Hockey Dynasties: Bluelines and Bloodlines

Family ties have been an enduring part of hockey history since the beginning of the NHL. Ken Dryden was asked why it is that hockey ties are so prevalent in hockey compared to other professional sports leagues. Part of it, he theorized, was the nature of the long Canadian winter that leaves kids without much else to do. Dryden also thought that hockey's rural roots may have something to do with it, "Hockey players have historically come from smaller places rather than bigger places. In a smaller place you have fewer options and it is more likely in a smaller place that if one kid from a family gets involved in hockey, other kids are going to get involved too."

Hockey Dynasties is an era by era look at the proliferation of family ties in professional hockey. The book will examine why there are so many families in professional hockey, and will include tales by the players about their time at center ice playing with and against their siblings/ fathers/cousins/uncles.

Hockey families included are: Ken and Dave Dryden, Wayne and Brent Gretzky, Eric and Brett Lindros, Charlie, Roy and Lionel Conacher, Bobby and Brett Hull, Maurice and Henri Richard, Pete and Frank Mahovlich, Gordie, Mark and Vic Howe, Marcel and Gilbert Dionne, Brian and Joe Mullen, Sylvain and Pierre Turgeon, Russ and Geoff Courtnall, The Sutter Brothers (Ron, Brent, Brian, Darryl, Duane, Rich), Phil and Tony Esposito, The Stastny Brothers (Peter, Anton, and Marian), Pavel and Valeri Bure, The Hunter Brothers (Dale, Mark, Dave), Lynn, Lester and Craig Patrick, Neil, Aaron and Paul Broten, Max, Doug and Reg Bentley, Bun and Bill Cook, George and Frank Boucher, Neil and Max Colville, Dennis, Bryan, Sr. and Bryan, Jr. Hextall.

Lance Hornby is a veteran sports writer for the Toronto Sun. He is the author of Mats Sundin: The Centre of Attention and the co-author of Quest for the Cup and Hockey Chronicles: An Insider History of NHL Teams.

George Johnson is a sports writer for the Calgary Herald and ESPN.com

Steve Milton is a sports writer for the Hamilton Spectator. He is the author of several books on skating including Skate Talk: Figure Skating in the Words of the Stars; Skate: One Hundred Years of Figure Skating and Orser: A Skater’s Life.

Jack Batten is a lawyer, journalist, novelist and broadcaster.