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Friday was my first gear corner with Doug Todd from Warrior Hockey. There was a comment from Blue Line Enforcer that I am going to address in the next column regarding the cost for parents/kids to get the newest and best. It’s poignant and worth its own write up.
For the first week of “Summer Reading” I’m taking out a few excerpts from the first chapters of “Made in America” (Chris Chelios and Kevin Allen). Head to
Triumphbooks.com and you can find this and several other titles by Kevin Allen. Digital formats are also available.
“Cheli” is an enormous presence, and his impact is still felt in the game. Specifically, the “puck over the glass” rule is sometimes referred to as the “Chelios Rule”. The hall of fame defenseman knew how to control and adjust the flow of a game. He could slow things down (would have refs “help him” with a piece of tape at the faceoff dot following an icing”. He had the physicality, skating ability and skill to cause problems all over the ice. Not a huge, imposing specimen listed at 6’1”, he was just rock solid. If you’ve ever seen the pads he wore, they weren’t going to absorb a lot. He preferred those small pads, though.
Kevin Allen’s write up reads smooth, and feels just like a conversation. Kevin described Chris as being confident and funny. I’ve heard Chris speak at a corporate event, and Kevin captured his tone and tenor perfectly. This is an uncolored and pure back and forth where Chris is described in his own words, and on his own terms. Well worth the read (I had a friend read the entire thing on a flight from Michigan to West Virginia).
My first excerpt is a moment that changed everything is Chris’s life and career. In essence, it was the most important lie he ever told. This is from the beginning of Chapter 2, “Moose Jaw and the murdered Pelican”, p. 43 in the hard cover version.
“My entire NHL career was based on a lie I told during a 30-second telephone conversation in 1979.” Chris then described a phone call he made to Tier II hockey coach Larry Billows.
“(Larry) Billows needed players, and (Bobby) Parker had told him I could skate. Billows had never seen me play. ‘What position do you play?’ Billows said. ‘What position do you need?’ I (Chelios) asked. ‘I need a Dman,’ he said. ‘Good’ I sad, ‘because I play defense.’
That was a lie. When those words tumbled out of my mouth I had never played a single minute of defense in my life. I had been a forward through my youth career in Chicago and San Diego. But I felt as if I had nothing to lose if I said I could play defense.”
Obviously, at that time, Chris had no idea where that decision would take him. When I’m blessed to meet someone who’s garnered a high level of success, I find out that the times they said ‘yes’ to an opportunity that was frightening or out of character are the moments that led them to their greatest successes.
Robert Frost (a favorite poet), put it this way, “Two roads diverged in a wood. And I - I took the one less traveled by. And that has made all the difference.” No matter who you are, or in what capacity you work or serve, a strange opportunity with unknown results will present itself. The decision to say yes even if you feel unqualified or unprepared will forever change the size and scope of the footprint that you leave.
In speaking with Kevin Allen, I was blessed to meet a would that said “yes” to a journey that took him all over the NHL for 30years. Building relationships and making the most of opportunities. Kevin still defers to the voice of the subject in a way that is admirable and teaches an incredible lesson to someone like me. As an author, Kevin chose to let players have their own voices, allowing them to be themselves. It takes a lot of work, a lot of communication, and a lot of respect to get to that place.
I can’t encourage you enough to take a look at “Made in America”. I will be examine another excerpt next week. I hope you enjoy it!
Check out some of my previous posts
Friday was my first gear corner with Doug Todd from Warrior Hockey.
Albert Johansson won’t be competing for a spot in North America this season
I will be featuring the writings of Kevin Allen for a summer reading program this year. It’s tough to break up the summer months, and the one on one formats that Kevin has perfected is not only a pleasure to read but gives insight that isn’t easy to come by. I’ll be starting with Chris Chelios “Made in America”.
Colorado is out of the playoffs.
Isle be darned, Boston is out
(M)Over Achiever - Seider getting accolades
setting the limits on trades
Moritz Seider reminds me of Jiri Fischer
Mo Seider is getting good ice time at the IIHF Worlds Championship.
There may be some blockbuster deals coming.
Detroit Red Wings Blogger • 
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