Journeyman: The Many Triumphs (and Even More Defeats) Of A Guy Who's Seen Paperback – October 1, 2013

It was getting kind of depressing. Every book I read about junior/college/minor-pro hockey was about drinking, bars, juvenile pranks and other Slapshot-style foolishness. Sean Pronger’s description of the journeyman’s life was a clear, honest, low-nonsense account of the life of a career minor-leaguer who made small forays into the NHL. Pronger has a good attitude and took his career seriously, and he and his co-author write well. There’s plenty of detail – even financial detail, which was welcome and fairly unusual.Pronger’s style is very self-deprecating, with numerous wry references to his more-famous brother. The book concentrates almost entirely on Sean, but there’s one chapter about how the boys grew up playing hockey and fighting together. It was all good stuff. Nonetheless, there’s still too much space given over to the typical hockey anecdotes: drinking and goofing around. That’s a bit depressing. I need to read some books by guys who were truly successful in pro hockey and see whether they spent so much time “having a few”. There’s one interesting anecdote toward the end of the book, where rookie Rick Nash goes to supper with the boys and has just a plate of spaghetti and a Coke. Little does he realize that he’ll have to evenly split a bill with guys ordering everything on the menu. The others all find it pretty humorous, but you get the impression that Nash was going “Seriously? This is a big laugh for these guys? What a buncha shmucks.” I hope there’s more diversity, personality-wise, than what I’ve read from Pronger, Jamie McKinven and Terry Ryan. Don’t any of these guys ever say, “Well, no, I’m not into bars, don’t drink much. But we’ve got an off day tomorrow and we’re in New York – anyone want to see the Chagall exhibit?” ;-)I have a feeling that hockey players have a need to live up to some ridiculous macho image. If they write a book, there has to be a certain number of depressing anecdotes about bars, women, fights, pranks, etc.Anyway, as I say, Pronger’s book has the least amount of that junk of any of the books I’ve read, and it dishes up plenty of detail about minor league conditions, travel, and especially the effect of a minor-league life on the family. What a grind for the spouse. That’s the true story of minor-league life: the story of the spouse.Perhaps the most amazing anecdote, however, is about how Chris became the superstar while Sean headed for the minors: it just happened. That’s all. They lived the exact same existence, played hockey with the same skill level, but one day when Sean came home from college, he found that sixteen-year-old Chris had sprung up another three inches to six-foot-six, and was now totally dominant on the ice. And that’s it. Chris goes on to superstardom, while Sean goes to the minors. Amazing how little control we sometimes have over our destinies, even when we make all the right moves. Amazing as well that the single-most interesting anecdote in the book is about that other guy. That pretty much sums up Sean’s entire career. But he keeps it all in perspective. Good guy, good book. Highly recommended. Four stars.

I gave this a 3 because I did read it cover to cover and several parts were impactful. Hockey players talking about their childhoods is compelling. I would have enjoyed more about his buddies and brother. Not sure why there is so little about his parents? Sean had a one in a million hockey career just by making it to the fringe and his brother even more. What did their parents do or didn't? The story of his daughter's birth is very emotional, great writing. His failure as Providence Captain was revealing and could have been expanded. The whole German experience was very confusing. Pronger seems like a genuine good guy. Why so much anger. I would like to ask him if the anger he displayed in this period was perhaps his realization that he was a journeyman? As a big fan of the IHL while he was there I have to say I'm the target for this type of book. The scene of Pronger riding the bike next to Neal Smith was very interesting to me. I like that Smith was trying to learn about what other GM's were doing. I would ask Pronger is he thought Smith was being confident or showing a lack of confidence in what he was doing. Except for a week or two with the Islanders Smith has never been GM again which is surprising in a league filled with retreads and a Cup usually means a job at the level for life on some team in some capacity. Bob Pulford's dead puck reign in Chicago immediately comes to mind but Sather, Sinden, Torrey and others are in the team picture there.

Being an avid hockey fan and reader, I rank Pronger's book up there with Dryden's The Game. The books are quite different in terms of perspective and focus, but both have given me more insight into hockey--and pro sports--than any other hockey books.My one complaint would be that Pronger's narration can be a bit informal and folksy at times, which distracted me--perhaps that is the English teacher in me coming out. However, that flaw should not prevent anyone from reading the book. Pronger is not a star, although his brother is, so he has a broad perspective on the game and the business. He has seen a lot of towns and teams and bus rides and maintains his humor and his love for his family and hockey throughout.If you want to read about how professional hockey is for the majority of the athletes (i.e. not the elite players), then read Journeyman and you may recognize that some pro athletes really do earn what they make and really do continue their careers strictly for the love of their sport.Pronger will give you a unique perspective and keep you laughing while doing so.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book after having read a number of hockey books before this but I was glad I picked this one up. Sure the "stars" have their books but it was nice to get a glimpse of a journeyman and how many times one had to pack up a family and move every time a trade happens. What it's like to meet your new team, the things you sacrifice just to get to the NHL and what you try to do stay. I'm a casual hockey fan and was able to enjoy this book. Sean has a good sense of humor about himself, he does poke a little fun at his brother and the many adventures of people calling him Chris. If you are in need of a humorous read then you won't be disappointed.

An honest book by a player who understood his own limitations and how the sports world works. This was a good read, showing more inside the life of a pro athlete, both major and minor league, than most books. The stories of the charter flights in the NHL vs. the dumpy motels and bus rides of the minors stood in stark contrast. I enjoyed the book.The only negatives are a sometimes too-casual writing style, and many references to obscure movies and TV shows that I know nothing about, and therefore could not understand the comparisons the authors were trying to make. These minor flaws are the only thing that kept me from giving it a five-star rating. Overall, congratulations to the authors on an excellent book which I highly recommend to anyone with even the slightest interest in the subject.

Really good read

Goo value for money

An excellent inside look to pro hockey. Seldom told from this perspective. Very funny, recommend highly to anyone interested in the game of hockey.

I have read many sports autobiographies and this was by far the best one I have read. From start to finish the book had a great flow and was very well written. This is a must read for all sports fans (not just hockey) as it shows you a side of professional sports not often told. You can tell that Sean is an every day guy who was fortunate enough to have his childhood dream come true. However, I do not think Sean's dream of playing in the NHL included the trials and tribulations he had while pursuing his dream. Sean's self deprecating humour will almost have you pulling for him as you read through his journey. All in all a great book with lots of laughs.

Great book, very candid look at life as a career minor leaguer. Sort of like Don Cherry if Don had of played more. Lots of references to his younger brother who had a long career in NHL.