Business the NHL Way: Lessons from the Fastest Game on Ice

"I have read many great sports books but never one about how to apply the best of the NHL’s values into running a business or getting promoted. This is a fun read that is also reverential to the game and the traditions of the NHL. It’s a book for hockey lovers who go to work every day and ‘skate’ their shifts."　

Sean McDonough, NHL Play-by-Play Commentator, ESPN

"With a mix of rich storytelling and personal anecdotes, Norm O’Reilly and Rick Burton have vividly captured the essence of what makes hockey such a great game, on and off the ice, and they have applied those principles to business and life. If you love sports and also appreciate how qualities that enable character-building on the ice can apply to developing leadership skills and the preparation for success in business, this is a terrific read."

Susan Cohig, Executive Vice President, NHL Club Business Affairs

"By telling insightful stories inspired by the world of hockey, Norm O’Reilly and Rick Burton teach us valuable lessons about achieving successful outcomes in business, leadership, management, and sports. They show us how the NHL has thrived in the face of the health disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic that threaten business sustainability in every sector. Business the NHL Way is essential reading for anyone who wants to build a winning team in any arena."

Scott Smith, President and Chief Operating Officer, Hockey Canada

"A truly impressive book on the qualities and fundamentals of effective leadership along with anecdotes of managing through crisis while staying focused on your goals. This book is inspiring for business leaders in any field and the lessons throughout should serve as a resource for leading and managing the right way!"

Jim Van Stone, President of Business Operations, Monumental Sports and Entertainment

"Some derive leadership lessons from boardrooms. Others derive leadership lessons from behind the boards and on the ice. Norm O’Reilly and Rick Burton have found a way to do both. Business the NHL way provides anecdotal evidence and colorful storytelling about how the sub-economies around the NHL have massive cultural relevance and provide valued learnings."

Donnovan Bennett, Feature Host, Producer, and Radio Host at Sportsnet

"In Business the NHL Way, Norm O’Reilly and Rick Burton use hockey as the vehicle to teach us about building successful businesses. The authors take us into rinks, locker rooms, and front offices to illustrate the shared strategy of hockey and business, which is, as the great Wayne Gretzky said, ‘...always knowing, always skating, to where the puck is going, not to where it has been.’"

Joan Ryan, Author of Intangibles: Unlocking the Science and Soul of Team Chemistry

"Business the NHL Way is a lively and engrossing romp through hockey history told by a pair of insiders who are not afraid to shake off the gloves. But it’s also a sharp-eyed take on a question that bedevils every successful legacy business: How do we adapt and evolve without abandoning our essential character?"

Sam Walker, Wall Street Journal Leadership Columnist, and Author of The Captain Class

"Business the NHL Way is a fascinating read. Hardcore and casual hockey fans and those interested in the business of sport will enjoy the behind-the-curtains insights that Norm O’Reilly and Rick Burton provide. As someone who grew up playing and loving the game of hockey, I never expected I would be able to spend the bulk of my working career engaged in the business of hockey. Readers will learn about the inner workings of the NHL and better understand what drives decision-making at the club and league level. You will be impressed at the data and details provided. I know I was!"

Cyril Leeder, Former CEO, President and Alternate Governor, Ottawa Senators