Growing up, I was fascinated with hockey books.
I loved reading about players, coaches, teams, and anything else associated with our favorite sport. I am happy to say that my love for all things hockey prose lives on to this day.
This is why I am proud to present an email interview I conducted with hockey author Kevin Shea. Shea has authored 20 books on the world’s greatest sport and is also the Editorial and Education Facilitator for the Hockey Hall of Fame, something I am incredibly jealous about!
Kevin was kind enough to take some time to tell us about how he got into hockey, how he became a hockey author, how he got involved with the Hockey Hall of Fame, and more. I hope you enjoy learning more about him and his involvement in hockey!
PH: Growing up, how did you get into hockey?
KS: Hockey was in my DNA when I was born. My father was a big fan as was his mother.
I was born into hockey and by the time I was two or three, I was sitting beside my father watching Hockey Night in Canada.
PH: Growing up, who was your favorite team and player? How about now?
KS: I have been a lifelong Toronto Maple Leafs fan. I loved Eddie Shack as a boy. Morgan Rielly is my favorite now.
PH: At what point in your life did you realize that you wanted to make writing about hockey part of your life?
KS: I worked in the music industry from 1984 to 2000 and had written a number of published articles but as a lifelong hockey fan, I was often telling friends stories from my research. They challenged me to write a hockey book in 1999 and my first hockey book was published in 2000.
PH: You have written an incredible 20 books about hockey. Prior to becoming a hockey author, did you ever think that you would get to 20?
KS: I never dreamed I would ever write even one book!
PH: You have written about a lot of interesting players, characters, and teams within hockey. What has been your favorite book or top five hockey books to work on? Why?
KS: Barilko: Without a Trace, Crossing the Line (Derek Sanderson’s autobiography), and The Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club: Official Centennial Publication are the three I am most proud of.
PH: In addition to being a hockey author, you are also head of editorial and education at the Hockey Hall of Fame. How did you get that gig? How has it evolved from when you first started?
KS: I started at The Hall in 2001 as a contracted employee working on identifying photographs. I moved into a full-time role a year later overseeing the editorial and education programs and still do that today.
PH: What is it like to tell people that you work with the Hockey Hall of Fame?
KS: I have such pride in working at the Hockey Hall of Fame.
PH: What are some of the main reasons that all hockey fans should visit the Hockey Hall of Fame?
KS: The Hall is the greatest hockey museum in the world. Let me change that — the best museum in the world. It has the most extensive collection of preserved artifacts and photography in the world. And it is the home of the Stanley Cup!
There are so many things to see and do at The Hall. We pride ourselves on Education, Entertainment, and Excellence.
PH: Is there anything else that you would like to share with us hockey fans?
KS: Continue to love the game. It is such an exciting, fast game. Hard to believe that players can play with such skill while balancing on pieces of metal an eighth of an inch thick while standing on sheets of ice!
ITR 49: For Real This Time – Inside The Rink
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