New Hockey Biography Published - Dit Clapper and the Rise of the Boston Bruins

Oct. 17, 2012 - PRLog -- Dit Clapper, one of the greatest and most respected NHL players of his era, has been virtually forgotten. Like many players from the original six NHL teams, his achievements and exploits have been pushed off the table by expansion and the flood of professional hockey players who have poured into the public’s consciousness since 1967.

A new book (now available at Amazon.com) rekindles the legend of the incredible Dit Clapper, the first NHL player to skate for 20 NHL seasons, and the first NHL player ever to have his waiting period dramatically waived to propel him directly from the ice into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Dit: Dit Clapper and the Rise of the Boston Bruins (Amazon.com; $20.00)  brings Dit back to life with this compelling biography of his life and career. To this day, Dit alone is the only Bruin to have won three Stanley Cups as a player.

Based on exhaustive archival research and extensive interviews with Dit’s friends and family, the story of this long revered but until now overlooked legend has been faithfully reconstructed. Authors Stewart Richardson and Rick LeBlanc are both members of the Society for International Hockey Research. They were given unprecedented access to long buried information. From former Bruins teammate Milt Schmidt to Scotty Bowman, those who knew Dit best have shared their recollections to bring this important story once more into the spotlight.

The book covers:

•   The importance of Dit’s contribution to the NHL and the Bruins.
•   Dit’s amazing versatility, achieving All-Star status as both forward and defenceman over his 20-year career.
•   Dit’s approach to sportsmanship, and why players avoided fighting with him.
•   The night Dit Clapper, one of the league’s most respected players, leveled then referee Clarence Campbell, who would go on to become president of the NHL.
•   The night Dit’s career almost ended at Maple Leaf Gardens.
•   Dit’s one and only game wearing a Maple Leaf sweater.
•   How Dit and met his wife, Honey, in Vancouver during a west coast Bruins tour in 1930.
•   Life on the road in the Pullman car and in his Boston boarding house – how NHL players lived during Dit’s career.
•   Dit’s ties to Boston, Hastings, Peterborough and their Petes.
•   Harry Sinden’s attempts to unretired Dit’s #5 (Continues on Page 2)

The official launch of Dit: Dit Clapper and the Rise of the Boston Bruins will take place October 20, 2012, at the annual meeting of the Society for International Hockey Research, to be held in Orillia, Ontario.

Quotes from back cover:
“Dit Clapper is one of the greatest players that most of us never had a chance to see play. Richardson and LeBlanc bring his fascinating career to life in this well researched and written biography “
– Jim Hughson – Broadcaster CBC- Hockey night in Canada

"I am honored to have known Dt Clapper from my days in the late 50’s in Peterborough. This story highlights his great accomplishments as a true hockey legend and great person”
Scotty Bowman – Senior Hockey Advisor Hockey Operations – Chicago Blackhawks

Stewart Richardson is available to speak and can talk about the book and the  the 2012 Dit Day celebration in Hastings, Ontario, Dit’s home town and the place where he was finally laid to rest. His phone number and email are 905 373 3627 / stewart@rmhi.ca