Book SummaryPee Wees, by Rich Cohen

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Pee Wees

The Cultural and Historical Significance of Hockey

This section delves into the sport's rich history, tracing its roots back to its humble beginnings and exploring the key events that have shaped its evolution and popularity, particularly across North America.

North American Origins and Evolution of Hockey

This subsection traces the journey of hockey from its earliest forms as a casual pastime played on frozen ponds to its development into organized indoor games and the subsequent establishment of professional and amateur leagues. It also highlights the emergence of distinct playing styles throughout the continent.

The Origins of Hockey: Pond Games and Early Indoor Matches in Canadian History

Cohen emphasizes how hockey likely originated as an informal game on ice-covered bodies of water in Canada's west. Played by trappers and soldiers, this early form, sometimes called "shinny," was rough and physical, involving a ball or wooden disk. It was deeply connected to the ruggedness and freedom of frontier life.

The shift from outdoor pond hockey to organized indoor games marked a pivotal moment in the evolution of hockey. Cohen points to the first recorded indoor game, played in Montreal's Victoria Skating Rink in 1875, as a significant event. The event featured McGill University students adopting a blend of familiar and now-forgotten positions, highlighting the sport's initial experimentation and development.

Context

• "Shinny" is a term still used today to describe informal, non-contact hockey games, often played without standard equipment or rules.
• The game was shaped by the natural environment, with frozen ponds and lakes providing the ideal setting. The uneven surfaces and natural obstacles contributed to the game's roughness.
• For trappers and soldiers, who often faced isolation, hockey provided a sense of community and camaraderie. It was a way to build bonds and maintain morale during long, cold winters.
• The move indoors led to the establishment of organized leagues and competitions, which were crucial for the sport's professionalization and the development of a fan base.
• The positions and strategies experimented with during this period laid the groundwork for the modern game's development, influencing how teams are structured today.
• The indoor setting allowed for more structured team play and strategy, as players could rely on consistent ice conditions and boundaries.

Emergence of Professional and Amateur Hockey Leagues and Distinct Playing Styles in the U.S. and Canadian Territories

Cohen explains how the growth of organized Canadian ice hockey led to the formation of the first professional league in the United States - The International Professional Hockey League. Subsequently, various leagues were established and disbanded, eventually resulting in the creation of the NHL in 1917. This initiated the era of professional hockey as we know it.

Cohen argues that the period when there were only six teams (from the 1940s to 1967), featuring its six original franchises (the Rangers, Bruins, Canadiens, Maple Leafs, Blackhawks, and Red Wings), was a peak era for North American hockey. During this period, the dominant playing style in North America, as Cohen fondly remembers, was a "dump-and-chase" strategy that emphasized physicality and territorial control. This strategy focused on the center launching the puck toward the offensive zone, the wing pursuing it, recovering it, and attempting to score by passing it in front of the net. Cohen highlights how this style of play was regarded as the definitive approach during his youth, with both fans and NHL stars asserting that North American hockey's execution was unsurpassed.

Context

• Ice hockey originated in Canada, where it became a popular winter sport in the late 19th century. The development of organized leagues and standardized rules in Canada set the stage for the sport's expansion into the United States.
• The NHL adopted and standardized many rules that were first tried in other leagues, such as the forward pass and the blue line, which helped shape the modern game.
• The "Original Six" era refers to the period from 1942 to 1967 when the NHL consisted of only six teams. This era is often romanticized for its intense rivalries and the development of many legendary players.
• Physicality refers to the use of body checks and physical...

Pee Wees Summary How Family and Relationship Dynamics Are Affected by Kids' Hockey

This section examines the profound impact of children's hockey on families, exploring the intense emotional investment, pressure-cooker atmosphere, and complex dynamics that often arise when parents become deeply involved in their children's hockey careers.

High Stakes and Emotional Investment in Children Competing in Kids' Hockey

This subsection explores the phenomenon of parents becoming excessively invested in their children's hockey endeavors, often living vicariously through their children's accomplishments. It also delves into the pressures that parents place on their young athletes, emphasizing the negative consequences of changing a childhood pastime into a win-at-any-price pursuit.

Parents Living Vicariously Through Children's Success and Pressuring Them

Cohen argues that a common motivator for many parents of young hockey players is the desire to relive their own unfulfilled athletic dreams through their children. Driven by a belief that they possess superior understanding of the game, they seek to control every aspect of their children's sports journey, attempting to mold them into elite players and achieve the accomplishments they themselves may have...

Pee Wees Summary Challenges and Dynamics in Community Teams and Youth Hockey

This section focuses on the complexities of managing hockey teams for young people, particularly the power dynamics between coaches, parent-coaches, and players, and the challenges of balancing the pursuit of winning with the principles of fairness, sportsmanship, and inclusivity.

The Power Dynamics Between Coaches, Parent-Coaches, and Players

This subsection examines the influence of different coaching styles on team performance and morale. It delves into the potential for conflicts to arise between professional coaches and parent-coaches, exploring the complexities of balancing the expertise of the former with the often biased viewpoints of the latter, particularly when parents prioritize their child's playing time over the team's overall success.

Parent-Coaches Prioritizing Their Children's Field Time Over Team Success

Cohen strongly disapproves of "parent-coaches," contending that their presence on the team can create a host of problems that undermine fairness and team cohesion. He observes that parents who coach often struggle to objectively assess their own children's abilities and are prone to either favoring them with excessive playing time or, in some...