Keltie Thomas introduces young readers to the wild side of professional hockey, past and present, in this entertaining and informative book. Illustrated with photographs and humorous drawings, Inside Hockey! recounts the facts, adventures, and rare anecdotes that continue to make hockey one of North America’s most popular sports. It's all here — the stories about the superstars (male and female), the rules that changed the game, and the dazzling science behind the sport. Thomas profiles such unforgettable characters as the player who would rather fight than score, a goalie who sewed an elastic mesh net between his legs to catch the puck, and the guy who talked to the goalposts like they were old friends. Special categories include Legends on Ice, Strange but True, and Science at Play. This is the perfect trivia contest book, too, with the stories behind the greatest goal scorers, crazy goalies, practical jokers and hijinks, superstitions, the most ferocious fights, players overcoming obstacles, and the enduring obsession with that Cup called Stanley.

Author Keltie Thomas and illustrator Greg Hall team up to look at hockey in a new way: from the perspective of science. Their book explores the all-important science of explosive moves (the slapshot) and maximizing a player’s chance of scoring; the science of speedy, powerful skating; the puck, stick, mask, and other equipment; the properties of ice and how skating surfaces are maintained; and the science of fitness and healing injuries. How Hockey Works includes personal stories from the inspirational (the stunning careers of Bobby Orr and Wayne Gretzky) to the hilarious (the puck’s origins as an India rubber ball reshaped by a frustrated rink owner). Informative sidebars, a “Rules and Regs” section, and a glossary help make any reader an expert on the game. From casual to obsessed every hockey fan can find something in How Hockey Works.