Breaking Away

Breaking Away is a memoir by former NHL player Patrick O'Sullivan that chronicles his experience of severe physical and emotional abuse at the hands of his father. The abuse began in early childhood and continued throughout his youth hockey career, even as O'Sullivan emerged as one of the sport's most promising young talents. O'Sullivan recounts his path through junior hockey and into the professional ranks while living under his father's constant threats and violence. The narrative follows his development as both a hockey player and a survivor, detailing the complex dynamics of competitive sports, family trauma, and the culture of silence around abuse in athletics. The book provides an insider's perspective on elite youth hockey and the NHL, including O'Sullivan's experiences with multiple teams and his relationship with the sport itself. His account reveals the contrast between his public success on the ice and his private struggles. This memoir confronts themes of resilience, identity, and the long-term impact of childhood trauma. Through O'Sullivan's story, the book examines how athletics can serve as both an escape and a trigger for abuse survivors, while challenging conventional narratives about parent-child relationships in competitive sports.

Readers found O'Sullivan's memoir raw and unflinching in its portrayal of hockey-related child abuse. Many noted the book helped them understand abuse in youth sports and praised O'Sullivan's courage in sharing painful details. Readers appreciated: - Clear writing style that doesn't sensationalize - Practical advice for identifying abuse in sports - Focus on healing and breaking cycles of violence - Co-author Gare Joyce's contributions to the narrative flow Common criticisms: - Some sections feel repetitive - A few readers wanted more detail about his NHL career - Difficult/triggering content for abuse survivors Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (280+ ratings) "Couldn't put it down. Important story that needed to be told," wrote one Amazon reviewer. A Goodreads user noted: "This book will change how you look at youth sports and parent behavior." Most readers recommended the book but advised caution due to the heavy subject matter.

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🏒 Patrick O'Sullivan played 334 games in the NHL between 2006-2012, scoring 58 goals and recording 161 points. 📖 The book details not only O'Sullivan's hockey career but the severe physical and emotional abuse he endured from his father, who forced him into intense hockey training starting at age five. 🌟 After retiring from professional hockey, O'Sullivan became an advocate for abused children and works with various organizations to prevent child abuse in youth sports. 🏆 Before his NHL career, O'Sullivan was named the CHL Rookie of the Year in 2002 and set an OHL record for most points by a rookie (92). 💪 The memoir's title "Breaking Away" has dual meaning - referring both to hockey terminology and O'Sullivan's journey to break free from his father's abuse at age 16 with help from his mother and the courts.