Hockey Night (1984)
The story is simple. Cathy Yarrow (Megan Follows), a fifteen year old girl whose parents have recently separated moves to Parry Sound in Canada. The movie follows her attempts to fit into this new community.
When there is no girl's ice hockey team, she joins the boy's team - causing complications. It also doesn't help that she falls for the dreamy, dark-eyed, long-lashed Spear Kozak (Yannick Bisson) - star player on the team who really should be focussing on getting into the NHL by the time he is 17 rather than falling for the alluring young goalie.
Rick Moranis is in a surprisingly straight role of coach - which he does very well. Megan Follows is an excellent actress in this - rebellious and frustrated without being bratty, Bisson doesn't have a huge amount to do except look good and be a Canadian Sensitive New Age Athlete - but he's very good as well. Directed by Paul Shapiro, the movie makes Canada look very cold and somewhat bleak - but the performances are all warm and engaging. There was a time I would watch this movie every day before going to highschool, I just loved it so much. :) I think I knew all the lines.
I thought I'd sent this page up as I have found almost nothing on the Net about this gem of a movie. It's one of the most heart-warming and touching movies I have ever seen. The way the very fledgling relationship between Spear and Cathy develops is very heart-warming, and I like the way the other guys on the team grow to accept Cathy as she proves her worth as a goalie.
I would love to know if you have a copy of Rookies that I could buy!!!
Blurbs from other people found around the Net
When a young girl wants to join her high school's hockey team as goalie, she meets with resistence, but also gets support, especially from the star forward of the team.
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Moving to a new town is always difficult. But for Cathy, it's a bit more of a challenge since she has been accepted to join the school's hockey team - her championship sport. The only problem is that it's the boys team! And then she falls in love with one of her team mates which adds to the complications (and fun).
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From the New York Times. Hockey Night 1984 - Canada - Sports Drama
A film from Canada titled Hockey Night: are we at all surprised? This amiable little teen-oriented film is set in a small town where Hockey is King--or, perhaps, God. Rick Moranis is in charge of a boys' hockey team, in dire need of playing talent. Enter Megan Follows, who turns out to be the best goalie the team has ever had. Just one teeny problem: Megan is a girl. After so many raging-hormone teen comedies, it's a relief to see something like Hockey Night, in which the kids talk and act like human beings instead of potential rapists and streetwalkers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
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In Hockey Night, 14-year old Cathy moves to a small town with her recently-separated mother and younger sister. A former player on an all-girl big-city team, she decides to play hockey but finds out there are no girls' leagues. With the help of a supportive coach, she joins the boys on the ice and learns some valuable lessons about small town politics and personal relationships.
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Starring Megan Follows, and Rick Moranis. Controversy surrounding a female goalie upsets a town and inspires teammates to stand up for her right to play. 70 mins. CC
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HOCKEY NIGHT (Rick Moranis)
A 14 year old girl becomes the new goalie for a boy's championship hockey team. Entry from the Banner Blue movie archive program. Haven't seen it. Ah, its a Classic, from 1984 . the 'new girl in town' is Megan Follows (a.k.a. Anne of Green Gables). Her star foreward is Yannick Bisson, who (being the good Canadian boy that he is) can skate, and in fact has played a hockey player in several other films/series. Follows moves with her newly single mum to a small town, and automatically turns out for hockey, and is startled to find she is the first girl to try out for the 'boys team'. Coach Moranis (also handy on hockey skates) gives her a shot at the job. The teams sponsor, the other teams & even (gasp) the local radio guy want her off the team.....
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Well, when I was a youngin, they had this ABC after school type ovie special called Hockey Night. The only star that I can remember in it was Rick Moranis who played the coach. It was about a chick who tries out for a guys Bantam team at goalie. Takes place in some small hick town north of the boarder. The team is sponsered by a lumber yard. Her last name in the flick was Yarrow. Her friend was Punk Rock and shoplifted. They drink on the docks. Neat-o
[Note from Koala: not quite accurate. Evelyn's mother was the one who shoplifted - not Evelyn].
Yeah! That was with Megan Follows (Anne of Green Gables- a Canadian staple). I've seen that movie (in pieces) a bunch of times. They show it on the CBC at like 3 in the morning every couple months.
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From Goldhil.com:
When newcomer Cathy decides to join the boys’ hockey team, the sporting community is divided. The coach is thrilled with the talented new goalie, but others aren’t as pleased. Challenged by inflexible attitudes and small-town politics, Cathy continues to play with courage, determination and skill until she is cut from the team. With their companionship at stake, the other players stand up for what they know is right and become winners by being true to themselves. They know when the game is over it’s who they are that matters most.
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Kid's movie that deals with a 14-year-old girl moving to a new town. This girl is different though, she's a hockey goalie that wants to play the game. Since there isn't a girl's team she joins the local "boy's" team which only brings her trouble with the players and the team's sponsor. This is a good movie to watch with the family as it shows life from two points of view. 1984 Rated PG
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Hockey Night (1984)… Megan Follows, Rick Moranis, Gail Youngs. A female goalie makes the boys Canadian hockey team. A nice little film suitable for the whole family to watch. Moranis also stars in football's Little Giants.
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Speaking of Canada and great hockey towns, did you know that Hockey Night was filmed in Parry Sound? (home of Bobby Orr). For those of you who have never seen Hockey Night, it is a mid-80's classic hockey / coming of age movie starring Megan Follows as Kathy and Rick Moranis as her coach. Kathy Yarrow moves to Parry Sound from the city and plays hockey on the all-boys hockey team. She falls for the star of the team, Spear, and it causes quite a stir. Anyway, if you ever get a chance to see Hockey night, DO! and if you ever get a chance to visit Parry Sound DO! It is a beautiful place. Hey - does anyone from Canada read this? If so, e-mail me and say hi! OK, enough of that, Let's talk hockey.
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* * 1/2 setting: Ontario. (1984) Megan Follows, Yannick Bisson, Rick Moranis, Gail Youngs, Henry Ramer, Sean McCann, Maury Chaykin.....Young girl (Follows) joins a small town's all-boy hockey team and runs into conflict with some of the adults. Young teen-oriented made-for-CBC TV drama is nicely done and is given a boost by good performances. sc: Paul Shapiro, Jack Blum. dir: Paul Shapiro. 77 min. (video)
Little glitches / funny things I noticed
- Spear is supposed to be the star forward, but he always seems to lose the face off.
- If you go by the announcements on the loud speaker of the arena - Joey Kinsello (a missing child) appears to have been missing for several weeks!
- Leipert seems to shout the same thing over and over again at the sidelines in one match. Are they repeating the same footage?
- One of the old guys in the audience is hitting his little plastic trumpet on the handrail in excitement - and then it breaks!
- Despite being the star skater/player - during the first game, Spear kind of stumbles and falls a little as he slides out onto the ice - for no apparent reason.
- Spear rushes out to protect Cathy from Forrestal, but when the ref breaks them up, it looks like Forrestal is beating the crap out of poor Spear!
- The All Stars beat Orillia, they were defeated by Midlands - how on earth did they get into the finals with North Bay???
- How come Spear has such good hearing that he can hear Evelyn calling his name like that? Did he have insomnia?
- Murray the caller at the beginning is from "Fish Haven", and during the first game against Orillia, there is a prize up for grabs which is a dinner for two at the "romantic" Fish Haven.
Some Study and Discussion Questions
Some discussions questions you may wish to think about when watching / after watching Hockey Night
From Goldhil.com: Parent’s Guide For Family Discussion
- Cathy and Spear had different reasons for playing hockey. Why did Cathy play? Why did Spear play? Who do you think enjoyed it more?
- Sometimes people have a hard time letting go of the past. How were several people in this movie still struggling with the past?
- Why was Spear’s decision to strike important to the other players? Why was it so difficult for him to decide?
- Mr. Kozak loved his son and wanted the best for him. Why do you think he put so much pressure on him?
- Hard work and practice usually make us better at doing things. Why do you think Spear and Cathy were star players on their team? Do you think the other players worked as hard at hockey as Spear and Cathy did?
Copyright: 1997 Rekab Tserrof, L.C.
Other questions to consider
- Why was Evelyn such an outcast? Why do you think that out of the boys, only Spear was kind to her?
- Why do you think Spear appeared to be the leader among his friends despite being fairly quiet? Was it because he was the best hockey player? How do you feel about proficiency in sport defining leading leadership roles.
- Do you think Mr Kozak had a favourite son?
- Do you think Cathy genuinely liked hockey, or was it simply the only thing to do to fit in?
- Do you think Cathy and Spear any real future together? Or was hockey their only bond?
- Cathy and her mother appear to have a good relationship, how do you explain the outburst in front of "Shifty Nelson"?
- Bum Johnston dismisses Cathy's attempts to be on the team as motivated by "women's lib" - do you agree with this?
- What do you think of coach Willy Leipert? Why did he let Cathy join the team?
- Why do you think Spear was so cool to Cathy in the beginning? What was the turning point? When did they start to become friends and why?
- The All Stars accept Cathy as one of their own. Why is this? Did it seem believable to you and why?
- Why do you think Buck and his friends were always mocking Evelyn? They didn't appear to be particularly cruel people.
Links
See reviews at amazon.com
See comments at IMDB.
Images of Megan Follows - just ones where she looked sort of like she did in Hockey Night (I can't do any screen caps from the movie because my dvd is in Beijing :)!)
Full cast and crew for Hockey Night
Directed by Paul Shapiro
Writing credits
Jack Blum
Paul Shapiro
Cast (in credits order)
Megan Follows .... Cathy Yarrow
Rick Moranis .... Coach
Gail Youngs .... Alice Yarrow
Henry Ramer
Sean McCann
Ingrid Veninger .... Evelyn
Maury Chaykin .... Bum Johnston
Yannick Bisson .... Spear Kozak
Robin Ward .... Kevin McLeod
Ken Camroux .... Shifty Nelson
Deanna Ethridge .... Laura Yarrow
Libbie Lennie .... Leipert's Girlfriend
Rob McEwan .... Referee
Ralph Benmergui .... Referee (as Ralph Benmurgai)
Betty Carney .... Waitress
Mark Polley .... 'All-star' teammate
Robb Angus .... 'All-star' teammate
Ron Carter .... 'All-star' teammate
Laurence Rose .... 'All-star' teammate
Bruce Gaunt .... 'All-star' teammate
Sam Kewaquado .... 'All-star' teammate
Mike Hurd .... 'All-star' teammate
Tim Squirrell .... 'All-star' teammate
Jeff Texmo .... 'All-star' teammate
Andy Rachar .... 'All-star' teammate
Allen Piddington .... 'All-star' teammate
Produced by Martin Harbury
Original Music by Fred Mollin
Cinematography by René Ohashi
Film Editing by James Lahti
Casting by Karen Hazzard
Art Direction by Jill Scott
Set Decoration by Elinor Rose Galbraith
Bryan Day .... sound
Jennifer Goldie .... extras casting
Susan Haller .... script supervisor
Filmed mostly at The Bobby Orr Arena, Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada
Click here for a transcript of the movie. Still a work in progress, so any help would be appreciated.