They Call Me Killer

Brian Kilrea, one of junior hockey's most successful coaches, shares his life story and coaching philosophy in this memoir. His 35-year career with the Ottawa 67's produced multiple championships and helped launch numerous NHL careers. Kilrea recounts his early days as a minor league player through his transformation into a respected junior hockey coach. The narrative includes behind-the-scenes stories from his decades in hockey and interactions with players who went on to become NHL stars. Working with sportswriter James Duthie, Kilrea provides insights into his coaching methods and team management approach. His direct communication style and focus on player development become evident through anecdotes and reflections on key moments in his career. The book stands as both a historical record of Canadian junior hockey and an exploration of leadership in sports. Through Kilrea's experiences, readers gain understanding of how dedication to fundamentals and genuine care for players can build lasting success.

Readers appreciated Brian Kilrea's candid stories and insights from his 35+ year coaching career with the Ottawa 67s. Hockey fans found the book provided an unfiltered look at junior hockey, with Kilrea sharing behind-the-scenes anecdotes and his coaching philosophy. Several reviews noted the book's conversational tone made it feel like sitting down with Kilrea to hear his stories. Multiple readers highlighted the chapters about player development and team management. A few readers mentioned the book could have included more details about specific games and seasons. Some wanted additional focus on Kilrea's early playing career. Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (32 ratings) Amazon.ca: 4.5/5 (6 reviews) Common praise from reviews: "Honest look at junior hockey coaching" "Full of great stories and hockey wisdom" "Shows why he's a legend in the OHL" Critiques from reviews: "Jumps around chronologically" "Could have gone deeper into certain seasons"

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🏒 Brian Kilrea holds the record for most wins by a coach in Canadian Hockey League history with 1,194 victories during his tenure with the Ottawa 67's 📚 The book reveals that Kilrea turned down multiple NHL coaching opportunities to stay with junior hockey, believing he could make a bigger impact developing young players 🌟 During his coaching career, Kilrea helped develop over 80 players who went on to play in the NHL, including Gary Roberts, Doug Wilson, and Bryan Trottier 🏆 Co-author James Duthie is one of Canada's most recognized sports broadcasters and has won three Gemini Awards for his work covering hockey 🎯 Kilrea scored the first goal in Los Angeles Kings history during his brief NHL playing career, before finding his true calling as a legendary junior hockey coach