- SKU: 9780228826484
- BARCODE: 9780228826484
- VENDOR: BooksCloud
If I Ever Make it Back: Coaching Hockey in North Korea - Hardcover
Couldn't load pickup availability
Description
by Francois Lemay (Author)
I've always been fascinated by North Korea and always knew that if I had the opportunity to visit some day, I'd be all over it. Little did I know that many years later, I'd be standing at my hotel window in the border town of Dandong, China, staring at the darkness that laid across the Yalu River. I was a stone throw away from the most mysterious and unpredictable country on the planet: North Korea.
"They have hockey in North Korea?" many asked.
They sure do.
The North Koreans have a saying: "The first time you visit North Korea, you are a stranger. The second time, you are a friend. The third time, you're family." Little did I think that two weeks after setting foot in the DPRK for the first time, I'd be returning home leaving behind a group of hockey players, men and women, that I already considered as friends, people that I dearly care for, people that I've shed tears over.
Here are some of my stories about spending time with local Koreans, the real people, the forgotten ones. This is about the North Korea no one talks about and its resilient, humble, shy and down to earth athletes who love and play the same game as you and me, but in some of the most difficult conditions imaginable. This is about a group of young men and women who deserve your compassion because just like you and I, they have friends, families and want to live their lives to the fullest. Just like you and I, they have dreams, goals, and are always looking to improve their lives. But unlike us, the entire world seems against them.
They furiously play a game that is so pure and raw at the same time, without any foreign influence. They play a game that fascinates me, a game that makes me want to do more. With barely any knowledge of the modern game, what the North Koreans lack in knowledge and abilities, they try to make up with discipline and heart.
This is about the North Korea you never knew existed, and about its people who make you appreciate your way of life so much more than you ever have.
It's true, no one walks from the DPRK unchanged.
Reviews
Exceptional Support and Clean Code
I was impressed by how fast the support team responded to my questions. Even as someone with basic coding knowledge, I found the theme incredibly easy to work with. The code is well-organized, and everything runs smoothly.
Reliable Theme with Excellent Customer Service
After trying multiple themes, I finally chose Wokiee — and haven’t looked back. It’s reliable, modern, and easy to customize without coding. What impressed me most was their support team: fast, helpful, and willing to assist even with third-party issues. That level of service is rare!
Beautiful Design and Great Flexibility
Wokiee is hands down the best Shopify theme I’ve used. The design options are stunning and fully customizable. I was able to build a high-converting store without any external developers.
Top-Notch Support and Regular Updates
The customer support team is incredible — helpful, responsive, and very professional. They’ve helped me resolve everything from layout tweaks to app integrations. Plus, the theme is regularly updated with new features.
Amazing Customization Options"!
Wokiee gave me full creative control over my store’s layout and visuals. The theme’s design blocks are so flexible that I could create something truly unique — without touching a single line of code.
High-Quality Theme with Professional Code
You can tell Wokiee was built by pros. The code is clean and optimized for performance. No bloated features — just what you need. My store loads fast and looks great on all devices.