Matt McCoy started playing ice hockey at seven and left home at fifteen to pursue a professional hockey career. After playing in the juniors in Canada, he then quit to get his BA. When the desire for hockey again arose, he donned his skates and played professional hockey overseas for three years. Matt is now retired and happily married with two children, living in British Columbia.
"NHL hockey fans get to watch the best hockey players in the world
who've made it to the best hockey league in the world. The Kid Who
Missed The Bus reminds us that they are the exception, not the
rule. But what an adventure it can be just trying to get there. The
story of Danny Boy Doyle is an entertaining read as it follows the
successes, the failures and the shenanigans of this BC boy who can
escape the realities of real life as long as he keeps playing
hockey throughout North America and beyond. And it tells of the
colourful characters he meets along the way. Not necessarily the
path you'd map out for your kid to take but this story of a
lifelong minor leaguer who lives by his own set of rules makes for
a thoroughly enjoyable read." --Christine Simpson, reporter and
broadcaster, Sportsnet
"Ultimately this book is not so much about hockey, but the growth
of a very interesting main character from a youth, to a cocky young
hockey player, to a guy who makes a few mistakes along the way to
the man he is today." --Hockey Book Reviews
"Hockey is a passionate game which requires unstinting passion and
sacrifice on the part of its on ice 'warriors' to achieve success.
The Kid Who Missed the Bus provides the reader with a true behind
the scenes look at what it takes to be one of the very few who ever
become a pro at any level let alone reaching the pinnacle of being
an NHLer. Although most of these 'kids' never achieve that goal,
their stories are nonetheless fascinating and colorful, and the
culture they live and play in their quest is beautifully and
honestly elucidated in this tome in a way that will both educate
and entertain its readers. After reading this book you will never
look at hockey in the same way again - and you will also gain an
eye opening new understanding and appreciation of what it takes for
the men who play it for us as pros to get there. Hockey fan or not,
won't be able to put this book down." --Bruce "Scoop" Cooper,
hockey broadcaster, author, producer
"It's really tough for me to find the time these days to sit down
and read a book, with a new business that requires a lot of
attention and 3 young kids that require even more, I barely have
any time to do much else. When Matt McCoy sent his book The Kid Who
Missed the Bus to me and asked me to read it, I was unsure if I
would find the time to squeeze it in. The book took me by surprise
and from the first night I started into it, I couldn't put it down.
It only took me a few days to read it cover to cover, my wife Katie
commented, 'You never read anymore, that must be a good one.' I
grew up in Cranbrook B.C., a vibrant Hockey community just like
Matt's home town, and to be able to read first hand his experiences
made me reflect on many situations in my own career that I had
nearly forgotten about. I think that no matter where you grew up in
Canada and how far you made it in the game of Hockey, there is a
common bond that all competitive Hockey players share, on and off
the ice. This book brings to light why we played the game and the
passion we all have for it. My career took me from Cranbrook Minor
Hockey to Tier 2 Junior (where I played with Matt), and from U.S.
College Hockey to the AHL, NHL and eventually to Europe where I
finished my career. I always wondered what form a book would take
if I ever decided to write one so I was excited to have the chance
to read about Matt's journey and see how closely related the Hockey
World really is. I would recommend this book to anyone that likes
real life stories and wants some insight into what a kid trying to
make it goes through along the way. This book is very cleverly
written and a real joy to read. I have to say that Matt is the Real
McCoy and has come a long way from the young, inexperienced kid
that I played with over 20 years ago." --Corey Spring, retired
hockey player, Tampa Bay Lightning
|
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
|
