Publisher's Synopsis
"Alan Bass does an incredible job of going through the era and describing these vital events that changed the game."
-EDWARD FRASER, THE HOCKEY NEWS
"To the degree that expansion has changed the league since 1967, it's surprising that no one's gone in-depth to see what faced the NHL's six newest teams. Bass does, and gives any hockey history nut their fix!"
-BRYAN THIEL, HOCKEY54.COM
"Alan Bass has captured the history of the biggest turning point in NHL history ... Bass brings both the highlights on the ice and all the important maneuvers behind the scenes to fans, including what happened and why. Full of in-depth analysis and interesting and never before heard stories, this book is a must for any hockey fan."
-BRAD KURTZBERG, AUTHOR OF SHORTHANDED: THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE SEALS
"Alan Bass has produced a well researched and thoughtful look back at the NHL's original 'expansion' ... this book is a must for all those interested in the history of pro hockey in North America."
-BRUCE "SCOOP" COOPER, HOCKEY HISTORIAN, AUTHOR, AND BROADCASTER
It was March 1965 when Clarence Campbell, president of the National Hockey League, emerged from a long board meeting and announced that the NHL would double in size beginning with the 1967-68 season. Fans loyal to the "Original Six" were furious. Owners were irate. In The Great Expansion: The Ultimate Risk that Changed the NHL Forever, hockey expert Alan Bass profiles the power brokers and provides an in-depth study of the decision and its revolutionary impact on the game.
Bass, a former hockey player and freelance sports writer, relies on thorough research, interviews, and first-person accounts in order to reach into the past and uncover the mystery of a behind-closed-doors decision that seemed improbable at the time. As he profiles the powerful owners, media moguls, and die-hard sportsmen involved in the politics and backroom dealings, Bass shares a never-before-seen glimpse into how the decision forever impacted professional hockey in North America.
The Great Expansion: The Ultimate Risk that Changed the NHL Forever is not only an important documentation of Clarence Campbell's bold move of doubling the number of NHL franchises, but also provides an unforgettable look back into the history of pro hockey in North America.
