Stan Fischler, known as “The Hockey Maven,” has won eight New York Emmy awards and the Lester Patrick Award for his contributions to ice hockey in the United States. He has covered hockey in print, broadcast or online for over 50 years.
In other realms -- particularly the underground -- he's known as "The Subway Maven." Stan's book UPTOWN, DOWNTOWN was the original history of the New York subway system. He wrote a sequel called THE SUBWAY, and he's also written histories of the metropolitan area commuter railroads as well as books on subways and transit systems around the world. A semi-autobiographical book, CONFESSIONS OF A TROLLEY DODGER FROM BROOKLYN, sold out.
During the 1970s, Stan and his wife, Shirley, ran the New York Bureau of the Toronto Daily Star. Stan interviewed such celebrities as Mayor John Lindsay, actress Carol Channing and Jerry Stiller. He covered major events such as the New York City and Newark race riots and major sporting events such as the World Series and the American debut of international soccer star Pele. When the Rolling Stones visited New York for a concert he interviewed them as well as early film stars such as Ruby Keeler and Mae West.
Fischler has written for many publications, including The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, Sport Magazine, Newsweek, Hockey Digest and The Hockey News. Fischler has authored or co-authored more than 100 books; in addition to those mentioned above, he has written extensively on both hockey and baseball.
In the world of television, Stan co-produced an award-winning documentary about table hockey called “Little Rink,” and produced, wrote and emceed a Metro Channel series called “Subway Series” which won several awards. Stan has also appeared on a number of NHL documentaries over the years.
Whenever he had the time Stan did stand-up comedy in Manhattan and Long Island. As a historian he gave tours sponsored by the 92d Street Y including walks through Williamsburg, Brooklyn and the Catskills Borscht Belt, where he once played drums in a dance band.
In January 1999 Mayor Rudolph Giuliani designated Fischler a Centennial Historian of the City of New York.
Today, Fischler does weekly historic features for NHL.com as well as for the New York Islanders (“Maven’s Memories”) and the New Jersey Devils (“Sundays with Stan”). His hockey newsletter, “The Fischler Report”, is the only 52-weeks-a-year publication of its kind and is in its 29th year. “The Fischler Report” now appears online along with Stan’s new online hockey segment, “Java Jive.”
Fischler holds a master’s degree in education from Long Island University and has taught news and feature writing at Queens College, Columbia University and Fordham University. Literally dozens of the interns he has mentored over the years are now in prominent TV, print media, or NHL-related roles.
Stan now lives in Israel with his youngest son, Simon, three grandchildren, and an assortment of dogs.
What’s Next? Stan currently is writing regular pieces about the New Jersey Devils and the New York Islanders and their respective histories for NHL.com, and is co-authoring a 50th anniversary volume about the Islanders. Stan spent nearly 45 years as a TV analyst for all three New York metro area hockey clubs, and still makes occasional guest appearances during games. Finally, he has completed a series of stories, entitled TALES OF BROOKLYN, about his childhood years in his beloved home borough. This touching, humorous story collection has been self-published, but is still available for trade publication; contact Doug at The Whiteman Agency for more information.
Visit www.msgnetworks.com/stan-fischler to see Stan’s archived articles.
Below are the jackets for a number of books that Stan has authored or co-authored.
