Features
Harriet Zaidman’s latest book focuses on a bygone era that also incorporates some well-known Winnipeggers in the story
By MARTIN ZEILIG In her latest novel for young adults, Winnipeg author Harriet Zaidman reinforces the role of ice hockey as being, in her words, “synonymous with Canada.”
No doubt about it: Hockey is, indeed, a defining cultural entity within our country.
“Canadian boys have chased the dream of making it in the NHL since the league began in 1917,” Zaidman, a retired teacher/librarian and book reviewer for the Winnipeg Free Press, said during a recent interview with The Jewish Post & News.
That’s Dale Melnyk’s hope in “Second Chances”, published this year by Red DeerPress.
After the 14-year-old’s stellar defence of the goal crease for the Perth Community Centre team in the 1954-55 season, he thinks his objective to follow fellow Winnipegger Terry Sawchuk into professional hockey might become a reality.
But Dale’s life has become complicated.
His mother has died unexpectedly, leaving his family in tatters; his father decides that Dale has to give up hockey to help care for his little brother and do chores.
“His best friend, Paul, is the backup goalie on their team,” Zaidman said during the interview.
“He keeps the puck out using the new butterfly method, the same as Detroit backup Glenn Hall, while Dale is a stand-up goalie like Sawchuk, throwing his body left and right to defend.”
But Paul has just announced he will be moving to his grandparents’ house. He has to have a different address to qualify for the starter position on the Northwood Community Centre team.
“Dale feels intensely achy and exhausted,” the author writes.
“This unwelcome news makes him realize he’s missed the clues that Paul had the same aspirations as he does.”
The aches turn into a full-blown attack of the polio virus and Dale ends up paralyzed in an iron lung.
His first thought is about hockey. It’s April now. Can he recover in time to make the tryouts in November?
Can he overcome his dad’s edict? Can sheer will get Dale back on top of the world? What does the future hold if he can’t?
Dale’s hero is the famed Terry Sawchuk, the son of a Ukrainian immigrant tinsmith, who lived across the Red River, in circumstances similar to Dale’s family.
“Despite an unbelievable number of serious injuries, which today would be intolerable, Sawchuk was the best goalie in the NHL, something young readers should know about,” Zaidman said.
“An ordinary kid, from the humblest background, could make it big, if he had the talent and drive. This is part of Manitoba’s hockey history. It should be remembered and honoured.”
The book also highlights the showdown between Montreal and Detroit in the last game of the Stanley Cup series in 1955. The author introduces famous players whose names are part of NHL lore: Bernie Geoffrion, Alex Delvecchio, Floyd Curry, Marcel Pronovost and Gordie Howe.
She also writes about the controversy surrounding the suspension of Maurice Richard for the last part of the season and the playoffs.
“I wanted to recreate the tension fans felt in imagining the play as it was meticulously described by broadcaster Foster Hewitt over the radio,” said Zaidman, who lives in Garden City with her husband, Cecil Rosner, a retired CBC Television producer.
“I wanted to highlight local hockey too with mention of community centres that existed at that time – Perth in West Kildonan and Northwood in the North End of Winnipeg.
“Hockey tryouts and games didn’t start until November because youth hockey was played on outdoor rinks, which could not be flooded until the water was cold enough to freeze solid.”
It was a volunteer effort, both adults and kids getting the rink ready for the season, she writes.
“The coaches’ work included hanging out the uniforms to get rid of the mothball smell,” Zaidman said.
“Spectators had to stand out in the cold to watch games; frozen noses and toes were the norm. Equipment was substandard, repaired and reused year after year, but the kids played hard.”
The competition was fierce, as the rivalry between the teams and between Dale and his friend Paul showed.
One of the characters included in this novel is Vince Leah (“Uncle Vince”), who was a sportswriter and then editor for The Winnipeg Tribune newspaper. Leah was an important figure in local sports.
“He was a typical North Ender from modest circumstances,” the author said.
“He also overcame polio, just like the novel’s young main character. Leah’s character helps give Dale the chance to play hockey again, as well as other ways of staying involved in sports by developing his writing skills for a potential future career as a sports reporter.”
Another historical character in the novel is Dr. Percy Barsky, who developed polio at age 21.
His experience as a patient motivated him to become a pediatrician and help others.
“Many Winnipeg families recall the attention and kindness he gave children from the 1950s until his death in 1989,” Zaidman writes in the Acknowledgments section.
This young novel teaches today’s children about the history of hockey in Winnipeg and Canada.
It shows how they can develop a greater appreciation for the work it took to bring hockey “to the advanced state it is today.”
“I also wanted to write about how the terrible virus changed children’s hopes and dreams, and how science saved future generations from fear, disability, and death,” she writes in the novel’s concluding chapter, Interview with Harriet Zaidman.
“Learning from history— the reason I write.”
“Second Chances”
by Harriet Zaidman
(Red Deer Press 287 pg $14.95)
Features
BOOK REVIEW: “Fighting the Hate: A Handbook for Jews Under Siege”
Reviewed by MURRAY BENDER “Thinking on your feet”—quickly defending a position in a coherent, persuasive manner—is a situation that many people find challenging and stressful. “If only I had said this.” or “Why didn’t I say that?” Hindsight is always 20-20.
Following the Hamas atrocities of October 7, 2023, it has become increasingly necessary for diaspora Jews to “think on their feet” as they unwittingly face a barrage of tough, sometimes hateful, questions about Jews and their Israeli homeland.
Why is Israel committing genocide in Gaza? Why doesn’t Israel return the land it has stolen from Palestinians? Why are Israeli settlers attacking Palestinian farmers? How is Israel different from apartheid South Africa? Why can’t I criticize Israel without being called antisemitic? Is it true that Jews control the world? The list of potential questions is nearly endless.
Engage or hide? This is the difficult choice that confronts Jews as they look to deal with anti-Jewish and anti-Israeli behaviour. Fortunately, author and journalist Melanie Phillips comes to the rescue with her practical and insightful book, Fighting the Hate: A Handbook for Jews Under Siege.
According to Phillips, the dilemma has no single answer. “People need to decide how to behave in accordance not just with the specific circumstances but also with their own attributes and limitations.”
Some regard engagement with their opponents as a sacred duty. “They believe it is a betrayal of the Jewish people not to uphold Israel’s case.” Ohers may be uncomfortable with such a direct approach, but “those who decide to keep their heads down and avoid any altercation may well find that this leaves them with a permanent sense of regret and even failure,” she says.
As a result, it’s probably a good idea to adopt some sort of balance. And that’s where Phillips’ 150-page handbook comes in.
She starts by providing context around the “crisis of legitimacy and acceptance” from which Jews are reeling post-October 7. On the basis of extensive conversations with Jews from across the U.S., Britain and Australia, the author found that many “were near stupefied by the terrifying hatred and irrationality that was unfolding around them.” Again and again, they asked: “What should we do? What can we do?”
In response, Phillips offers a pragmatic approach to help prepare for the inevitable conversations, including a number of key principles:
- Get smart rather than emotional
- Stop playing defence
- Find common ground
- Be positive and confident
- Keep physically safe
Based on these overarching criteria, she provides an extensive list of quick and clever retorts to a range of different situations, emphasizing that “it’s our duty to our children and grandchildren to fight for truth and justice.”
So, the next time it is necessary to “think on their feet,” diaspora Jews will be able to respond quickly and confidently to those difficult questions about themselves and Israel. And they can thank Melanie Phillips for coming to the rescue.
Fighting the Hate: A Handbook for Jews Under Siege by Melanie Phillips is available online from Amazon and Indigo.
Features
ESports Meets Casinos: Overview of Bet Sport Gaming
ESports has become part of the interactive entertainment of online casinos. In fact, many fans already have the opportunity to use Dragonia Casino Bet Sport options while watching the matches of their favorite teams. The hybrid entertainment model opens up many possibilities and increases audience engagement. When video games intersect with betting, it creates a unique collaboration where participants have the opportunity to get a completely new experience right in their own home. At the same time, you can continue to enjoy the usual viewing of familiar tournaments and competitions.
How ESports and Casinos Interconnect
ESports has become a multi-billion-dollar industry that attracts spectators. Traditional casinos are focused on luck. But now they are introducing additional methods of encouraging their customers. Among such options, eSports events deserve special attention. Such bet sport offers combine the usual excitement with an element of competition. The structure of the casino entertainment provides participants with the opportunity to test their skills and reveal their own hidden talents. There are several forms of integration of eSports mechanics into the structure of a classic online casino:
- Competitive betting. Online casinos provide the opportunity to bet on eSports tournaments, which is similar to the usual sports betting. In addition, the possibilities are significantly expanded compared to simple viewing platforms.
- Skill-based casino games. Games inspired by eSports encourage players to actively participate in what is happening on the screen. The games reward the player’s results with certain prizes.
- Interactive arenas. Some casinos broadcast eSports events in real time. This allows players to follow the games directly online, which creates a feeling of real participation in familiar entertainment.
- Cross-platform interaction. Online casinos are introducing eSports-style leaderboards and achievements to attract more participants.
Such innovations appeal to new participants. Cultural changes are part of the development of the infrastructure of the classic casino, and eSports fans find a new environment for entertainment and communication.
Growth of ESports Betting
Global eSports revenue in 2025 exceeded $1.5 billion. Each bet sport option has made a significant contribution to the development. Surveys show that over 60% of players will express interest in betting on eSports, which reflects the demand and the need to develop an updated infrastructure for participation.
ESports events attract 15-20% more new participants compared to conventional casinos. The eSports betting market will exceed $20 billion by 2027, according to analysts’ forecasts, which encourages new participants to more actively watch tournaments and participate in various types of activity.
Why Fans Choose ESports
Bet sport gambling is gaining popularity. This is due to several reasons. For example, large casinos in Las Vegas and Macau now host full-fledged eSports tournaments alongside traditional entertainment. Venues are also experimenting with separate fan zones where sports betting and classic gambling are available.
Some of the most popular eSports disciplines are League of Legends and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Some online casinos even introduce eSports mechanics into slots so that players can try something new.
In short, the intersection of eSports and casinos is a natural development of the industry. Competitive play and an optimized betting system create a comfortable environment for true fans who want to diversify their leisure time.
Features
Card Game Traditions: Complete Review from Casino Online Lolajack Experts
Card games have been around for centuries. They are constantly evolving and improving. For example, there are now many different formats of online games available. On sites like casino online Lolajack https://Lolajack.com/ca/, you can choose a title according to your preferences and skills. The traditions of card games date back to ancient times. To better show yourself, it is worth familiarizing yourself with these features. This way, you will gain experience, have a good time, and get acquainted with something completely new.
Roots of Card Games
Card games directly reflect cultural identity. They have a unique mathematical structure and thoughtful moves that make even professionals think. Depending on the tradition, the rules differ, but the basic principles always remain similar. Each game has a unique origin:
- Poker. It originated in the USA back in the 19th century. During its existence, many variations of gameplay have appeared. It combines risk, strategy, and psychology; therefore, it requires high skill from each player.
- Baccarat. This game has ancient origins. It appeared in the 15th century in Italy, after which it spread throughout Europe. Now it is the basis of any operator like casino online Lolajack.
- Rimmy and bridge. Card games require the cooperation of participants, so coordinated communication is important here.
- Blackjack. This is the perfect combination of skill and chance. The player needs to learn to make decisions quickly and monitor the circumstances.
Card games have their own origins and characteristics. Currently, they are an integral part of any online casino, offering a wide range of opportunities for participants.
Why Card Games Are So Popular
Experts from casino online Lolajack emphasize the importance of card games in many cultures. For example, poker remains the leader for a reason. There are more than 100 million active players worldwide who compete and work on their skills. Blackjack also does not lag behind the trends. The level of participation exceeds 40% of regular online casino users.
Every year, the level of online card games grows by 10%. This is possible due to digitalization and increased player awareness. In addition, seasonal events also increase the involvement of participants during peak periods.
Traditions of Card Games
Unique events attract the attention of fans. For example, the World Series of Poker attracts not only participants but also millions of viewers around the world. Sites such as casino online Lolajack also give participants the opportunity to try their hand and compete with professionals.
Baccarat is associated with high stakes. This is especially noticeable among the Asian audience, who like to put probability theory into practice. Blackjack also has an appeal among math lovers. The probabilities of the model and observations directly affect the decisions of players. Online casinos strive to ensure that participants have the opportunity to communicate and find an activity option according to their own preferences.
As a result, card games remain the true leaders of the gambling market. They not only entertain, but also develop attention, perseverance, and social skills. A large selection of various variations of classic games allows you to choose the version that suits your preferences. Developers do not lag behind trends and do everything possible to surprise fans.