Blades of Glory: The Story of a Town's Obsession and a Young Team Bred to Win

As a sports fan I found Blades of Glory to be a great story of a team's journey toward fullfillment of a life long dream. Rosengren does an outstanding job of highliting the ups and downs of high school athletics and the culture of youth/hs hockey. Additionally, the historical aspects of the book made me more appreciative of past programs and the role the sport plays in the hearts and minds of Minnesota residents. However, as a high school coach, what I found even more valuable were the qualities and characteristics needed to build and maintain a successful program. Rosengren's brings to life a number of ethical questions that coaches face concerning winning, loyalty, and relationships making this a must read for anyone interested in coaching.

This is a great inside look at an elite high school hockey program. From the players to the coaches to the parents to the cheerleaders to the fans, no angle is left unturned.

Blades of Glory-The True Story of a Young Team Bred to Win, by John Rosengren Copyright 2003, Sourcebooks, Inc., 339 pages, ISBN- 1-4022-0046-3 Reviewer: Ryan Kesti 9th grade, Red Wing High School, Red Wing, Minnesota "Jaguar Hockey 200-2001 November-Commitment, December-Teamwork, January-Endurance, February-Success, March-Xcel, read the sign hanging above the bench in the Bloomington Jefferson hockey team's locker room. The book Blades of Glory tells about the things that are expected when you are one of the best hockey teams in the state. The book is a great look into the highs and lows of a hockey season with the Jefferson Jaguars. In this book you learn what kids will do and have done to play for one of the most premier hockey teams in the state of Minnesota. You learn about kids who will cheat and take steroids or do whatever it takes to become the best. You will also learn about kids who have worked hard at hockey since the age they could walk to get their shot to play at the Xcel Energy Center for a chance at the state title. This is one book I would recommend to anyone interested in any high school sport, not only for those who love the game of hockey, but for everyone. I am not a person who will read many books but this is one book that everyone should read. There are a few adult moments but this book can be read by anyone from middle school age on up.

For the hockey enthusiast or the novice reader, this book has it all. From the historical references of Minnesota High School hockey's past to the dynasty and powerhouse that was the Bloomington Jefferson Jaguars, Rosengren recounts Tom Saterdalen's storied program perfectly. As a Jefferson grad in the mid-90's, I can honestly say I was hooked on this book from the get-go. Hockey was THE sport to be in at our school. I witnessed first-hand what was written about in this book, and it brought back some great memories. My hockey-playing friends and classmates went through a ton of pressure to make the program what it was. But you need not have been a Jaguar to appreciate such a legend as "Sats" and the awesome domination during his thirty-eight-year career behind the bench. He expected a lot out of his players, sometimes too much, but got results that yielded him immortality in the high school hockey coaching ranks. This book also goes in-depth into the lives of these high school hockey players: on the ice, in the classroom, and in their private lives. It explores substance abuse, suicide, peer pressure and other facets of teenage life on and off the playing field. It is truly an inspirational and well-written story, even if you've never heard of the Jefferson Jaguars.

At face value, this book is an account of a season at a perennial high school hockey state champion. But at its core, the book describes the hard work, pressure, sacrifice, glory, and heartbreak that America's youth are subject to when they compete to be the very best at their chosen activity. Once I started the book, I had a hard time setting it down. I am a sports fan with a passion for hockey, but while reading the book I found myself looking through the eyes of a parent with a talented child. What would I be willing to do help them become a champion? What beliefs and values would I sacrificed for my child's victory? The author is a great storyteller, who holds nothing back in his account of what these boys encounter as they seek a championship.