Life in Two Worlds: A Coach's Journey from the Reserve to the NHL and Back

I don't know hockey but I do know the name Ted Nolan, and the Garden River area. He figured large in our local news when he went on to NHL fame, then faded from view again afterwards. Everyone had an opinion about what happened with the Sabres, but few had any knowledge. It was great to read the whole story from Nolan's own point of view, but that particular incident is only a small component of the larger story he has to tell.

Garden River in the 1960s presented a rougher upbringing than I had ever imagined - no indoor plumbing, poor heating and insulation. Multiple generations were traumatized from their residential school experience, turning to drink to drown their memories. These were a people in need of assistance and healing, not show more the scorn they received. Nolan was very fortunate in his parents, who were significant figures in their community and set a strong example for maintaining pride in one's culture and heritage. They also taught him the value of hard work.

Racism enters the story faster than hockey does, and it is always in the background. Nolan explores the stereotypes, does not shy away from instances where they were true but backs them with the circumstances, and abundantly demonstrates their harm. The lowest days were his playing years in Kenora, Ontario, and much later an unbelievably bad experience as a coach during a match in Chicoutimi, Quebec. He required police escort out of the building to protect him from the spewing racist hatred of 'fans' who seemed more interested in attacking his culture than in the game. The incident left him understandably shaken.

How great a role racism played in the most infamous incident of his life - being let go by Buffalo in the 1990s - is difficult for him to evaluate. He dismisses all the rumours, which I find credible given how much else he openly confesses. A more clear point surfaces: there are seasons in which NHL management feels motivated to have their team finish in the basement for the sake of getting better picks in the next draft. When this happens, as it did during those key seasons, it's an enormous clash with the desires, striving and morale of the players, and of their coach. Nolan was determined to push his underdog team as far as it could go while management wanted him to lose.

The writing is excellent, I think any celebrity who doubts their writing skills would do well to team up with Meg Masters based on this. His wife Sandra is a major hero in this story, stood by him through everything. Last to mention, I have seen the railway bridge with those words spraypainted on it all my life, and always wondered. The extra bits of information provided here were very satisfying. show less