{"product_id":"rocky-hockey-the-short-but-wild-ride-of-the-nhls-colorado-rockies-9798386503734","title":"Rocky Hockey: The Short but Wild Ride of the NHL's Colorado Rockies","description":"Long before the Avalanche started winning Stanley Cups, Colorado was home to a short-lived and decidedly less-successful National Hockey League team: the Colorado Rockies. Operating from 1976 to 1982, the club established itself as a hard-working outfit on the ice that was constantly hobbled by a series of impatient owners and a host of controversial - and often crazy - front-office maneuvers. The result was a team that didn't win many games but did win the hearts of a small and loyal fan base. In the process, they laid a foundation for the Mile High City's future hockey success. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eRocky Hockey: The Short but Wild Ride of the NHL's Colorado Rockies\u003c\/i\u003e tells the complete story of this pioneering franchise for the first time. It's a history that included four different ownerships, seven head coaching changes, one inspiring and memorable playoff appearance, and a mountain of rollicking stories from an era when helmets were optional, bench-clearing brawls were common, and player salaries were measured in thousands, not millions. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThough the Rockies' stay in the NHL wasn't long, it featured a bounty of wild incidents and larger-than-life characters, including a berserk goalie who trashed a locker room after being pulled; an incompetent goal judge who was fired by a referee in the middle of a game; a maniacal cheerleader named Krazy George; and the near sale of the team to a con man who ended up behind bars. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eMeticulously researched and packed with recollections from Rockies players and front-office figures based on original interviews with the author, the book puts a long-overdue spotlight on this unique brand of the game that affectionately came to be known as \"Rocky Hockey.\"\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Independently Published","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50674061902098,"sku":"9798386503734","price":17.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_4c6fc1f4-f47a-4f0e-8e74-9b62602921b4.jpg?v=1733852031","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/rocky-hockey-the-short-but-wild-ride-of-the-nhls-colorado-rockies-9798386503734","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}