In the spirit of The Game and The Blind Side, a raw, raucous and unvarnished look at life between the posts. No job in the world of sports is as intimidating, exhilarating and stress-ridden as that of a hockey goaltender. Facing one-hundred-mile-an-hour slapshots, having the entire game riding on your glove hand, standing on your head when necessary—these are the job requirements for those who want to be the best goalies in the world. Now imagine doing that job while suffering from high anxiety, depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder, and then nearly having your career cut short by a skate across your neck. The Crazy Game takes you deep into the troubled mind of Clint Malarchuk, former NHL goaltender for the Quebec Nordiques, Washington Capitals and Buffalo Sabres. Even as a boy, Malarchuk faced such deep anxiety that he missed school and was eventually hospitalized. His OCD affected the way he trained, and he was known for keeping one of the most obsessive fitness regimes among NHL players. When his throat was slashed during a collision in the crease, he nearly died on the ice. Forever changed by the incident, Malarchuk later struggled mightily with depression and a dependence on alcohol that left a bullet in his head and nearly cost him his life. A sports book unlike any other, The Crazy Game is an unflinching portrait of a troubled soul who ultimately triumphs over his demons. Reviews: "No one has experienced quite the collection of issues Malarchuk has survived through his storied journey. And that’s what makes the book and his life so damn interesting." —CALGARY SUN "[Malarchuk's] candor about his past and present struggles is inspiring, and no one reading his story will fail to wish him strength and serenity going forward." —THE BOSTON GLOBE “This is a tough book written by a tough survivor. It will help a lot of people. A must-read.” —DON CHERRY "Hockey's ultimate survival story." —BERNIE PARENT “A powerful, brave and brutally honest look inside the game, but more importantly inside mental illness. Every hockey fan carries the nightmare memory of Clint Malarchuk bleeding on the ice. Here, with the help of Dan Robson, he speaks about the legacy of that injury, about wounds that were far more than skin deep. It’s a haunting book that tells a story still being written.” —STEPHEN BRUNT “This is the most harrowing story in hockey if not all of sports. It would take a brave man to endure all that Clint Malarchuk has. It would take a heroic one to take readers through his battle with mental illness. This is drama of the highest order, a white-knuckle journey into darkness, a suspenseful tale of survival.” —GARE JOYCE, HOCKEY WRITER “I've known Clint for 26 years, as I coached him in Washington and he was my goalie coach in Columbus. A good goalie, a great coach and a better person. A great read about his battles and how he refuses to give up.” —DOUG MACLEAN, SPORTSNET “This is one of the most powerful books ever written by an athlete. Clint will help many others by sharing his life story. I applaud Clint for being so courageous!” —KELLY HRUDEY “This is an amazing book. An odyssey of pain, illness, determination and triumph against long, long odds. This took courage to write and requires a strong stomach to read. I treasured it, mainly because of my respect for the author. This book will save lives.” —BRIAN BURKE About the Authors: CLINT MALARCHUK was a goaltender with the Quebec Nordiques, Washington Capitals and Buffalo Sabres. Originally from Grande Prairie, Alberta, he now lives on his ranch in Nevada. Visit him online at www.malarchuk.com and follow him on Twitter @cmalarchuk. DAN ROBSON is a senior writer at Sportsnet Magazine. He lives in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter @RobsonDan. |