Playing With Fire: The Highest Highs and Lowest Lows of Theo Fleury

Theoren Fleury · Kirstie McLellan Day

Oct 2010 · HarperCollins Canada

About this ebook

“It’s hard to believe Fleury survived his own life.”
— The Globe and Mail

Theo Fleury, who had walked away from hockey in 2003, leaving millions of dollars on the table and thousands of fans asking why, was determined to redeem himself. But how? With a comeback. Six years after his last NHL game, at age 41, weighing 215 pounds and with 25 per cent body fat, he had only seven months to get ready for the Calgary Flames training camp. His chance for redemption came in a pre-season game against the New York Islanders. The score was 4–4 going into a shootout when his coach leaned over and told him, “You’re up next.”

In this fully up-to-date edition of Playing with Fire, Fleury gives readers the inside story on how his life has changed since this book was first published. Along with the original, fearlessly honest tale that captivated the nation, he now chronicles his NHL comeback. In the same frank, fast-paced style that made his book a blockbuster, Fleury shares fascinating new stories about life as a 41-year-old rookie, as an author on the road, and as a man in the spotlight following the disturbing news that his former coach Graham James had been pardoned for his horrific crimes. Playing with Fire is Theo Fleury’s journey to hell and back, a book no one can put down or will ever forget.

Finalist for the 2010 CBA Libris Award for Non-fiction Book of the Year

Hockey Book of the Year (Denver Post)

Ratings and reviews

Theo spoke from the heart. He is honest and his actions are forgivable. I grew up feeling different, all because I was molested by an older cousin several times before kindergarten. I never told a soul. Reading about Theo's behaviour and relationship troubles after his abuse, along with finally revealing the truth about his abuse to his family triggered me to follow in his footsteps, and overcome my fear of telling my parents. I can honestly say I wish I would have read this sooner. Thankful for having brave people like him guide me to do the impossible. .

Great read

About the author

Theoren “Theo” Fleury won a World Junior title, a Turner Cup, a stanley Cup as a rookie with the Calgary Flames and later a Canada Cup and an Olympic gold medal. A former player with the Colorado Avalanche, New York Rangers and Chicago Blackhawks, he now lives in Calgary, where he is a motivational speaker and an investment representative with a land development company. Visit him online online here: www.theofleury14.com.

KIRSTIE McLELLAN DAY ranks among the top hockey writers in the world thanks to seven national #1 bestsellers: Theo Fleury’s Playing with Fire, Bob Probert’s Tough Guy, Ron MacLean’s Cornered and Hockey Towns, Wayne Gretzky’s 99: Stories of the Game, Kelly Hrudey’s Calling the Shots, and Curtis Joseph’s Cujo. Kirstie, a mother of five great kids, has three grandkids and is married to Pyramid Production television producer Larry Day. They live in Calgary.