My name is Erik Bennink and l am an artist. I began working on my NHL 60s Sketchbook a few years ago, originally as a personal project. As part of my research, l looked at many hockey books for references and information about the National Hockey League in the 1960s.

At some point during my completion of the sketchbook, it occurred to me that l might be creating an interesting art book. Hockey fans would find something a little different from the NHL print books I saw, which were mostly statistical, biographical or photographic.

I supplemented my drawings with quotes from the players, managers and writers of the era to give a greater sense of that time. The reasons l focused on the Sixties are two-fold. Firstly, these were my heroes as a young boy growing up and loving the game. Secondly, because masks and helmets were not yet worn, it allowed me to capture expressions and likenesses more fully.

I am interested in seeing my sketchbook become a printed book. This website includes about half of the 120 completed drawings in my proposed concept. I hope you agree that this is an exciting project that contributes to the legends and legacy of a great era in hockey.

Contact me with your comments on my sketchbook. I am interested in hearing your thoughts about my work and my proposal for publication.