts picking fights with senior citizens.
Fun, self-deprecating and totally irreverent, this is a side of the NHL that we rarely hear about and the story is well told.
January 12, 2015
Flying from city to city, getting paid millions of dollars to play in front of thousands of people. Every young athlete's dream. right? Well, maybe not: "Journeyman" by Sean Pronger demonstrates how tough it is to truly make it in professional hockey. This comedy follows the life of college hockey all - star, Sean Pronger as he unsuccessfully tries to make it to the big league. "Journeyman" shows what it is really like for most pro hockey players jumping from city to city. Along the way Sean Pronger is not afraid to take a few stabs at himself while jumping farmhouse to farmhouse. This light hearted hockey comedy does a great job of showing the ropes of professional hockey, while still making it enjoyable to read. Sean Pronger's mix of wit and not being afraid to poke a little fun at himself makes journey man very enjoyable.
To enjoy "Journeyman" by Sean Pronger to its full potential;readers should be hockey lovers with an understanding of how all the different leagues intertwine. Also with the crude language involved it would not be recommended for younger readers.
Overall, "Journeyman" is a unique mix of a biography and a comedy that is a great before bed read.
To enjoy "Journeyman" by Sean Pronger to its full potential;readers should be hockey lovers with an understanding of how all the different leagues intertwine. Also with the crude language involved it would not be recommended for younger readers.
Overall, "Journeyman" is a unique mix of a biography and a comedy that is a great before bed read.
December 12, 2012
My husband and I are huge hockey fans, so you can imagine how thrilled we were, when we found out that we had won a copy of Sean Pronger's book from Goodreads. The book is a fascinating account of the life of a hockey player striving to play the sport he loves at its highest level, in the NHL. It's not easy getting to the NHL, and just when he thought he had finally had made it, he gets sent back to the farm team. Sean tells tales of the difficulties adjusting to the constant changes, being traded when you least expect it, the difficulties of adjusting to a new team, town, and for the family. He tells amusing stories of teammates, and a heart-wrenching account of the birth of his daughter. In many parts of the book, Sean had me laughing, and I ended up reading many passages aloud to my husband (he's now reading the book). You do not need to be a hockey fan to enjoy this wonderful human account of the struggles & joys of being a pro-athlete. Highly recommended.
December 1, 2012
I found the perspective of Sean Pronger interesting. With the lock out currently forcing NHLers to go overseas, I found Sean's views interesting. Sean has obviously been through many glorifying and heartbreaking moments in his career. The cup win with Chris to the cuts from different teams. I found that his chapter about going overseas heart wrenching. I felt his pain when reading the book. I know how difficult it can be to move but I could not imagine trying to play hockey on a team that no one could speak to me on. Let alone live in a country where I could not communicate at all. Sean is a warrior and a courageous one to boot. Sean is one of the unsung heroes in the NHL, he is a players, player. He is Sean, not Chris Pronger and that is the reason I picked up his book to read it. He is not well known, he is a real down to earth person who lived many young mens dream, play in the NHL (with Wayne Gretzky). This book is worth reading if you consider yourself a hockey fan.
October 21, 2012
As a "first reads" winner of this book and grandmother of a boy who loves hockey, I was eager to read about the life of a professional hockey player who wasn't one of the top players in the league. Too often they are the only ones we hear about. Sean Pronger does an excellent job of sharing his life as a "journeyman" hockey player with us. Using his personal stories and experiences he relates the ups and downs of hockey life when in this position. He gave me a much better understanding of how the hockey system works as well as a much clearer picture of how life is for those men who don't make it big time. His humour and honest writings made for an easy and enjoyable read of the many trials and tribulations of a not so famous hockey player. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in the workings of the hockey world.
July 22, 2016
I find the stories of career minor leaguers usually more interesting than that of superstars. A player striving to keep battling against all odds, with little encouragement in terms of success or pay is fascinating to me. Pronger's book delivers this, although he did have moments where he got to play on the big stage. Unfortunately, writing this two years after I read this book, the impressions that I am most left with were that Pronger was a bit of a prick. The whole excursion to Germany really seemed like he wasn't interested in going in with an open mind, and the whole story of his letting his kids run wild on the plane and then trying to pick fights with an older man who he thought disapproved just pissed me off. So three stars for the book, one for Sean Pronger the human being.
January 18, 2015
If you're looking to read a story about the superstar hockey player who makes it the NHL and gets the multi-million dollar contracts, this is not that story. Journeyman is instead a front-row seat to the life of the hockey player who has just enough talent to make it into the pros, but has to claw his way back to the NHL time and again. Sean Pronger gives an eye-opening, first person account that underlines the fact that just because you make it to the big times, doesn't mean you get to stay there. The first 3/4 of the book was 4 stars, but it felt like he and his writer ran out of steam and cranked out the last 1/4 of the book while sitting at the neighborhood bar (which may well be what happened). A fun read for any fan of the game.
March 6, 2014
This is what it's like to be a Journeyman in Pro Hockey
what do you say when all you wanna do.is play hockey eat sleep breathe hockey and you get drafted then no offer from you're draft team spend time in the ECHL then IHL and then AHL get finally called up then get traded demoted waived ride the bench for the Love of the game it was all there and if I was Sean Pronger I wouldn't change a thing except going overseas but was everything I thought and so much more thanks for the guided tour of how to be a professional hockey player and still have the Love for the game
what do you say when all you wanna do.is play hockey eat sleep breathe hockey and you get drafted then no offer from you're draft team spend time in the ECHL then IHL and then AHL get finally called up then get traded demoted waived ride the bench for the Love of the game it was all there and if I was Sean Pronger I wouldn't change a thing except going overseas but was everything I thought and so much more thanks for the guided tour of how to be a professional hockey player and still have the Love for the game
December 14, 2012
I won this book through Goodreads First Reads.
I was looking forward to reading this book until I actually started reading it and remembered I actually don't enjoy Hockey, even to read about it. It was interesting to read it from the point of a player, because when you watch Hockey on TV you don't think about the rookie's who are so eager to get on the ice and play. It was a good book, just not my kind of book.
I was looking forward to reading this book until I actually started reading it and remembered I actually don't enjoy Hockey, even to read about it. It was interesting to read it from the point of a player, because when you watch Hockey on TV you don't think about the rookie's who are so eager to get on the ice and play. It was a good book, just not my kind of book.
August 13, 2013
Seah Pronger tells it like he sees it, and that is what I like to hear. There was a lot of humor, some heartbreaks, and it was extremely entertaining, which is what I like to read. He sounds like a REAL person. I enjoy knowing someone's mind and/or heart as they write, and this books seems to do exactly that.
November 27, 2012
Sean has a great sense of humour about his bumpy road to the NHL and back down and back up and back down again. An often overlooked side of the game is illuminated here. A really fun read for any fan of sports.
August 18, 2013
Good read for a sports fan. Not an easy life as it sounds but like Sean I would have done the same thing to fulfill my dream. I love his respect for the game and people in the game. I think I would have loved him as a teammate.
February 8, 2014
A Northern Ontario boy lives his dream of playing professional hockey. And he gets to do it on sixteen teams over the course of an eleven year career. Great stories, good fun, and amazing insight into the world of professional hockey.
April 2, 2014
A fantastic read! A glimpse into the day to day life of a pro hockey player. Pronger sheds light on the less glamorous side of being a professional hockey player. A definite must read for all hockey fans!
August 30, 2014
Must read for all hockey fans. Sean Pronger writes a book that keeps you interested in everything he does from playing hockey to living in a farm house to going to Germany. His humor keeps things light hearted and he seems like a great guy. Did not regret reading this book one bit.
November 16, 2016
The very last page where he lists what he'll miss and not miss about hockey gets right into your heart. Loved it from start to finish. A humble, funny and honest look at his career…the type of career that doesn't get a lot of airplay.
May 14, 2013
Won my copy on Goodreads and thoroughly enjoyed it. Wonderful read about Sean's career in hockey. Passed this on to other family members to read and they all loved it too.
December 2, 2012
Some good stories, self deprecating humour.
December 17, 2012
Outstanding book
February 14, 2013
Sean Pronger tells it like it is! The ins and outs of life as a journeyman in the pro hockey leagues. Having lived in Germany myself, I got a kick out of his DEL "adventure" :)
January 26, 2013
I received this book free from Goodreads. I really enjoyed learning about some of the back story of a lesser known hockey player.
September 8, 2013
A great read for all hockey fans.
August 21, 2013
A great story of striving for a dream and reaching it - sort of. Full of self-deprecating humour and terrific stories from life in the hockey trenches.
April 25, 2014
If you're a hockey fan, this is an entertaining read.
August 5, 2016
A very interesting behind-the-scenes view of the working guys in hockey. Like life--a few great times and some major disappointments, but overall a career he was happy to have.
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December 3, 2014Changed the way I looked at the NHL and hockey. Such a great book!
January 8, 2019
A thoroughly entertaining read of a hockey player who wasn't a star but rather a journeyman. Sean Pronger has a quick wit, maybe that enabled him to survive the ups and downs of his career and provides a humourous and insightful view of his career and others like him. What was it like to get sent down and to play in the minors (AHL, ECHL and IHL)? What was it like to get called up? How did that affect his life? What was it like to play with NHL stars? Mr. Pronger answers those questions and more. There's also an interesting chapter about the Steve Moore / Todd Bertuzzi incident that I wasn't expecting. It's an interesting perspective not just from a player but from someone who was on the ice at that time.
Mr. Pronger compares and contrast life in the NHL vs the minors. How it feels to be a healthy scratch. I wished he wrote a bit more about how he adjusted to life after hockey. Overall, it's a pretty good book for any hockey fan.
Mr. Pronger compares and contrast life in the NHL vs the minors. How it feels to be a healthy scratch. I wished he wrote a bit more about how he adjusted to life after hockey. Overall, it's a pretty good book for any hockey fan.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews