IRON MIKE: MY LIFE BEHIND THE BENCH is the memoir of professional hockey coach Mike Keenan.

I came of age as a hockey fan in the mid-90s, right around the time Keenan was winning his first – and only – Stanley Cup as head coach of the New York Rangers. Despite multiple trips to the finals with both Philadelphia and Chicago in the years prior to his run with the Blueshirts, my knowledge was limited to those post-Rangers years where Keenan seemed to be hired and fired at the drop of a hat. Turns out there was a lot I didn’t know.

Keenan writes about his incredible success in bringing both the Flyers and the Blackhawks from the bottom of the league standings to the top of the mountain, achievements that would make him desirable for years to come. While working as an NHL bench boss, Keenan was twice-tapped to run our national team for the Canada Cup in both 1987 and 1991 creating a work-load that would likely be unmanageable for many. However, it is his work with the Rangers in the 1993-1994 season that shines through as his proudest achievement. Keenan built a powerhouse team through hard-nosed coaching and brilliant roster moves that better prepared an already first placed team at the trade deadline for the drudgery of the postseason. The madness that followed surrounding breaches of contract, media attention and league bickering may have slightly stained the memory of his time in New York, but it didn’t wipe out his accomplishment.

There are a lot of funny stories here surrounding off-ice shenanigans, conflicts with players and downright unconventional coaching strategies that kept me reading for long stretches of time. The book has a very conversational tone not unlike Brian Burke’s excellent BURKE’S LAW, which I would recommend to anyone looking for a peek beyond the ice in just how the business of hockey is run. Much like Burke, Keenan also worked as both a GM and analyst, so has a great way of explaining how a team is built, how they win, with an unmatched eye for talent.

IRON MIKE: MY LIFE BEHIND THE BENCH is one of those rare hockey memoirs that are more intimate in structure and far less robotic than simple blow-by-blow career recaps. Keenan really lets the reader in here to see his whole career, warts and all, and puts forth a very humble, yet grateful, presence. The market tends to get crowded this time of year with the beginning of the NHL season and the lead-up to the holidays, but I hope everyone gives this one consideration as I feel it’s one of the stronger ones this season.