Local author pens pucks book

An aircraft mechanic by day, an author by night.

Timothy Rogers traded in his tools for a typewriter to write his third book, "The Golden Rules of Ice Hockey."

Published earlier this year, Rogers' third book is 95 pages worth of tips on the how to's of hockey.

The book is separated into 10 chapters with each devoted to a golden rule of the fastest game on earth.

Rogers covers topics ranging from skating skills, footwork, puck work, teamwork and the importance of keeping your head up.

Rogers keeps the terminology simple in the book, allowing those with all levels of hockey knowledge to enjoy.

Not to give away the ending, but Rogers concludes with the simplest and possibly most important rule of all.

"Keep your head up and your stick on the ice," Rogers said.

Rogers has been around the sport for more than 15 years. He group near the Michigan-Canada border and started his hockey career on the area's frozen ponds.

In addition to playing as a youth, Rogers spent time playing in Germany in the early 1990s in the leagues that feed the European professional leagues.

After playing with the Hamburg Crocodiles, Rogers left the hockey world for a while.

Then, while managing an ice rink in Anchorage, Rogers' interest in the sport was renewed. He came up with the idea of writing the book while watching the are youth play.

"I saw the local youth kids play and that inspired me to share some of my knowledge," Rogers said. "Alaska has produced a lot of good kids. I thought I could offer the book and my knowledge and hope the kids can use the information."

Rogers published the book himself and his wife, an illustrator, helped paginate and illustrate the pages.

By the time Rogers started the hockey book, he had two others under his belt.

"It went pretty smooth," Rogers said of the production process. "I knew what had to be done. I knew what work was involved and how to work with the printer.

"It was trial and error," he added.

According to Rogers, he has received a positive response about his book.

"I have found adults to be interested in my book also," Rogers said.

Rogers said in addition to the youth, the target audience, adults such as women in the local adult leagues enjoy his book.

The book is available locally at Fireside Books and Rogers hopes to extend his writing to a national audience.

Rogers would like to make his book available to the area youth hockey leagues as well as the Alaska Anchorage hockey program.

"I would like to make it available in hockey communities," Rogers said. "The book has potential to be popular in the northern regions.

"I may make it available on the internet depending on whether people find it worthy."

Prior to penning his hockey book, Rogers, sort of a jack of all trades, had written books on sailing and goal setting.

Though he is unsure of if and when he will write his fourth novel, Rogers has pondered with the idea of writing a book for high school students who are interested in aircraft repair.