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Whether it’s Gretzky, Crosby or McDavid, the journey to the National Hockey League is one of the most classic Canadian stories ever told.
Small town boy gets noticed, lights up Jr. hockey, is drafted by a lucky team and is one day skating beside the biggest names in the game.
Most Canadians have heard the story, but only a select group of parents and coaches get an inside look of the path to the NHL.
Now, a recently released made-in-Kelowna documentary details what it’s like to be 13-years-old and on your way to the pros.
Check out the documentary's trailer below:
The story focuses on first-year bantam player Jack Finley and his season leading up the WHL Bantam draft.
Jack Finley who’s the son of former NHLer and Kelowna Rockets head coach Jeff Finley, is touted as a top-ten pick in the draft and the intensity surrounding a season full of scouts, head coaches and passionate parents is palpable.
"We started the documentary two years ago when Jack was playing with Kelowna Minor Hockey. We wanted to investigate the elite player development stream. What it takes to become an elite minor hockey player and take that next step,” said producer Tyler Hinds.
“Our first episode follows Jack’s Kelowna Minor Hockey team exclusively, then after Jack decides to play for Pursuit of Excellence we move into the second episode where we start following the elite hockey academy world.”
The documentary was made by a production team of director Sam Findlay and Tyler Hinds.
A filmmaker from Vancouver, Findlay directed the project and formed the storyline that comprises the documentaries five episodes.
A former ECHL player, Hinds now works with sports player development company Pro Smart and offered his knowledge and interest to the traditional hockey “come up” story.
“People were saying the Pursuit of Excellence team Jack played on during filming was the best Bantam team ever,” said Hinds. “They had six players go in the top 13 in the WHL draft and from my hockey knowledge, watching them play, I couldn't believe how skilled these 14-year-old kids were.”
“The filming took place over the course of 18 months and viewers will get a glimpse of the grassroots hockey world we don't often see on TV,” said Findlay who directed the documentary. “The documentary does a great job showing some up and coming prospects but also some of the issues that are happening in the hockey world right now.”
For hockey fans, the documentary features the next generation of hockey prospects and for parents or players the film details the issues that are happening in the hockey world right now in B.C.
"We don't shy away from the coaches yelling at the players, the intense level of commitment and the money it takes to play," said Findlay. "The film also touches on the analytics movement, the issue of players being judged with technology and numbers today versus on good character. It's an important question to ask in today's hockey world; are scouts looking more for numbers or kids with good character?"
The documentary is split into six, 20-minute episodes, and can be watched on Youtube or on Telus On Demand T.V.
Check out the documentary's first episode below:
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