WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2019
WHL AND SASKATOON BLADES TO SUPPORT LAUNCH OF LATEST BROWNRIDGE BOOK AT 2019 CIBC CANADA RUSSIA SERIES
Newest book from famed Canadian author of “The Moccasin Goalie” to launch with exclusive reading in Saskatoon
A Prairie Boy CIBC WHL Canada Russia Series
Saskatoon, Sask. – The WHL and Saskatoon Blades are proud to announce support for the launch of A Prairie Boy – the latest release from esteemed Canadian author Bill Brownridge, known best for The Moccasin Goalie and The Final Game.
On Wednesday, November 13, members of the Saskatoon Blades will give an exclusive reading of Brownridge’s new book A Prairie Boy to children prior to Game 5 of the 2019 CIBC Canada Russia Series at SaskTel Centre.
A Prairie Boy tells the story of a young Metis child by the name of Tony, growing up on a farm with his grandparents near Battleford, Sask. Making friends isn’t easy for Tony, but playing hockey makes all the difference and he dreams of one day playing in the NHL.
“The environment into which I was born, the Canadian prairies, is cold for six months of the year, and has given me a love of winter, both its shining beauty and its starkness,” Brownridge said. “My brothers were great hockey players and they became my heroes and showed me the power, speed and grace of the game – a game that at its best teaches courage and selflessness.
“My painting comes from the school of impressionism. I love colour and the dynamics of colour. Because of the snowy landscape, I am always trying to capture the incredible moods of light and shadow on snow and the sparkle of the colours of children at play.”
Brownridge, 87, is one of Canada’s most popular hockey artists and author of numerous Canadian classic children’s hockey books. The game of hockey – with emphasis on children’s enjoyment of playing this great game – has been a lifelong inspiration for Brownridge.
A Prairie Boy includes a foreword from Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Bill Hay, a native of Saskatoon.
“As a fellow Saskatchewan-born ‘Prairie Boy’ and longtime friend of Bill Brownridge, I’m proud to share Bill’s love of our great game of hockey and marvel how his artistic talent truly captures the grassroots spirit of the game,” Hay said.
Wednesday’s special reading will feature Kjell Kjehmus, Koen MacInnes, Cyle McNabb and Randen Schmidt of the Saskatoon Blades.
A native of Rosetown, Sask., Brownridge has contributed greatly to hockey and sport through his art over the years. He was commissioned in 1981 by the Calgary Olympic Development Association to render a series of pieces depicting sporting events of the Olympic Winter Games – his works aided Calgary’s winning presentation to the International Olympic Committee for the 1988 Winter Olympics. In 1993, he was commissioned to design new uniforms for the NHL’s Calgary Flames and in 1995 he debuted his very first children’s book, The Moccasin Goalie. Brownridge was also one of 12 select artists featured in an exhibition at the NHL All-Star Game in 2001. In 2018, he presented an original painting to the Humboldt Broncos of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League as a memorial tribute to the organization and the community following a devastating bus crash that claimed the lives of 16 members of the organization and impacted countless others.
Other published hockey works from Bill Brownridge include:
- The Boy Who Wouldn’t Fight, 2014
- Victory at Paradise Hill, 2003
- The Final Game, 1997
- The Moccasin Goalie, 1995
A Prairie Boy can be purchased by visiting Brownridge’s website heartofhockey.com, Amazon.ca or Barnes & Noble.
About the Western Hockey League
Regarded as the world’s finest development league for junior hockey players, the Western Hockey League (WHL) head office is based in Calgary, Alberta. The WHL consists of 22 member Clubs with 17 located in Western Canada and five in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. A member of the Canadian Hockey League, the WHL has been a leading supplier of talent for the National Hockey League for over 50 years. The WHL is also the leading provider of hockey scholarships with over 350 graduates each year receiving WHL Scholarships to pursue a post-secondary education of their choice. Each season, WHL players also form the nucleus of Canada’s National Junior Hockey Team.