Release Year: 2006

Duration: 100 min

Availability:

Related: Campus, Life & Culture, Sports & Hobbies, Virgil Films & Entertainment

Winters in New England are long, dark and very cold; and for most New Englanders, the one thing that keeps them going is a sport that has roots deeper than any other - Hockey. NEW ENGLAND HOCKEY: A LIFE AT THE RINK is a look into the very close knit world; a world that is connected by family, tradition and passion. From the toddlers learning to skate for the first time at Pilgrim Ice Arena in Hingham to Mike O’Connell, General Manager of the Boston Bruins, everyone who shares in the sport of hockey is incredibly linked. a life at the rink begins with youth trying on their first pair of skates and ends with hockey has-beens living for one last game with the guys. It is a world that continues to both feed itself and the NHL with wonderful characters and talent.

Up in Milton Massachusetts, a father balances fatherhood with coaching while his 11 year old son continues a family hockey tradition. A tradition similar to that of Situate Massachusetts natives, twin Brothers Mike & Joe Devin, where as Captains of the Catholic Memorial Varsity ice hockey team they are on target for yet another state title.  The twins also learned to skate at Pilgrim Arena at age 4 and are both now committed to Cornell for next year. Yet they wait for this year’s NHL draft where they’ll see if they’ll get the opportunity, like so many others before them, to get cheered in the Garden, like another Situate Massachusetts native, Ted Donato.

A local hockey hero, former Boston Bruin, and current Harvard Hockey Head coach, Donato looks to lead his alma mater back to Beanpot Glory. Finally, at the TD Banknorth Garden, by folks like 47 year old Paula Mattaliano, a 4’11” dynamo who leads section 307, a never say die faithful who, because of a love for the Bruins have become life-long friends, and a friendship that is stronger than their shared love for the Black and Gold jerseys of there beloved Boston Bruins.  This is an intimate look from the cradle to the grave of what Boston Hockey looks and feels like. In New England, Hockey is what you do and the rink is where you live.

“Few hockey players are as fiercely devoted to the game as the New England goal shooters who take to the ice with the singular goal of playing to the absolute best of their abilities, and now fans of the sport can find out what it truly means to be a winner as they see the world through the eyes of athletes Mike and Joe Devln. With inspirational stories of perseverance and the constant promise of another day on the ice, this pair struggles to overcome the hardships of day-to-day living while always keeping one eye on the puck.” ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide