Confession to start...I'm a hockey nerd (that's a wannabe historian in proper circles) and really enjoy books about players and event off the beaten path; so this book is right down my alley. Father Bauer was a member of a famous sporting family from Kitchener and was himself an accomplished athlete but like a select group of other athletes chose a different path in life to the benefit of many Canadians. His vision was for a dedicated national hockey team that would attract superior young men who would forego a professional hockey career whilst pursuing their formal education and representing Canada on the international sporting theater.Oliver is to be admired not just for tackling this topic and for his writing, but also for his tenacious research; as an example, he interviewed over 80 individuals that played for Father Bauer or were otherwise associated with him. And the research was put to good use in crafting a story not only about Father Bauer but also the whole effort that resulted in fielding a competitive national hockey team comprised of amateurs. Using the modest victory in 1972 of NHL Canadian professionals versus the Russians, observers can now better appreciate with the benefit of hindsight just how successful Bauer's teams were.A great read for anyone appreciating the role of this Canada's national sport in the context of recent Canadian history.