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The Stanley Cup. It had not called the city of Detroit home for 42 years.

For 13 seasons, the Detroit Red Wings' Steve Yzerman and his teammates tried to change that. In 1997, Steve finally saw his dream become a reality. He hoisted the Stanley Cup above his head, taking a victory lap around the rink.

Here is the story of NHL superstar Steve Yzerman, from his early hockey-playing days in Nepean, Ontario, through his second consecutive Stanley Cup championship with the Detroit Red Wings in 1998. Follow the extraordinary career that has put Steve in the record books and makes him a favorite of hockey fans everywhere.

Hockeytown Hero: The Steve Yzerman Story *
An Authorized Biography by Shelley Lazarus

* A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book will benefit the Detroit Free Press' "Gift of Reading" program.

From the back cover:

"Finally, a biography on Steve Yzerman geared toward his biggest fans--kids! Hockeytown Hero: The Steve Yzerman Story is a must-have for any sports library collection."

Jo-Ann Barnas
Olympic writer, Detroit Free Press

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Heard elsewhere:

I just finished reading Hockeytown Hero: The Steve Yzerman Story. Finally, a biography written for kids about our Detroit Red Wings Captain! Author Shelley Lazarus includes interviews with Yzerman, his teammates, and other hockey legends, including Scotty Bowman and Bryan Trottier.

I thought the book was well written; a great story told artfully. Trust me when I say grown ups will enjoy it as much as the kids! While the book focuses on Yzerman's hockey career -- from the time he first skated at age three, through two Stanley Cup championships -- I really enjoyed the personal glimpses and photographs included as well. Yzerman's parents even provide team pictures of his early years as a "Moose Pup All-Star" (age 8.)

I already bought copies for my neices & nephews, and saved one for myself, too! You've got to read this book.

Kathy Abke from Hockeytown -- Detroit, MI USA

From the MEA Voice (Michigan Education Association), November 2001:

Book about Steve Yzerman targeted toward younger readers

Lazarus describes the Red Wings captain as a role model for kids. That's why she penned his authorized biography, 'Hockeytown Hero.'

BLOOMFIELD HILLS--The idea hit Shelley Lazarus like a point-blank slap shot while she tutored youngsters in the Bloomfield Hills school district a few years ago.

It was the summer of 1997, just weeks after Steve Yzerman led the Detroit Red Wings to a four-game sweep over the Philadelphia Flyers to win the Stanley Cup and become champions of the National Hockey League for the first time in 42 years.

"I was tutoring a group of boys, between the ages of 9 and 13, and they were big Red Wings fans, and they all wanted to know about Steve," said Lazarus, a media specialist at Pine Lake Elementary School.

"We had tons of kids who wanted to read about the Red Wings, and there was very little out there. The kids were so disappointed. I was flabbergasted to discover there weren't any books about Steve. He's a true hero and a great role model for a lot of kids."

That's when Lazarus came up with the idea to write her own book about Yzerman, the Wings' captain and future NHL Hall of Famer. "I really wanted to write it for kids," she said.

Lazarus penned an authorized biography, "Hockeytown Hero: The Steve Yzerman Story," that hit bookstores last March.

It runs 78 pages, lists Yzerman's regular season and playoff statistics from his first year as a pro player, in 1981-82, through 1999-2000, and includes a glossary of terms that will help young readers better understand hockey.

"The book is definitely reader-friendly," Lazarus said. "I've tried to make it easy to read and understand for younger readers."

Yzerman agreed to work with Lazarus on the book after learning it was targeted toward children and that a portion of the proceeds would be donated to a charity of his choice (He picked the Gift of Reading program run by the Detroit Free Press).

Hockeytown Hero: The Steve Yzerman Story is available at Borders, Waldenbooks and from the Web site, www.otterbooks.com.

("Reprinted with permission from the MEA Voice, a publication of the Michigan Education Association.")