As was the case for the AMH Nordiques when they moved to the NHL, the book by Jean-Pierre D’Auteuil and Jean-Philippe d’Otis (which deals, precisely, with the AMH Nordiques) will be able to delight even more fans in the coming weeks, since it will shortly be on sale on the Amazon platform.
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In fact, there are several parallels to be drawn between all the work that the two authors did to bring the work to life. Where it all began! The Nordic epic in the AMH 1972-1979 and the one that allowed Fleurdelisé to join the biggest hockey league in the world, after seven years spent in the “cursed circuit”.
Like the men at the origin of the Nordiques, the uncle and nephew carried out their project at arm’s length, inspired by the celebrations marking the 50e anniversary of the World Hockey Association two years ago. The book, published 15 months ago, was self-published.
Jean-Philippe Otis and Jean-Pierre D’Auteuil, the two authors of “Where it all began! The epic tale of the Nordiques in the AMH 1972-1979”, on the Videotron Center press gallery.
Photo Martine Plante
Behind the scenes of the epic
The 176-page bible not only includes anecdotes and highlights of the Nordics’ time in the AMH, but also nearly 180 period photos.
“We did the entire book ourselves,” recalls Mr. D’Auteuil, who is on his third work. No publisher, no distributor. […] We financed it from A to Z.”
“A lot of people told us it wouldn’t work because we were too small. But we received so many good reviews, continues the author. A lot of people didn’t know what a good player Marc Tardif was, for example.”
Among the many stories told there, we find in particular the dark moments of this rival league of the NHL. The frequent moves, the more than dilapidated arenas, and this famous Avco Cup final of 1975, when no hotel was available for the players from Quebec.
An opening to the world
But the AMH was not just a laughing stock, and this is what, among other things, made Jean-Pierre D’Auteuil want to embark on this vast project.
“With the arrival of European players, it was an opening to the world for the NHL, this league. […] And there were excellent players who made the jump to the NHL afterwards,” he underlines in particular, naming Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier.
As Mr. D’Auteuil and Mr. Otis self-published and did not rely on a distributor, it was not easy to get into bookstores. Jean-Pierre D’Auteuil is delighted that some have opened their doors to them. Independents, but also some Renaud-Bray and Archambault.
He is also delighted that readers from across Quebec – but also from the United States – have already been able to get their hands on the book, the price of which was recently lowered to $24.95.
Mr. D’Auteuil now hopes that its arrival on Amazon will allow even more people to discover the epic tale of the Nordiques before their arrival in the NHL.
