Sudden Death: The Incredible Saga of the 1986 Swift Current Broncos

by Leesa Culp, Gregg Drinnan, Bob Wilkie, Brian Costello (Foreword by)

Overview

A true story of hockey heartbreak, tragedy, and triumph.

Limited time offer.

Sudden Death brings to life the incredible ongoing saga of the Swift Current Broncos hockey team. After a tragic game-day bus accident on December 30, 1986, left four of its star players dead, the first-year Western Hockey League team was faced with nearly insurmountable odds against not only its future success but its very survival. The heartbreaking story made headlines across North America, and the club garnered acclaim when it triumphantly rebounded and won the Canadian Hockey League’s prestigious Memorial Cup in 1989.

Many of the surviving Broncos continued their successful hockey careers in the NHL, among them 2012 Hockey Hall of Famer Joe Sakic, Sheldon Kennedy, and Sudden Death co-author Bob Wilkie. Years later the Broncos’ tragedy-to-triumph tale was overshadowed when the team’s former coach, Graham James, was convicted of sexual assault against Sheldon Kennedy, Theoren Fleury, and Todd Holt, all of whom played for him.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781459705463
Publisher:	Dundurn Press
Publication date:	11/10/2012
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	216
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Leesa Culp was one of the few witnesses to the crash of the Swift Current Broncos. She has been published by The Hockey News, the Penticton Herald, and the Sudbury Star.

Gregg Drinnan has been a sports journalist for 40 years and has been sports editor at the Kamloops Daily News since 2000.

Bob Wilkie played three seasons with the Swift Current Broncos and was on the team bus when it crashed in 1986.

Leesa Culp was one of the few witnesses to the crash of the Swift Current Broncos. She has been published by The Hockey News, the Penticton Herald, and the Sudbury Star.

Gregg Drinnan has been a sports journalist for 40 years and has been sports editor at the Kamloops Daily News since 2000.

Bob Wilkie played three seasons with the Swift Current Broncos and was on the team bus when it crashed in 1986.

Table of Contents

Foreword:  Brian Costello, Senior Editor, The Hockey News Chapter One:  The Road Back Chapter Two:  The Crash Chapter Three:  The Broncos Come Home Chapter Four:  The RCMP Officer Chapter Five:  The Hospital Chapter Six:  Leesa’s ride Chapter Seven:  The Invisible Goaltenders Chapter Eight:  The Aftermath (Soberlak)
Chapter Nine:  The Funerals Chapter Ten:  The Trainer Chapter Eleven:  The Uncle Chapter Twelve:  More Aftermath Chapter Thirteen:  Back on the Ice Chapter Fourteen:  The Memorial Cup Chapter Fifteen:  The Coach, Part 1
Chapter Sixteen:  The Coach, Part 2
Chapter Seventeen:  The Coach, Part 3 (will be finalized pending outcome of current 2011 criminal trial)
Chapter Eighteen:  Leaving Swift Current Epilogue:  Where Are They Now?
Swift Current Broncos Stats Acknowledgements/Bibliography
 

What People are Saying About This

Roy MacGregor

The foreword by Brian Costello is powerful and chilling … the work of Gregg Drinnan is professional … the stories of Leesa Culp and Bob Wilkie are compelling personal journeys.

Editorial Reviews

Sudden Death: The Incredible Saga of the 1986 Swift Current Broncos was the passionate project of crash eyewitness Leesa Culp and Bronco star Bob Wilkie who both steadfastly believed this emotional story needed to be shared with a wider audience.

Southwest Booster

The book is one that needs to be read…no matter whether you are a hockey fan or a sports fan!

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