The Riverton Rifle: My Story: Straight Shooting on Hockey and on Life

by Reggie Leach, Bobby Clarke (Foreword by)

Overview

“It all comes down to making the right life choices,” says the NHL’s legendary Reggie Leach, and this intimate biography lays bare the decisions that led him to become one of the best snipers in hockey history. Nicknamed the Riverton Rifle for his thrilling speed and deadly shooting skills, Leach overcame a childhood marked by poverty and racism to rise through the NHL, playing for the Stanley Cup-winning 1975 Philadelphia Flyers. Through Leach’s own recollections, The Riverton Rifle traces his trajectory from humble beginnings to NHL stardom. It follows the dramatic fall caused by his drinking problem and his subsequent rebirth as a successful businessman, family man, and pillar of the Aboriginal community.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781771642583
Publisher:	Greystone Books
Publication date:	12/13/2016
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Hockey legend Reggie Leach was member of the renowned Broad Street Bullies-era Philadelphia Flyers, where the sniper set goal-scoring records that still stand today. Off the ice Reggie is well known for his fundraising work and for steering Aboriginal youth towards making positive life choices.

Editorial Reviews

01/04/2016
Leach, an NHL star in the 1970s, was nicknamed the Riverton Rifle for his skills as a scoring sniper, and his fast-moving autobiography has some of that speed and momentum. At first, he seems hesitant to reveal details, only briefly describing his childhood as the son of a young Métis father and Ojibwe mother, raised by his grandparents in the small town of Riverton, Manitoba, and his early days as a junior hockey sensation in Flin Flon. After that, however, like Leach racing down the wing to fire on the net, it's go-go-go. There is plenty of detail about his days in the NHL: his beginnings in Boston, suffering with the hapless California Golden Seals, glory days in Philadelphia, and a forgotten final season in Detroit. He also describes the destructive effect that alcoholism had on his career and marriage, and how he rebuilt his life after rehabilitation. Leach includes some funny family stories, including some about his son, Jamie, who also played in the NHL, but he dishes little dirt about teammates. Quotes from family members, friends, and other players are sprinkled throughout on their own pages, and while they are revealing, they tend to disrupt the narrative. (Dec.)

Publishers Weekly

"A fast-moving autobiography..." Publishers Weekly

"The Riverton Rifle is an amazing read, the classic tale of a young man reaching the pinnacle despite the odds. It's powerful, straightforward, and full of action. Reggie Leach is not just one of the greatest First Nations athletes Canada has ever produced—he's one of the greatest, period. This is a tale for the ages." Joseph Boyden, author of The Orenda, and Through Black Spruce

"It took great courage for NHL goaltenders to face Reggie Leach's shot—but nothing compared to the courage he eventually found to face himself. The Riverton Rifle is the inspirational story of an incredible personal journey." —Roy MacGregor, author of Wayne Gretzky's Ghost

"Reggie Leach, star of the famed Broad Street Bullies, burned as hot off the ice as on it. The Riverton Rifle chronicles his rise to fame, his personal struggles, and his redemption from the demons that almost destroyed him. It’s a must-read for fans of 1970s hockey and anyone who loves watching a young player take on the star system of pro sports." —Bruce Dowbiggin, author of Ice Storm and The Meaning of Puck

"Reggie Leach has inspired and encouraged people both in hockey and far beyond it. Wise, witty, and honest, The Riverton Rifle is a remarkable story full of triumphs and struggles that proves Leach's determination to make a difference." —John K. Samson, The Weakerthans

From the Publisher