In honor of the Alberta Pond Hockey Championships at Lac Cardinal near Grimshaw beginning today, this weeks Friday 5 will be top 5 hockey movies. The amount of hockey movies aren’t as many as football or boxing but these are some amazing movies dealing with the sport.
Here is this weeks Friday 5.
5. Youngblood (1986)
Kicking off the list is a lesser known, especially to a younger audience Youngblood. The movie stars the likes of Rob Lowe and Patrick Swayze that also features a young Keanu Reeves. The movie sees Dean Youngblood (Rob Lowe) an exceptionally skilled young ice hockey player trying to make a name in the Canadian Junior Hockey circuit and impress scouts from the National Hockey League. It is funny and actually deals with concussions and head injuries.
4. D2: The Mighty Ducks (1994)
Next we got the sequel to the famed movie that launched an NHL franchise. I went with the sequel as we get more development from the players in their personalities as they add some great new characters and have great rival for the movie with Team Iceland and this one gave us the “Knuckle Puck.” You get celebrity cameos from many athletes notably hockey players like Wayne Gretzky, Chris Chelios, Cam Neely as well as Luc Robitaille. It’s good family fun for the family to enjoy.
3. Goon (2011)
Now this one isn’t for the family to watch, Goon. The movie starring Sean Williams Scott, Alison Pil, Kim Coates, Jay Baruchel, Eugene Levy and playing the big bad final opponent Ross “The Boss” Rhea is Liev Schreiber. It follows Doug Glatt, though a misfit among his brainy family members, he has a knockout punch that lands him a spot on a minor-league Canadian hockey team. This movie is hilarious and features former Oiler Georges Laraque in a cameo role as another goon. The movie deals with finding your purpose and the willingness to do what you need to for the team to win. A Canadian hockey classic to say the least.
2. Slap Shot (1977)
Well this might be controvicial but the runner up, which is often considered the gold standard of hockey movies, Slap Shot. The movie stars Paul Newman as Reggie Dunlop who is trying to save the Charleston Chiefs after the local steel mill is about to close permanently and lay off 10,000 workers which threatens the teams existence. The struggling team discovers the hostile fans love brawls and become a violent team to try and save the team, which leads them to bring in The Hanson Brothers, no not the “MMMBop” singers. It is an epic movie and more than deserves it legendary status.
1. Mystery, Alaska (1999)
Taking the “Cup” for this weeks Friday 5 is Mystery, Alaska. Why does this one top the list ??? Well I love the mix of comedy and storytelling in it. After a publicity stunt turns into the ultimate lopsided competition, when the world famous New York Rangers face off against the team from Mystery, Alaska — a hockey-loving town of only 633 people. Team Mystery is a rag-tag collection of eccentric locals including the towns sheriff, its grocer, a deliveryman and a high school senior who play for the love of the game, not fame or big money. The movie features some big names like Burt Reynolds and Russell Crowe in major roles while adding the likes of Scott Grimes, Kevin Durand, Mary McCormack and Hank Azaria. The movie features Mike Myers as a Don Cherry like commentator with cameos from Barry Melrose, Phil Esposito and Little Richard.
-Everett
