THUNDERMOUTH

Watson, a retired professional hockey player, recounts his life off and mostly on the ice in this debut memoir.

The author was born in 1943 in Smithers, a small British Columbia town that many residents never leave. But Watson knew his future lay elsewhere, and he adamantly pursued his love of hockey. As a teen, he made it onto the Estevan Bruins, a “feeder team” for the National Hockey League’s Boston Bruins. After his first full season in the NHL, the league expanded from six teams to twelve and Watson landed with the newly formed Philadelphia Flyers. He stayed with the Flyers for years, playing defense and making such memories as winning the Stanley Cup (twice), playing side by side with his nine-years-younger brother, Jimmy, and earning the nickname “Thundermouth” for his glaring lack of an “inside voice.” Unfortunately, a serious leg injury ended his career too soon. The author’s straightforward prose energizes his copious detailing of games across full seasons and entertaining stories of “ornery” hockey crowds. He lost four teeth in one game: “The first two came out easily enough. The others, which still had live roots, created a level of agony I can’t describe and wouldn’t wish on anyone. I screamed and nearly passed out.” The refreshingly humble Watson often turns the spotlight away from himself and onto other players he’s skated and/or lived with, as well as beloved coaches, notably the Flyers’ Freddy Shero. For the most part, the author sticks to hockey, delving into changes in the NHL (usually for the better, such as expanded opportunities for female coaches). While he writes about his early childhood, Watson provides very little information about his two marriages and children; the book does feature a generous amount of photos showcasing family, teammates, and lots of ice.

One man’s riveting, heartfelt true story of a cherished sport and vocation.