From Behind the Red Line: An American Hockey Player in Russia

I think the author does a great job of demonstrating the contrasts between communist Russia and the Russian heart. Tremendous athletes and people.

At the time Winnipeg Jets GM (and lover of all things Russian so much so he drafted with blinders on and no longer has an NHL job) Mike Smith sent a a US college hockey draft pick to the USSR to hone his game.A great idea is theory and one that makes for a fantastic look at a society at a turning point in history (1990) for the USSR. Even so ultimately this book is really all that came of it as Tod Hartje's hockey career went nowhere really as a pro.I did love that Harvard grad Hartje was able to survive the season and plopping him in Kiev gave him further insights into Russian/Ukrainian hockey and everyday culture. The analysis of the 1980 USA gold medal run at Lake Placid was spot on. Hartje points out, as many are want to forget, the blunders of coach Viktor Tikhonov of pulling Hall of Fame goalie Vladislav Tretiak after just one period of action vs. the USA.Sadly, I should have picked up this book back in 1992 as it would have helped me avoid picking Dmitri Khristich in any hockey pool (as well as steered me away from most Russians who seem less than able to adapt to the sudden freedoms of the West--Vladimir Krutov, your burgers are ready!).Combine this with ex-Canadian national team coach Dave King's King of Russia and you have a good peek into Soviet/Russian society and its hockey culture that goes beyond the Boris Mikhailov robotic stereotypes.