Historical Dictionary of Ice Hockey traces in general the history and evolution of the sport.It starts with a chronology from the seventeenth century to the present and then moves to an introductory essay with indepth information on the history of ice hockey. The dictionary portion consists of more than 600 crossreferenced entries on people (players, managers, coaches, and referees) as well as entries for teams, leagues, rules, and statistics. There are nine appendixes, (including NHL franchise movement, information on current teams, and Hall of Fame inductees) as well as an extensive bibliography. This is a great book for anyone wanting to know more about ice hockey.

Booklist

Zeisler, a member of the Society for International Hockey Research, infuses her fan’s love of the game into this entertaining new title. A chronology and introductory essay provide context for the A–Z entries covering an array of players, teams, associations, and related topics. The majority of the references relate to men’s ice hockey, although entries are included for more well-known female athletes. End matter includes appendixes of main franchises and Hall of Fame inductees and champions, as well as an extensive bibliography. VERDICT A lively addition for sports reference collections

Library Journal

Part of Scarecrow's "Historical Dictionary of Sports" series, which also includes volumes on baseball, basketball, golf, and tennis, among others, this edition focuses on the historical development of hockey. Known primarily as a Canadian sport, ice hockey has migrated all over the world and become quite popular in places outside North America. In this volume by independent researcher Zeisler, some 600 alphabetically arranged brief entries--almost all are no more than a full paragraph--cover the evolution of the sport. Entries focus on teams, leagues, awards, penalties, equipment, major figures, and significant rule changes. They are also heavily cross-referenced and concise. The scope of coverage is wide--topics in the women's game are covered, as is the establishment of hockey in such disparate places as Great Britain, the Soviet Union, and Germany. Entries include "Paralympic Hockey," "Hockey Night in Canada," and "Waikiki Hockey"--a Saturday Night Live skit from 1989 featuring Wayne Gretzky. A chronology, beginning with kolven, a 17th-century Dutch game played on ice, appears before the main entries, as does a historical introduction. Other notable features are appendixes listing franchise relocations, Hall of Fame inductees, and various league and Olympic champions. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates and above; general readers.

Choice Reviews

Zeisler, an independent researcher and member of the Society for International Hockey Research and International Society of Olympic Historians, has written this historical dictionary on the evolution of hockey as well as the sport's highlights. This dictionary also provides statistical data and lists information about international organizations and governing bodies. An introductory timeline-arranged chronology spanning from the seventeenth century to May 2012 includes the most pivotal points in the history of ice hockey. The 600-plus entries comprising the body of this dictionary offer well-written, cross-referenced paragraphs that address both the historical aspects of the sport along with the key figures of the sport. A nice balance of historical and biographical entries is achieved and the items chosen for inclusion make for interesting reading. Finally, nine informative appendixes and a thorough bibliography round out the work. Historical Dictionary of ice Hockey is available in either print or e-book format and is recommended for public libraries, for academic libraries supporting sports curricula, and for ice hockey aficionados.

American Reference Books Annual