Now that the hockey season has started I thought that I’d review a good hockey book – and Doug: The Doug Harvey Story by William Brown is an entertaining read about arguably the best hockey player of all time.

Doug Harvey was born and raised in Montreal. He played 14 seasons with the Montreal Canadiens before being traded to the New York Rangers and moving on to other teams before retiring with the St. Louis Blues after the 1968-69 season at the age of 44. He is in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Besides playing professional hockey, Harvey also played professional football and baseball. He was instrumental in trying to form a players’ association and he was generous with his time and efforts for charities and people who needed help. He also experienced some troubled times.

My father went to school and played some sports with Harvey. I’ve heard several Harvey stories from my father who says that Harvey is the best hockey player of all time. Many others agree. Jean Beliveau, who wrote the Foreword to the book, says that Harvey “was the greatest defenceman who ever played.”

Doug is a well written book about the life of a great hockey player who enjoyed a good time and who was a real character. Is Doug Harvey the best player of all time? My father thinks so and I’m inclined to agree.