Tonight begins a six game road trip for the Capitals. A trip which finds our weekend bare of hockey, save for Friday night’s game in Atlanta. We have a solution for you.
Grab your favorite puck soda, ready the pop corn get a copy of the documentary movie ICE KINGS. Ice Kings is about high school hockey at Mount St. Charles Academy, a Catholic high school in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. What sets Mount St. Charles Academy — known simply as “The Mount” — apart from any other high school in any sport is their consecutive state championships from 1978 to 2003 all under the guidance of the same coach, Bill Belisle. That’s 26 straight titles.
While the focus is on the Mount, it can be argued that the main character is high school hockey in Rhode Island. When you think of high school football, you think Texas. When you think of high school hockey, you should think Rhode Island. Award winning writer/producer/director Craig E. Shapiro does a wonderful job setting the stage with the history of Rhode Island and the importance of hockey. The movie has a Discovery Channel-type feel to it, with vivid imagery, strong narration, and plenty of interviews with known hockey commodities including Garth Snow, Mathieu Schneider, Lou Lamoriello, and ex-Capitals coach Ron Wilson. You learn of Rhode Island’s history, some unique quirks, and their love of hockey.
Another major character in the movie is The Mount’s home rink. A former airplane hanger, Adelard Arena is a formidable foe in its own right. Small. Cramped. Intimidating. Like an old-school NHL rink. The unique feature of Adelard Arena is not necessarily what it has, but rather, what it lacks: Plexiglass. Adelard is as old school as you can get with chicken wire — chain link fencing, really — separating the spectators from the athletes.
You may have heard about the Michigan Division I Championship going eight overtimes before co-champions were crowned this year? Rhode Island can claim a “been there, done that” attitude with the 1988 championship. A normal two game series needed a third game do decide the winner. Game three was tied at double-over time. That’s where the rules take over which cancels the game and adds a fourth. Would you believe a fifth game is added after the fourth game is canceled after the second consecutive double-over time game?
It’s a great film worthy of your time and effort and an excellent addition to your library of hockey movies.
Post a Comment