Q & A with Maple Leafs prospect Zach Hyman - hockey player and children's book author

When the Toronto Maple Leafs acquired Zach Hyman from the Florida Panthers this summer in exchange for Greg McKegg, not only did they acquire a prospect who enjoyed great success in college at the University of Michigan (NCAA) and prior to that in the junior ranks as a key member of the Hamilton Red Wings (now the Markham Royals of the Tier II Ontario Junior Hockey League), they also obtained a budding author of children’s books. 

That’s right. Hyman's skills extend beyond the ice to the printed page. The 23-year-old has a book deal with Penguin Random House and works with the publisher when he can in community reading programs.

In mid-August, mere weeks away from attending an NHL training camp for the first time and with his hometown team, Hyman’s debut release titled The Bambino and Me hit store shelves.  Now his second book - Hockey Hero is out in time for the start of the hockey season.

Hyman was assigned to the AHL Toronto Marlies on Oct. 4, three days prior to the start of the NHL season when the Maple Leafs trimmed their roster to 24 players Skating on right wing, Hyman recorded his first point, an assist, in his first professional game on Oct. 9 when the Marlies defeated the Manitoba Moose 5-3.

Recently he made time to talk with Eh Game about hockey, books and his unique career path.

EG: The words children’s book author and professional hockey player aren’t often used together when describing someone.  How did that first part come about?

ZH: I was playing hockey before I started writing children’s books but wasn’t a pro athlete yet. I started in middle school, in Grade 7 I entered a short story competition and won it – that was the premise for Hockey Hero.

My teacher really liked it and said I should get it published. I moved on to The Bambino and Me in my year off between high school and college.

They don’t take too long to write. I really had the time to look it over, edit it and go back to it. It was a timing thing with the baseball book being published first.

EG: Did being drafted into the NHL help you in getting a publishing deal?

ZH: I was only in high school on my way to Michigan and had no connections in the publishing industry.  My father (Stuart) helped me out and set up a couple of meetings with publishers, and Penguin Random House really liked my books. It’s kind of unique that a children’s author is a hockey player as well at the same time and I they kind of liked that.

EG: In the books there is a strong family element. Are any of the characters based on your family members?  Perhaps the grandfather in Hockey Hero and/or the brother?

ZH: A little bit. Both are obviously fictional (but) being the oldest of five boys put some brotherly love elements in the books.  The Bambino and Me and Hockey Hero both have the relationship with the grandfather.  I have a really good relationship with mine (Steve), we are very close. I speak to him almost every day, he is very influential in my life.  I guess that’s one of the parts in the books that really relates to my life.

EG: In The Bambino and Me, there is an element of The Hockey Sweater, is that a homage to Roch Carrier?

ZH: I read that book when I was growing up; it’s a classic.  There is maybe a little bit of that. I really wasn’t thinking about it.  Someone (else) pointed it out to me that it’s a neat little homage to The Hockey Sweater and it’s cool that it’s connected a little bit.

EG: The historical elements in each book are prominent – was that your major at Michigan?  Why are you drawn to that part of the game?

ZH: History was my major. Growing up I was a big sports fan, my dad and grandfather would tell me about the hockey legends like Maurice (Rocket) Richard and Gordie Howe. I was fortunate to meet Howe when I was 10 or 11 and that was really special. The stories of hockey legends were always told in my household.

Babe Ruth was my grandfather’s favourite (baseball) player. Looking into him a little more, I was fascinated by him and what he did.  The quotes in The Bambino and Me are actual quotes from Babe Ruth.  I thought that would be a cool little touch.

EG: Tommy, the main character in Hockey Hero is only keeping track of goals and assists, shots taken and faceoffs won.  With advanced analytics coming to the forefront, did you think of adding Corsi rating?

ZH: (Laughs) Maybe I should have added that in. 

EG: How did the two Zachs (Hyman along with illustrator Zak Pullen) come together?

ZH: My dad helped me, we contacted different illustrators online and looked for best fit.  Pictures are the biggest part of a children’s book.  The story has to be good, but the pictures have to pop out.

After looking at Pullen’s work, I thought it would be perfect fit. We contacted him and he said he would take a look at script, he loved it and said he would be happy to work with me.  We went over ideas. He takes images from people that he knows and he knew a number of people that would fit the book well.

EG: Are you collaborating on future projects?

ZH: I have two other books coming out, Zak will be back to illustrate the fourth book which is about basketball and will be released in 2017.

The person illustrating my third book titled The Magician’s Secret is Joe Bluhm who is an Academy Award winning illustrator. It’s an adventure book (coming out next year).

EG: What was your favourite book as a kid as well as your favourite book currently?

ZH: I read Harry Potter growing up.  More recently I read the sports biographies (because) I find those realty interesting. Also, the Game of Thrones books.

EG: As for hockey, you were assigned to the Marlies as part of the last group of cuts by the Maple Leafs.  Tell me what your experience was like in training camp being from Toronto.

 ZH: It was my first training camp and an awesome experience.  I got to be with the Leafs right up to the end. To be part of something new with so much change and turnover with the organization -  to be a part of that new beginning was cool.

I learned so much from the veterans. I think it was helpful for me to prepare for when I’m called up.  I was disappointed when I got sent down but it’s an opportunity to prove why we (Hyman and the other players assigned to the AHL) belong with the big club.

Follow Neil Acharya on Twitter: @Neil_Acharya