book cover: “Next to the Ice”“Next to the Ice” explores Canadian hockey culture. Two of its authors will sign copies Thursday in the Campus Bookstore and Friday at the Lancer men’s hockey game.

Bookstore to host signing Thursday for works by education professors

A book signing Thursday in the Campus Bookstore will highlight a pair of works by professors from the Faculty of Education.

Authors Chris Greig and Kara Smith will sign copies of Next to the Ice: Exploring the Culture and Community of Hockey in Canada; Dr. Smith will also sign copies of her poetry collection, The Artists of Crow County.

In Next to the Ice, three university educators — UWindsor professor Cam Cobb joined his colleagues in preparing its six essays — provide insights into key areas of elite and professional hockey, including: fan culture, franchise drama, the rise of the hockey enforcer, and the off-ice politics of hockey parents.

“It’s easy to find critical things to say about hockey culture in Canada, but no one ever says why are you spending so much time studying math?” says Smith. “There are redeeming cultural values in developing elite athletes, and I think this book describes that experience.”

In The Artists of Crow County, Smith treks through the working lives of Ontario artists, giving readers a chance to tour with the exclusive thoughts of the artists’ world. Two of its poems were shortlisted for poetry prizes: the Walrus Poetry Prize and the Polar Expressions Poetry Prize.

Thursday’s signing will run noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Campus Bookstore on the lower level of the CAW Student Centre.

Greig and Smith will also sign books during the Lancer men’s hockey game, Friday, January 27, at South Windsor Arena. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m. but the authors will be available starting at 7 p.m.