With his first novel, Saved, legendary hockey writer Jack Falla (author of Home Ice) takes us behind the scenes for a season in the life of the Boston Bruins and, in particular, fictional starting goaltender Jean Pierre Savard. Drawing from his experience covering the NHL for Sports Illustrated, Falla brings the reader on a roller-coaster ride, humanizing the NHL experience in ways that are likely to make passionate fans care even more about Savard's real-life counterparts.

From the wacky and competitive relationships between both teammates and rivals to the unique challenges players face in their off-ice relationships, Falla's three-dimensional characters are extremely likable, their melange of attributes and flaws giving the reader a real sense of what life in the NHL is like. In particular, Falla's account of the trade deadline (and trades in general) will give diehard fans a whole new way to look at things when they're cavalierly posting trade rumors on their favorite hockey message board.

Falla's love for hockey is evident from cover to cover, the spirit of his backyard rink present in every on-ice scene. And where during his days with Sports Illustrated Falla might have been limited in which stories he could—and couldn't—share with readers, the world in Saved is presented filter-free. From the frank depiction of the locker-room atmosphere to the unofficial code of conduct between teammates, Saved gives readers a unique opportunity to see the NHL in an entirely new way.

Although it's quite unlikely that anyone will feel much sympathy for Savard as he evaluates his multi-million dollar contract options, particularly in the wake of Alexander Ovechkin's landmark 13-year, $124 million deal with the Washington Capitals, it is refreshing to see that dollars and cents aren't the only factors when a player chooses where to play.

Perhaps the most controversial subject Falla broaches in Saved is that of concussions. Head injuries are a huge issue in sports at all levels, and Falla delicately toes the line between the player's desire to return to action and the prudence of keeping the player off the ice until all post-concussion symptoms have vanished. The urge to ignore the warning signs is often driven by a combination of loyalty to the team and machismo, but the lure of the Stanley Cup and the possibility of a huge offseason payday certainly exert tremendous influence as well.

A wonderful read for hockey fans from age 15 to 105, Saved captures the essence of the sport in all its glory. Combining the spirit of Home Ice (a collection of stories about his backyard rink) with the knock-down, drag-'em-out energy of the NHL, Saved is great fun from start to finish.

Saved is available now at Amazon.com.