How Hockey Saved a Jew from the Holacaust: The Rudi Ball Story

Gordie Howe, Maurice Richard, Boom Boom Gefferion, Mario Lemeiux, Sidney Crosby and Wayne Gretsky are familiar names to hockey fans, but mention Rudi Ball and you will get a quizzical look from people. Rudi Ball was a German Jew, who, thanks to hockey and the loyalty exhibited by his team-mates, was able to survive the Holocaust for one simple reason. He played that most beautiful of all games - hockey. Few people recognize the name, but he was the premiere European player of his time, and one of the best hockey players to ever lace up skates. Yet, his prowess on the ice was more than a way to exhibit his athletic abilities. It was his ticket to survival in a country where being Jewish was a death sentence in the 1930's and 1940's. His remarkable story is a testament to the power of hockey to bring out the very best in people. The Summit Series between Canada and the then USSR (Russia) proved in 1972 that hockey is not just a game, it is a war on ice, but when the war is over, the victors do not subjugate the losers. Rather, they line up and shake hands in recognition of a warriors' code that instils mutual respect and admiration for one another's drive, desire and determination. This is the story of one of those warriors, and how his fellow warriors stood by him, refusing to bow to tyranny. Wayne Frye is known in Canada for writing books on politics and gripping thrillers featuring hard-nosed private eye, Aaron Adams. Although a true story, Frye makes it more exciting than fiction. This true story about the Holocaust explores the evil of Adolph Hitler, and like The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, it puts the whole era on a very personal level

As a hockey coach, Wayne Frye is renowned for being the only PCHA coach to ever have a team with an undefeated season. His teams were a blend of European, American and European players who thrilled hockey fans in California, the USA, Canada and Europe. Furthermore, his promotional prowess made university hockey a popular sport in the Los Angeles area, where capacity crowds were the norm at games. Wayne Frye’s Aaron Adams series has been popular among Canadian mystery lovers since first appearing in 2005. He provides satirical political commentary to many Canadian newspapers, and his books on politics have created a great deal of controversy. He has written many marketing/ advertising textbooks, been a successful U.S. university hockey coach, and served as a marketing consultant to hockey teams and motion picture companies. He has been cited for his work with inner-city gang children in the Los Angeles area, and is a fervent supporter of the anti-globalization movement. He became a Canadian citizen in 2003 and lives with his wife in Ladysmith, British Columbia.