Force of Nature: How the Colorado Avalanche Built a Stanley Cup Winner

Force of Nature is an extremely detailed, well-organized book that talks about more than just the 2022 Cup run. It dives into how the team became what it is, the growing pains along the way, and even the personalities that came together to support and encourage the players in a sport that can take a huge mental toll. Peter Baugh’s writing is accessible and full of contagious enthusiasm.One thing that stood out to me about this book is how close Peter was able to get to the players. He showed details that explained how they operate and how each player’s strength bolstered another’s weakness. They were so close and it helped keep them focused on winning. Together. It was enthralling. I kept reading snippets aloud to my husband, leading to several conversations about them. There were things that impressed me, made me sad, or even had me completely floored. When I got to the part about a certain player and how he had McCarty from the infamous Red Wings/Avalanche feud actually cheering for the Avalanche to win the Cup, I actually gasped aloud.I loved that each chapter focused on a different piece of the team. As much as I love the Avs superstars, it was awesome to see other players also represented. After all, some of the biggest plays came from unexpected people. It was clear that a lot of time and effort went into gathering information, interviewing players, and working out the best way to present the narrative.I have read other books about the Colorado Avalanche and this is by far the best. The writing perfectly balanced statistics and on-ice information with behind-the-scenes revelations. It was all woven seamlessly into a whole, much as the separate team members came together into a whole, although that took time and dedication.One thing I love about hockey is the emotion it can evoke when players skate with passion. While some players from last season have moved on, the core is still intact and there will be new heroes lacing up their skates to join the game. Force of Nature: How the Colorado Avalanche Built a Stanley Cup Winner had me smiling and impatiently waiting for next season. I can’t wait. Whatever happens, it will be worth writing about and I really hope Peter Baugh picks up the pen and once again takes us on the journey.

Excellent book - a must-have for any Avalanche fan, but also an entertaining read for any lover of hockey. Wonderfully written and riveting, the book is a reflection of the high quality reporting that Peter Baugh churns out for the Athletic throughout the season. He is a rising star in journalism and Avalanche fans are lucky to have him on their beat.

Not surprisingly,given the author's work for the Athletic, this book is incredibly well written and researched. Vivid story telling and plenty of behind the scenes info. Wonderful read!!

Great book. Peter did a great job telling the stories of the cast and characters of the 2021-2022 Colorado Avalanche season! Felt like I was reliving each and every game in real time and even though you know the outcome, you can’t put the book down.

I've just started this book and already have been overwhelmed with emotion a few times regarding stories from various people. So I think I can safely say, if you are a fan of this team, this is a must-read and will be worth your time. I am excited to get further into the book and learn more about my favorite players on my favorite hockey team.BUT.The physical publication of this book is of mediocre to poor quality. The print on the pages is not black and crisp, but rather a dark gray and slightly blurred, as if the pages are photocopies of photocopies of a not great quality original. But the more egregious lack of quality is in the binding. The book binding is glue, and is so tight it necessitates practically bending the book in half to read the content. In most book printings, the inner and outer margins of the text are similar, so the text is more centered on the page. This is NOT the case with this physical book. The outer margin is quite wide, while the inner margin is nearly non-existent and as a result the text on the page is off center and creeps uncomfortably into the binding. So, to read the pages you have to really force the binding wide open. I fear that by the time I get to the middle section I will break the binding in half, lengthwise, from forcing it open to read. It's very disappointing that the book quality is this poor.

Felt like I was watching a movie of an intense season of hockey, from training camp to the Stanley Cup. Interesting behind-the-scenes stories. Author clearly loves the sport and has great connections with the people involved.

This was a fantastic journey through the run for the cup. I watched it as a fan but to be an insider in the run was awesome. This is a well written journey with the players as they won the greatest trophy in sports! An awesome read! Peter is a great writer who makes you feel the game!

I'm not even an Avs fan, but I was given this book by my Avs-obsessed friend and couldn't put it down. Loved the writing and the way the author takes you through the action and ups and downs of a Stanley Cup season. Definitely recommend to any sports fans.