Go to the Net: Eight Goals That Changed the Game

by Al Strachan

Players and coaches of genius come along; rules and tactics and strategies evolve; careers ebb and flow. And the best way to see how the game changes is to look at the goals, the events that led up to them, and the way they change hockey history. From Canada’s ultimate hockey insider comes the lowdown on the personalities, the dressing-room banter, the chalk-talk, the sweat-stained passion behind eight of the goals that changed the game.

There are moments in hockey history that matter even more than the question of who won or lost, when a single goal can tell us about the game itself.

Among the most famous and stirring in hockey lore was Paul Coffey’s dramatic counter-attack in the 1984 Canada Cup against the USSR. Canadian fans were terrified of the dazzling Soviets, and were nervous about another drubbing like the 8-1 loss Canada had suffered the last time the two teams had played. Coffey’s pass interception and rush up-ice is now the stuff of legend, but it was not only the defenceman’s skill that won the day.

Glen Sather was as mindful of the vaunted Soviet attack as any Canadian fan, and he put together a game plan with one objective: to keep the puck away from the Russians. Once Coffey got the puck into the Soviet zone, it was Tonelli’s spadework along the boards and Bossy’s refusal to budge from the crease that allowed Coffey’s point shot to eventually find its way to the net. That goal beat the Soviets and changed the way the game was played forever.

Other goals were equally shaped by their time. Think of Guy Lafleur’s notorious “too- many- men- on- the- ice” goal in 1979, which effectively ended Don Cherry’s career as a coach. Or Wayne Gretzky’s overtime goal in Game Two of the Smythe Division finals in 1988 against the Calgary Flames, arguably the goal that marked the pinnacle of his career. Or Mario Lemieux’s 1987 Canada Cup-winning goal. Or Brett Hull’s disputed 1999 Stanley Cup-winner.

Al Strachan, whose insider hockey connections are second to none, was witness to all these goals. He has been writing about the game we love for more than three decades. Chummy with the players, respected by coaches, and friends with the broadcasters and journalists, he knows what is going on in the dressing rooms and the board rooms, and he understands what is evolving on the ice. He has talked to the men who made the decisions, as well as to those who made the plays. In Go to the Net, he passes on, in the trenchant style of his famous columns, insights into the goals that tell us not only about the way the game has changed but also about the gritty soul of hockey that will never change.

Genres: Sports, Hockey

304 pages, Hardcover

First published October 11, 2005

Reviews

[Andrew]

Many hockey fans have memories of pretty goals – but may not remember the final score of that game. Al Strachan looks at this a little differently – ignore the beauty of the goal (or lack thereof), and concentrate on its historical significance. A Denis Savard spinarama may have been a thing of beauty, BUT the Guy Lafleur goal against Boston in Game 7 of the 1979 Stanley Cup semi-finals represented the return of play-making versus intimidation in hockey strategy.

I've avoided this book for awhile – it didn't seem like the type of hockey book I would enjoy. I was wrong. (There. I said it.) Strachan provides a LOT of back-story, much of which I had not read until printed in this book – and I read a LOT of hockey-based material! He does take stands – firewagon hockey is better than a game ruled by intimidation, scoring is more exciting than defense for most people (with a nod to Roger Nielsen in the minority), and shutting down a professional sport for an entire year should NOT be considered a high-point in the Commissioner's career.

I'm very glad I picked this book up, and it did not take me long at all to read its almost-300 pages. Not many books manage to grab me and not let go like this one did. I recommend it to all hockey fans.

RATING: 5 stars. Well written, and aspects will remain with me after I've moved on to my next read, and the one after that, and ...

[Alex Baron]

It is important to note that the title might be slightly misleading. These are not the top eight goals that changed hockey, but eight goals that the author witnessed that he believed made an impact. Some did make an impact like Lemieux in 1987 and Iginla in 2002. Others I'm not so sure about.

One of the reasons why this book is enjoyable is you get to read about the 1979 Challenger Cup series and the 1984 and 1991 Canada Cups. These events are usually forgotten and not often mentioned when retelling of big international hockey events, so it is nice to read about them here. The book will also feel a little dated to today's reader, but if you have an interest in any of the goals mentioned I would certainly recommend a reading.

[Sam Spade]

As a huge hockey fan I found this book highly entertaining. The story of the 8 goals is of itself superb but the behind the scenes stories particularly of Wayne Gretzky,the greatest player ever, and his approach to the game and the coaches he played for was very informative. Also one of my favorite players even though he did not play for my favorite team, was Mark Messier. Possibly the greatest team leader in any of the sports and the description that the players had of him made you want to play for the guy.


If you enjoy ice hockey you will enjoy this book immensely.

[Teebz Hbic]

Review for Go to the Net can be found on Hockey Blog In Canada.