A new book by former Detroit Free Press sportswriter Keith Gave tells the story of how the Detroit Red Wings brought Soviet players to the National Hockey League. Those players helped the team win its first Stanley Cup championship in more than four decades back in 1997.
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Gave didn’t just cover the story at the time; he was an important part of it. Having spent six years in the U.S. Army as a Russian linguist eavesdropping on Soviet troops during the Cold War, he helped the team communicate with the players, who ultimately defected.
Keith Gave will discuss “The Russian Five” at the Schuler Book Store in Okemos on Saturday at 2 p.m, and the Schuler’s store in Grand Rapids Saturday night at 7. He discusses the book with WKAR's Scott Pohl.