The Kontinentalnaya Hokkeynaya Liga (KHL), founded in 2008, has quickly established itself as the second best league in the world, behind only the National Hockey League.
Bernd Bruckler spent two seasons playing for Torpedo Nizhny Novogorod, and a season with Sibir Novosibirsk in Siberia. In his memoir, he tells us what it's like to be an import player in Russia, and the challenges he faced with the language, the culture, and the game.
He tells stories about life at the "baza," a training base, and how they'd have to spend big parts of the season away from their families. (Unless they sneak out). His driver was also his buddy and a bodyguard. There's the travel, with hours upon hours on planes that are often antiquated, and there are the teammates, the doctors, the pills, the training camps, the saunas, and the money, oh, the money.
"What an awesome book. If you're a hockey fan, you will love it."
- Thomas Vanek, New York Islanders
"This is Russia... offers a fascinating first-person look at life in the KHL for a foreigner."
- Chris Johnston, Sportsnet, Canada
"It's been a long time since I have thoroughly enjoyed a book so much."
- Michael Lorber, sports journalist, Kleine Zeitung, Austria"