During the 1980s, the geography of minor-league professional hockey changed radically, moving from its roots in the Canadian Maritime provinces, New England and the Midwestern states into the American south. In addition to cities like Dallas, Charlotte, Norfolk and Oklahoma City, which had long traditions of minor-league hockey, unlikely places such as Biloxi, Baton Rouge, Little Rock and Augusta hosted teams. Over an 18-year period, minor-league hockey was played in 72 different southern cities, and at one point there were more minor-league teams in Texas than in all of Canada, making Texas the place where many players learned their hockey skills. Hockey Night in Dixie examines this phenomenon with a historical overview of the period, including interviews with people involved in the founding and early years of each of the 13 leagues. There are also in-depth portraits of four teams, one from each of the four lower minor leagues that played during the 2005–06 season. These portraits feature interviews with owners, coaches, players, officials, fans and reporters. Amply illustrated with photographs, Hockey Night in Dixie paints a vivid picture of this extraordinary development in minor-league sports.

Technically it was a minor league, but for hockey fans west of the Mississippi, the Western Hockey League provided major-league entertainment for over 25 years. The WHL was a determined and ambitious professional league, with some 22 teams based in major American and Canadian cities. Known as the Pacific Coast Hockey League prior to 1952, the WHL aspired to establish itself as North America's second major league, a western counterpart to the early eastern Canada-based National Hockey League. But it never quite managed to make the jump to the majors. Ice Warriors is a play-by-play history of the Western Hockey League, recalling the league's beginnings as the Pacific Coast League, how it came to rival the NHL and what led to its disbanding in 1974. By interviewing former players, coaches and fans, and examining statistical records, Jon C. Stott captures the WHL's glory days and pays tribute to a time when hockey was played with heart.

It’s no secret that Canadians love beer, and in the western provinces, the large number of successful microbreweries continues to prove that distinct beer—high-quality beer—is important to our national pint-lovers. Beer Quest West is for homebrewers and beer aficionados alike: this is your guide to the best of the west. Alberta and British Columbia are host to over seventy microbreweries, and that number is increasing every year. In this comprehensive field guide, each brewery is fully described, complete with location, the story of the brewery, profiles of the faces behind the brew and of course, their core list of beers. Terminology is explained, and author Jon Stott discusses the grain-to-glass process and the many different beer styles produced in the western provinces. Whether you favour an IPA, a lager, a porter or stout, you’ll find your pint between the pages of Beer Quest West.

I have a memory. It was a wet November day. The wind was relentless... bitter and cold. My Father and I stood outside of what was left of the old barn. It was skeletal, its days of glory long past. Our once magnificent house had been bulldozed to the ground by the present owner. The source of all my childhood memories had become nothing more than the investment of a stranger. Today Dad had on his usual old green hat, but I had seldom seen the ear flaps pulled down. His jacket was too thin for the weather. Conversation was difficult; the wind carried away words the moment they left our lips. Three months had passed since the tragic death of my mother. For the first time in eighty-eight years my father now lived alone. I looked into his face and saw his struggle, and that's when I knew I would never forget this moment. It would be a heart memory. This man had always done the right thing, followed all the rules and given freely without expecting re-payment or accolades of any kind. Did my late Mother's words ever filter through his mind, "No family can continue to be so lucky?" Did he think the pain had ended? During the coming years would he ever question the God he believed so strongly in? At times I know I did.