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One of hockey’s most famous personalities, TSN’s Bob McKenzie is just like any other hockey dad.
Growing up a Maple Leafs fan and playing minor hockey in Scarborough, McKenzie remembers having the yard in his school flooded during the winter by the neighbouring fireman. He was constantly playing hockey, whether it was on the ice or playing road hockey after school and on weekends.
McKenzie recently released his book Hockey Confidential, five years after writing Hockey Dad: True Confessions Of A (Crazy) Hockey Parent. The TV personality, author and podcaster has always had a passion for the sport and passed it on to his two sons, Shawn and Mike. Both grew up playing hockey and Shawn is now a reporter for Sportsnet while Mike is an assistant coach and the assistant general manager with the Kitchener Rangers after retiring from playing professionally.
His books feature some insight into his life as a ‘Hockey Insider’ and share stories from his decades of covering the sport. They also detail how he dealt with his kid’s hockey injuries and how tough they can be on the family as well as handling the pressure of playing hockey at a high level.
Looking back, McKenzie would be the first to admit that he occasionally lost sight of what was important when his kids played minor hockey.
“If you’re a parent and you’re not happy about something, look and see if you’re kid is actually unhappy before you say or do anything about it, because really if they’re not unhappy then you shouldn’t be unhappy because it’s not really about you,” said McKenzie.