When the snowstorm Brady had been waiting for finally happens, he builds the ice rink of his dreams, but the snowstorms don’t stop, so every day he digs out the rink out of his love for hockey, and that dedication pays off.
“Brady Brady and the Great Rink” by Mary Shaw, illustrated by Chuck Temple is the second story in the anthology Our Game, which comprises hockey stories from several Canadian authors and illustrators.
As someone reading the series for the first time, it is useful to have the explanation for why Brady is called Brady Brady in the beginning pages of the book. The explanation relates to the main premise of the book, and the intro eases the reader into the story and world lore of Brady as a character.
The premise of hockey obsession and waiting for a snowstorm translates into Brady’s motivation for creating and constantly maintaining the rink. It shows that he will not give up because hockey is something he cares so much about.
His family is also established to have distinct personalities. The reader understands what kind of people they are and what their roles in the story are immediately upon meeting them, which establishes a fun dynamic between them and Brady.
I read all the stories in this collection with my preschool-aged brother and upon seeing the cover of this book, he exclaimed, “this is the best!” which I took as a sign that it would be an engaging read, and it was. The art style is quirky and fits the atmosphere of the story very nicely, giving the characters expressive faces or fun details on the pages, which bring an element of realism to them.
The author made the story feel helpless at multiple points, from the work that needed to be put in to maintaining the rink to the repetition of restarting the next day. That helpless feeling brings stakes and intrigue to the overall story.
The perseverance, determination, and generosity that Brady exhibits are admirable. I would recommend this story to extreme hockey lovers who would also spend days making a backyard hockey rink in the freezing cold.
Text and illustration copyright Brady Brady Inc.
Our Game! 5 Hockey Stories releases October 2025, pre-order your copy here.
Order Brady Brady and the Great Rink here.
Contact the columnist: raegen.prohockeynews@gmail.com
Mary Shaw developed Brady Brady while trying to get her hockey-obsessed five-year-old son to read. The bestselling series, which now includes 18 books, is a true Canadian success story. Mary Shaw lives in the Ottawa area.
Chuck Temple began his career at the age of 18 when his first comic strip, Bernie on the Beat, went into syndication. He studied at both the University of Guelph and the Ontario College of Art, and cites Bill Watterson, creator of Calvin and Hobbes, as his favourite cartoonist. He also enjoys coaching and playing hockey. He lives in Kitchener, Ontario.
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