Playing With Fire

Like one of the ghostly masks invented by the goalie Jacques Plante, the face of Theo Fleury, star forward and Stanley Cup winner of the Calgary Flames, floats on the front cover of his stunning and moving autobiography full of scars, shadows, and dust. Unlike Jacques, the 5'6", 150-pound right wing faced more than pucks flung by 230-pound demons. In this superb piece of hockey writing, Theo Fleury, with this co-author Kirstie McLellan Day, reveals to the world the dreams, suffering, and glories of his life. I loved this book - reading it three times for its insights into the wild and raunchy world of hockey, its reflections on the life broken by abuse and addiction, and for the sheer rhythm of its "thrill of victory and agony of defeat."Theo came from Cree-Quebecoise (Métis) stock and grew up in the Canadian bush town of Russell, Manitoba. His first gear bag was an old pillowcase and he did not own a new pair of skates until he was a teenager. Yet, from the age of 5 he dreamt every day of playing in The Show, the National Hockey League. Fleury, however, was also born under a dark star. Theo's dad, a hockey player injured in his prime, had turned to alcohol and his mom found consolation in Valium and distraction in the doomsday dreams of the Jehovah's Witnesses. When a prominent coach, Graham James, who would later win a "Mr. Hockey" trophy from the Canadian junior leagues, took interest in him at the age of 13, young Theo thought that his dream of making the NHL would come true.Unfortunately, Theo would have to pay a price that no child should ever have to pay. For three long years his coach molested him. Theo knew well that if he dared speak a word, his future would be forfeited, and worse, he and not James, would be blamed. His parents did not bother to go to his games or see him in the hospital after a near-death accident on the ice when he was 12, so why would he expect better of the world? Indeed, the Montreal Gazette, in reporting James' guilty plea to abuse against Fleury and one other victim on December 7, 2011 even went so far to say that Fleury had "enabled" his coach. Child survivors of sexual abuse are still waiting for the Gazette to apologize.Helpless, Theo acquiesced to the shame and fear, but the self-disgust and suffering would exact its own toll. Theo writes, "The most influential adult in my life at the time was telling me that what I thought was wrong was right. I no longer had faith in myself or my own judgment. And when you come down to it, that's all a person has. Once its gone, how do you get it back?" (Page 27) As he was molested in empty hotel rooms, so Theo would fear the dark, the silence, and being alone. He would seek any means he could to fill the hole in his soul.Fortunately for the world, Theo also had a spark and that spark would not be put out.As candid about his fears and suffering as he is about the joys of lacing up, Theo with pure panache and great gusto regales the reader with tale after tale of the men he played with and played against. Happy to document that the 1989 Stanley Cup was one of the best things he ever slept with, Theo with passion and verve will happily tell you of his miracle goals, broken sticks, and manic plays that were the stuff of his success, including a gold medal for Canada in the 2002 Winter Olympics. Nicknamed "The Weasel," Theo was ready to take on everyone, be it Marty McSorley the protector, Kerry Fraser the referee, Don Cherry the host of Hockey Night in Canada, or even Doug Risebrough, the General Manager of the Flames. He absolutely had no respect for men who did not respect the game and the men who played it. Of Sean Avery he writes, "In eight years in the NHL, he's changed teams four times...That's because he's a clown - about as popular in the dressing room as a case of the crabs." (Pages 272-273) His stories are rolling on the floor hilarious. When Blackhawks' coach Mike Keenan, who had recently been convicted of a DUI, chirped at Theo from the bench, Theo from the face-off circle chirped back, "Hey Mike, do you need my driver's license to get home?" (Page 100) Theo the strategist had no respect for "defensive systems" coaches but instead [he] "like[s] the Crosbys, Ovechkins, and Kovalchuks of the world, because no matter what the coach tells them, they are going to play their way." (Page 103) After all, "If I have possession of the puck, why would I want to give it up?" (Page 103)Theo is also generous in his praise. For every athlete and manager that he resented, there are at least 10 times as many men that he respected. He admired anyone who played hard, used his head, or stuck up for his mates. In addition to the hundreds of players he mentions in his book, he shows that he is a man of strategy and grit. And though over the years his drunken rages and gambling binges would cause him to lose literally millions of dollars and receive multiple game suspensions, his friends were many and they stuck by him, including oil businessman Chuck Matson, Flames Coach Brian Suter, and the Great One himself, Wayne Gretzky.However, no matter how high in the hockey world would Theo rise, he could not get away from the abuse and neglect of his childhood. Though Theo has some choice words for the culture of alcohol and denial in the NHL, he would also be the first to take responsibility for his own alcoholism, addiction to cocaine, gambling, and strippers. For all the finesse and control he exhibited on the rink, his personal life was a never ending drama of broken marriages, drinking binges, and gambling parties that would escalate in intensity and duration. Skating back and forth between the nets of recovery and relapse, it took years of effort before Theo could face the ghosts of his past and the ghosts of his own creation.He found lasting sobriety in 2005 and by publishing his book in 2009, the Government of Canada had no choice but to bring Graham James to trial. The boy had now become the man. "If you want your life back, you cannot hand it over to the memory and let the perpetrator steal your future." (Page 312) Fortunately for Fleury, his story does not end there. James, had already been found guilty in 1997 for his abuse of Sheldon Kennedy, Fleury's teenage teammate. Kennedy, whose depression had brought his career to an end in the mid `90s, had reached his Rubicon and came forward. James served only three years in jail for the Kennedy 1997 conviction before strangely receiving a pardon from the Government of Canada. As of this writing (New Year's Day 2012) James will be sentenced in Winnipeg for his crimes against Fleury and another victim on February 22, 2012.For those of you who love hockey, for those of you who are troubled by the Penn State Sandusky scandal, and for those of you who wish to believe that the light is greater than the darkness, read this book. You will laugh, you will cry, and you will be richly rewarded for getting to know this wonderful and courageous human being. Theo Fleury, may you always skate in beauty. Skennen'Kowa - Go in Peace.

I had ordered this book for my son for Christmas.He said he is enjoying the book. And a very interesting read.

The book is great thus far. I am surprised Theo is still alive. He is a real fighter which is why he has moved on to bigger things in life. Amazon delivered the book pronto and in good shape. Thanks. Fred merchant

With his raw talent, passion and determination to make the NHL, Theo Fleury certainly left his mark on the game with a career spanning 15 years (including a Stanley Cup victory in his rookie season and an Olympic Gold medal towards the end). Yet behind the thrilling wins and career successes lay a man consumed by demons of the past. A less than stable upbringing with parents that struggled with issues of substance abuse and an adult mentor who took advantage of him in the most personal way possible, Fleury fell into a cycle that involved drugs, alcohol, gambling and sex. Finally it all caught up with him resulting in a man who almost pushed himself right over the edge.Fleury (along with Kirstie McLellan Day) tell a no holds barred tale of a young man with big dreams of being a sports star and what lengths he would go to achieve his goals, which included the covering up of the abuse he suffered and how chasing your dreams can sometimes mean you pay a high price which Fleury did. The book is refereshingly honest and at times is both unsettling and disturbing which no doubt was what the authors had intended. Yet through his struggles, Fleury maintains a sense of humour. The best part of course is knowing he survived his trail by fire and made it through the other side. Fleury acknowledges his faults and flaws and knows he isn't perfect. But he also gives credit to his family and friends for helping him make it showing a humble side to the man.You don't have to be a sports fans or even know that much about Ice Hockey to appreciate a story of man who achieved such success in his professional career but found his greatest sense of accomplishment after the lights in the arena switched off and the crowds were gone. Well worth reading.

I'm giving this four stars because of the courage it takes to open up about these topics. I'm not interested in being negative so I will leave those parts out. Theo Fleury was like a hero to us smaller kids playing hockey. I always believed the best way to play is with heart and passion. The players I admire the most play with conviction and heart. Theo always played this way and it was inspiration. I grew a bit taller but often I was the 5'4" going up against the six foot kids and hitting and fighting them back twice as hard. Before my skill caught up it was the heart that bought me interest from coaches and got me to higher levels. That's in large part because of Theo Fleury.I hope a lot of what he talked about causes people to do more to help people and hockey players with substance abuse and sexual abuse.

I'm a big hockey fan from the UK.I read this book whilst in hospital, I couldn't put it down, a real rollercoaster of emotions, good times & bad.It's great to see Theo has come out the other side & his demons & addictions are hopefully behind him for good.I cannot recommend this book highly enough, rags to riches story or one of the greatest NHLers of all time.

Still yet to read it but very happy with receiving it.

A must for any hockey player or enthusiast.Theo's story is gritty and filled with some great memories. A nice insight into the life of someone desperate to make it to the 'show'.Dark at times and thoroughly interesting.

Honest insight into ice hockey player life

If you haven't read this and you are a ice hockey fan, then it is a must read.Theo tells his story in a warts and all way.I was left with nothing but admiration for Theo for the way he has faced his demons and turned his life around.