HY DOES THE MOVIE HOWARD BALDWIN: There Austin Powers movies. It was af- Mystery, Alaska reso- is this famous story about at the end of my career. I ter the second one that we did nate with fans two de- wentteam into Manchester,Canmore at ChristEngland,- Mystery, Alaska. He asked me cades later? Perhaps Wbecause it is one of the few mov- Jackhow DempseyShelby, Montana, to revitalize hosted the brother-in-law was working like a good challenge. I grew up ies that gets its hockey right. town.a heavyweight That evolved fight into featuring what onmastime the special-effects to visit family. crew My into Wisconsindo this film, and and knew it seemed hockey With all due respect to The Mystery, Alaska became. to get the ice right during but had never played it. I was Mighty Ducks and Youngblood, pre-production. He suggested there are no silly knuckle-pucks Kelley, who was a writer and that I get involved, so I met game of hockey. or ludicrous stick-swinging creator of TV shows such as L.A. with the production company. definitely not intimate with the Law and Ally McBeal, collabo- TURNER: Within the week, I with deep hockey roots were rated with friend Sean O’Byrne with Jay Roach. They needed a was teaching Russell Crowe involvedduels in thisin the film. making Many ofpeople Mys- The next day, I’m having coffee and Burt Reynolds how to tery, Alaska – and it shows. Pro- ducers Howard and Karen Elise training camp, and I was Baldwin were the owners of the thrownskate. They right ran into a five-weekthe mix at the time to get these guys skating. I and had previously owned the was on an outdoor pond in . Scriptwriter Canmore, pushing around a David E. Kelley was the son of hockey net with Burt Reyn- an NHL executive and the cap- olds, which was cool. He was a tain of his hockey team at Princ- pretty tough old guy, he stayed out there for hours. assistant hockey co-ordinator andeton. hockey Brad Turner,double for the Russell film’s TRAVIS STEPHENSON (Hockey double for Michael Buie, who played Connor New York Islanders and had an Banks): I auditioned for a speak- eight-yearCrowe, played career briefly in the minors. for the Several former players from the Connolly. It was an open invita- University of Calgary also con- tioning part, for local for the talent. role I of had ‘Tinker’ never tributed as Rangers players or acted before, but I just thought, as hockey doubles for the Mys- what the heck? Cameron tery characters.

involve hockey was the Jean- hockeyBancroft resume got the and role suggested of ‘Tinker.’ I The Baldwins’ first film to tryAnd out then to theybe a hockeylooked atdouble. my Sudden Death. It came out in 1995Claude and Van had Damme a hearty action serving flick DARREN MORRISON (Hockey of hockey action. But in Mystery, double for Cameron Bancroft, who played Alaska, hockey was the main ‘Tinker’ Connolly): I was playing my course. Oddly enough, the idea last year of college hockey with the University of Calgary Dinos, but I got a concussion playing KARENfor the film ELISE came BALDWIN during a meal. rugby right before the season (Co-producer): It really started at a started. One of the hockey lunch that we had with writer guys from the movie called David E. Kelley. my coach, looking for players. He recommended me, since I HOWARD BALDWIN (Producer): - on the Mystery, Alaska script, So, I went to these tryouts to be which was quickly picked up by DOUBLE DUTY awasn’t hockey playing player for in the season.movie. We’ve always been close. Da Disney. Director Jay Roach and Former pro player Turner was There were a bunch of actors andvid’s later dad, theJack president Kelley, was of the cinematographer Peter Dem- the movie’s assistant hockey - Penguins.coach and WeGM were of the at Whalers Delmo- ing, who had previously worked director – and Crowe’s double. ure skates and mittens on their together on Austin Powers and hands,there, skating with borrowed around with hockey fig about doing a movie that took Austin Powers 2, were brought sticks. They were trying to hockeynico’s in back L.A., to and its we roots. talked on board. Mystery, Alaska was local hockey co-ordinator, and audition as hockey players, but mainly filmed in Canmore, Al- he said I looked a little bit like KAREN ELISE BALDWIN: berta, a town of 12,000 people ran us through some drills, IT WAS THE ORIGINAL WINTER CLASSIC. TWO TEAMS FACING OFF AND GETTING BACK TO THEIR ROOTS, PLAYING SHINNY OUTDOORS ON A FROZEN POND Both Howard and David, as that’s located about 50 miles taller. So, I was also hired to tookthey reallysome photoscouldn’t and skate. thought They UNDER A GREY, WINTRY SKY. ONLY IN THIS STORY, ONE TEAM IS THE AND THE OTHER IS A GROUP OF AMATEURS FROM A SMALL TOWN. boys, played hockey on the west of Calgary. doubleRussell forCrowe, Russell. though I was I’m off a tobit I matched up pretty well with MYSTERY, ALASKA, THE CLASSIC UNDERDOG STORY OF PROS VERSUS JOES, TURNS 20 THIS FALL BY SAL BARRY lake when growing up, so they a pretty fast start. Cameron Bancroft. They called began reminiscing about that, BRAD TURNER (Assistant hockey me back, and I spent the next and how it would be cool to director and hockey double for Russell Crowe, PETER DEMING (Cinematographer): I three months in Canmore,

XXXXX PREVIOUS DISNEY; PAGE: CURRENT COURTESY PHOTO BRAD PAGE: TURNER make a movie like that. who played John Biebe): I played for a had worked with Jay on the two working on this movie.

| 64 | THE HOCKEY NEWS NOVEMBER 25, 2019 NOVEMBER 25, 2019 THE HOCKEY NEWS | 65 | STEPHENSON: was the boring part. Once we like we did in university. Well, shooting was done for the day. MORRISON: We (hockey JAY ROACH & JIM WHEATCROFT There were 120 or 130 people then it got a little more glamor- walk in the door and there so we had to get up at 5 a.m. trying out for ous.started We filming had our in own Canmore, trailers. sothere’s he slams Russell, his stickstanding on the there, ice wereHe rented these this big house,garbage and cans you’d Theredoubles) were weren’t no labor in the laws union, for these doubling We got to hang out with the and yellsno one’s at me, passing “Hey! to Fake him, Tin - full of ice and beer. us. Russell only had to work a positions, and I actors and do the plays and be certain number of hours, and got one of them. on the set all day. want to pass the puck too hard STEPHENSON: Oh yeah, we got then he would be done for the I was a stunt becauseker! Pass if me he themoves puck!” too Imuch, didn’t bent with Russell Crowe a few double, and I STEPHENSON: I would say that kept going until 2 or 3 in did all the skill that some of the hockey dou- WE GOT BENT WITH the puck over to him, and he you. We had a few pops, as you day. So, we’d be at his parties, and skating bles were picked more because trieshe’d fall.to get So, it...and I kind of courseshuffle he wouldnights. say.I’m Inot remember going to stayinglie to work for the they resembled the actors they falls down. the morning, and then we’d get movie as well. were doubling for than for RUSSELL CROWE three or four times. He had that afternoon.up at 5. Russell didn’t have to I was used for their actual hockey skill, if you TURNER: Russell worked real- band,at Russell’s 30 Odd house Foot probably of Grunts, get up and film until 1 in the any below-the- know what I mean. A FEW NIGHTS. ly, really hard, going from zero and he would sit there with his TURNER: The 1998 Winter head shots they to becoming a guy who was guitar and jam for us. Olympics were going on at needed, closeup MORRISON: Team Two was I’M NOT GOING TO stickhandling kind of a mix. There were a or some couple of us that played col- footwork they lege hockey. The rest were LIE TO YOU. WE wanted to show guys who played beer league. off. I spent a lot There was a difference in the HAD A FEW POPS levels of playing. So, when they skill stuff for had these complex passing - TRAVIS STEPHENSON extraof time shots. filming plays that they made us do, Big Dipper on the arm. He over and over, and the director spent his own money to make SETTING UP THE SHOT wouldsometimes get pissed we’d have off because to do it us feel like a team because we Director Roach needed extras were hanging around for three who could actually play hockey. are supposed to be performing months together. But first, they waited around. andwe’re playing. the hockey experts that HOWARD BALDWIN: Russell DEMING: Sometimes you have The actors had to learn how - brilliant actor, but he loves get- to skate, the hockey players had posed to be playing at a high tingCrowe people was fantastic.together, He’sworking a to learn specific plays…and the people in the film that are sup on getting everybody to like town of Mystery had to be built. high level. So you have to sort each other, and making a team oflevel concoct who really a recipe can’t of playshots at a out of them. He really got into MORRISON: They built the en- and closeups to make it seem the role. tire town, including the church and the cemetery. If you drove know if people are going to STEPHENSON: We had two bethe believable opposite. Youor not don’t as hockeyreally different dressing rooms, players until you get out there. justup to a it,little you’d town never at the know base it That was probably the biggest between dressing rooms and ofwas a mountain.a set. You’d The think amount it was of hurdle to overcome. bulls---but we’d with go back each and other. forth Russell money Disney spent on every- Crowe used to call us hockey thing was crazy. TURNER: doubles “Fake.” So, I was “Fake nights, all the doubles and ac- KAREN ELISE BALDWIN: tors who playedOne of hockeythe first were lot of times, studios just try to invited to a little party at a beConnor” like, “Hey, and there’dFake Connor, be “Fake get barely mobile on the ice, where JIM WHEATCROFT (played A hotel. Burt Reynolds got up and overSkank” here!” and (laughs)“Fake Tinker.” He’d they could use him a little bit. Rangers team captain “Jackson”): Russell AUSSIE ON ICE little bit. But for this, Disney gave a “rally the troops” kind But his skating was poor, he had his birthday during the Crowe’s star power, personality find a town to use or build a of speech, and he talked about TURNER: had a poor skating stride. and parties made him popular what they wanted the town of his experience, gave these war the “Fakes.” It was all in good invited about 200 people into on set. His skating? Don’t ask. had a very specific vision of stories. Then Russell got up spirits, notAll malicious. the doubles Russell were Crowe’s inability to skate was afilming little pub of the that movie, was packed. and he and gave his speech, telling us less of a distraction than the MORRISON:Mystery to look They like. called the how important this was and a lot of time with him, and he raging parties that he would fre- that too much because he the time. Russell threw a lot what it meant to him. He gave didn’t call me “Fake.” I spent quently throw during the film’s kindI don’t of think took overthe locals the pub. liked He of great parties when the (hockey doubles) were ‘Team three-month shooting schedule, toasted a bunch of people that Canadian Olympic hockey team actors ‘Team One,’ and we idea that we were a team. MORRISON:didn’t have a nickname for me. but no one seemed to mind. were in the movie and did to and from Calgary to practise us all jackets and solidified the pond, waiting around. Some- suite at the Banff Springs Hotel choreographedTwo.’ Team Two plays had to for drive two MORRISON: Russell bought times, the directorWe’re gaveout on us thattime MORRISON: Russell was an andwas throwplaying. a bigHe’d party rent there. a big hours and then drive back. The Team One and Team Two to warm up. Russell Crowe awesome guy. He would throw Hethis invited Australian people thing back where to his hockey jackets. They had our can barely stand on skates. these massive parties with the housewe’d all for drink more after drinks each after toast. or get-together at the house he

just all practising plays. That jersey numbers on it, and the MORRISON DARREN COURTESY PHOTO JIM WHEATCROFT; COURTESY PHOTO TOP: DISNEY cast and crew many times after the bar closed. rented.And there Russell was alwayswas very a party good first month of the movie was We’re passing the puck around | 66 | THE HOCKEY NEWS NOVEMBER 25, 2019 NOVEMBER 25, 2019 THE HOCKEY NEWS | 67 | in that way, to include all of would include , too. are, what the teamwork is, you the guys who were taking part that shot, it was like minus-30 can sort of build up like you WE’RE FROZEN. I CAN’T EVEN FEEL MY HANDS studio in Bristol () inter. Canmore, And the day and that we satwe allfilmed would in any sport. into the fold. betweenWe filmed periods our part of ina game.the ESPN It day, waiting for them to set up OR FEET. SOMEONE MISSES THE PASS, AND in this film and bring them all probably took 10 minutes, and the cameras and lights in that TURNER: I would look at the In the film, moments before we had a blast. corner. When it came time to video monitor (to watch the THE DIRECTOR GETS LIVID AT US - DARREN MORRISON the ‘Saturday Game’ when young shoot, my hands were so cold Stevie Weeks makes his debut, STEPHENSON: The most think, as a hockey player, that the Mystery players are in the well as I did the day before, but itreplay was good,of a filmed but it take)could and be something they could work at us for not being able to the ice, which is a problem when dressing room, watching ESPN the scene right before Stevie itand was I didn’t cool to pull see it that off quite they stillas better. But people outside of out schedule-wise. They may perform. But they had us sit making a hockey movie. So the National Hockey Night, hosted THE SCENE WHERE Weeksfulfilling gets thing hit forat center me was would say that it looked have entertained the notion of out there for 20 minutes when story of a team that plays shinny by Steve Levy and Barry Melrose. - really great. having a couple of Rangers do it was minus-40. on a frozen pond would actually A hush falls over them as an irate DEMING:put it in the The film. trick to shooting on-ice cameos, but once again, play its final game on an artificial Melrose gives his two cents about THE RANGERS Holtby ‘Tree’ the goalieduring stops the ‘Satur the puck really good hockey is to get on MORRISON: Filming is hurry it was mid-season, and no mat- TURNER: surface. the forthcoming exhibition game andday Game.’gives it Right to Connor before Banks that, the ice and move the camera up and wait. One day, we were ter what Disney wanted, it just between Mystery and the Rang- ARRIVE BY behind the net. I did a quick - It was more At ofthat the time, idea you of STEPHENSON: I remember it ers, calling the idea “a joke.” toe-drag on the guy coming at you start to learn how teams ing against each other on the gettingdidn’t have it right. a whole There lot was of CGI. a being unseasonably warm by me, and Jay Roach runs out on playon the together, ice with what the players. the plays As pond.filming So, the we Mystery get up atteam 5 a.m. play to DEMING:wasn’t possible. The scene where the little bit of pressure to do the the time we got into the end of BARRY MELROSE (ESPN commenta- HELICOPTER WAS the ice and yells “Stop! Stop! go to hair and makeup. I need- things you needed to do. We tor): I knew the Kelley family a Stop! Travis, that was f---ing ed to put a wig on, because a helicopter was the cold- long time. Jack ran the rink at THE COLDEST awesome!” The next day, we PROS VS. JOES estRangers night arriveof my inlife. Mystery We were on February and March. had all the cameras set up in The doubles became the stars shooting at night and it was my career. David called me NIGHT OF MY LIFE that corner for me to do that when it came time to shoot the gear,‘Tinker’ got had something sort of ato mullet. eat, and 25 degrees below zero. There Glenn Falls, where I finished move again. When I did it the complex hockey sequences. thenI’d got went made back up, to put my on dressing my was an 18-mile-per-hour wind. I said sure but asked if they - PETER DEMING day before, I did it so much bet- room. We watched three mov- and asked if I’d be in the film. ies, back to back to back, before from the helicopter every time itAnd would you takehad theoff andprop land. wash The only thing exposed were my we got called in. They’d get us eyes, because everything else up at 5 a.m. but didn’t call us to STEPHENSON:the set until 1 o’clock. When we frostbite. The actors would be went on to shooting, I learned onhad the to beset covered, for 10 minutes, or I’d get then

they do, and how short the The extras and crew had to scenesabout the are film by the industry, time they what toughthey’d itrun out. inside I grew to up warm in the up. edit it all. There are parts that I thought for sure would be in was used to cold weather. But IMidwest had been and living was in a skier,Southern so I - California for a long time, so I the movie but weren’t. There were airplanes constantly fly It was shocking. ing overhead, and we’d have- to didn’t have my winter game on. stop filming. If it was a cloudy MORRISON: One day, they sat haveday, and to wait we filmedit out and the workprevi on us on the bench, outside, on aous different day with scene. blue skies, we’d the pond. It had to be minus-30 or minus-40 with the wind In the film, the Rangers were forced to play the exhibition game against Mystery. In real life, putchill. extra We’re stuff all juston underneath, wearing Disney tried to get the real Rang- becauseregular hockey it would gear. show You up can’t in ers to make a cameo appearance. arguing about what plays they TURNER: wantedthe film. us The to directorsdo. For 15 were or 20 movie. Disney committed a minutes, they let us sit there, had these rehearsed plays and bunch of money It was ato high-profile it. The outside, minus-40, in just choreography on how things TEAM-BUILDING producers tried really hard to had to happen, and how the Crowe threw regular parties for orchestrate where if the Rang- hits had to happen. Just try- Morrison and the crew where a ers were scheduled to play hockey gear. Finally, we’re told ing to make it look real and few ‘pops’ were consumed. handsto do a or complex feet. Well, play. someone We’re have the pace and intensity of in that helicopter scene, where missesfrozen. theI can’t pass, even and feel the my direc - hockey action is really tough to thenearby, Rangers they’d players try and come get themto tor gets livid at us, that we pull off. KAREN ELISE BALDWIN: It was so cold for so long, and we that scene with the whole Over the course of filming, the RangersMystery. team.They wantedThere was to film a real can’t perform these plays. He’s temperature climbed from freez- the end, because we wanted

PHOTO COURTESY DARREN MORRISON DARREN COURTESY PHOTO MORRISON DARREN OF COURTESY PHOTO IAmerican remember and him has getting no idea mad what ing cold to warm enough to melt thesaved guys filming to be the as good hockey as untilthey it’s like to play outdoor hockey. push to do that, but it wasn’t | 68 | THE HOCKEY NEWS NOVEMBER 25, 2019 NOVEMBER 25, 2019 THE HOCKEY NEWS | 69 | got some more ex-Dinos play- WELCOME TO ‘ALASKA’ ers out there, like Dave Lovsin Disney shot the film in Alberta and Jim Wheatcroft. and built the entire set for the fictional town of Mystery. WHEATCROFT: Brad asked me to be in the movie before

could be so that they would have time to skate together filming started, but I was an assistant coach with the Jr. A then a chinook came through knockedCanmore out Eagles of the and playoffs, couldn’t the and thepractise ice melted. together. We And had to guycommit. who Afterwas originally the team castgot as the captain of the Rangers end- surface so that we could do the hockeyscramble sequences. to get an artificial ice the problem with real hockey ed up leaving the film. That’s HOWARD BALDWIN: Dan Craig, who does the ice for the players: they’re not actors, and NHL, is a genius. He came to drovethey don’t the hockey care if theyco-ordinator leave Canmore and saved our you- (Craigmidway Yeaton) through nuts. filming. I got Ita call know-what. He was just great. who asked me to come out DEMING: We had piped the ice becauseat 9 o’clock I looked at night like from the guyBrad, to keep it frozen. It turned out they had already shot scenes to be a really with. The very good decision. next morning, There were 12 hours later, I times when was going down it was getting the ice for the a little soupy breakaway , on the ice, with sleds that so we were constantly out was surreal. TURNER: Some Rangers guys there with a filmed on-ice. It had limited action, and some HOLLYWOOD HOCKEY squeegee, and DAN CRAIG DOES MORRISON: Turner taught Reynolds how hoping that These movies time. Because of the nature of to skate and called the acting it would stay THE ICE FOR THE couldn’t commit to the whole legend “a tough old guy.” overcast and pick up skilled through a constant stream not get sunny. playersthink that who they’ll will offilming, hockey-playing you could guysjust rotate that We were get- NHL. HE CAME just hang around looked like Rangers. Some of or seven hours taking draws ting into late whenever the them were there the whole different ways. There were TO CANMORE movie needs time, and some came in for just some days that were 14 to 16 them. But really, a few weeks. hours on the set, because they canMarch happen. and players would had to wrap the movie up. April, so that AND SAVED OUR come in and During the big game, inter- The days were long, because Getting the play Rangers mission commentary is provided it was spring, and we put in real New York YOU-KNOW-WHAT for a week or so by real-life hockey broadcaster long hours, which was great. Rangers to ap- but then had to and the outspoken Don- You work over eight hours, pear in Mys- - HOWARD BALDWIN get back to their nie Shulzhoffer, played by come- it becomes time-and-a-half. tery, Alaska real jobs. dian (and Austin Powers star) was impossible – but getting the Mike Myers. “fake” Rangers to stick around WHEATCROFT: They changed reallyAnd when added you up. hit 12 hours, was also hard. Many of the play- the laces in my skates and JIM FOX (Studio analyst) it’s double-time-and-a-half. It ers cast as Rangers couldn’t stay gave me a haircut, so I looked STEPHENSON: for long, which was another prob- the spot. We did a lot: ofMike differ - that Stevie Weeks scores lem when filming the climactic entMyers’ takes, lines and were he went ad-libbed in a lot on against the Rangers, The first Biebe goal gets Mystery-vs.-Rangers game. Even peoplelike the picked first guy up who on that played it was of different directions. It was control of the puck behind Rangers captain Jackson, who twoJackson. different I don’t actors. think On a lot my of funny at the time. I was trying the net, then passes to me in scores two goals in the movie, character, the number on the to not laugh out loud. Everyone the corner. I had to stop the was played by two different men. behind the camera was laugh- puck and pass it to Weeks for a breakaway. I was determined MORRISON: wantedback was my 11, jersey which half-tucked was Mark fast and funny, so animated. to make it a one-timer pass, not was coming to us and asking if in,Messier’s like Wayne number, Gretzky. but theyThe ing, too, because Mike was so to stop the puck and then pass we knew any At good the playersend, Brad that name on the back, Jackson, is WHEATCROFT: Travis Stephen-

XXXXX PREVIOUS COURTESY PHOTOS OF PAGE: DARREN MORRISON.; CURRENT COURTESY PHOTOS OF PAGE: BRAD TURNER could be Rangers players. We son and I spent literally six about six or seven takes. it. I finally nailed it, but it took the name of the director’s son. | 70 | THE HOCKEY NEWS NOVEMBER 25, 2019 NOVEMBER 25, 2019 THE HOCKEY NEWS | 71 | behind the net. ‘FAKE’ PHOTO the puck hit the The hockey-playing doubles for crossbarI couldn’t and make then the Mystery side took a timeout go straight in the for a classic team picture. air and tumble end over end like you I worked on game. Finally, they brought in after the end asee puck-shooting in the final scene machine of the to of my hockey career. I met a make the puck do exactly what whole slew of theyreplace wanted. me, because I couldn’t good people and decided to Mystery, Alaska was released in theaters Oct. 1, 1999. Disney, industry. I was unsure if it was a comedy, a dra- thestay hockey in the filmco- ma, a sports movie or all of the ordinator for above, didn’t know how to mar- several other ket the film, which took in $8.9 Slap million at the box office against Shot 2, Chicks its $28-million budget. Perhaps withfilms, Sticks like and also stifling its chances was the Legend No. 17, abundance of bad language, which gave the film an R rating about Valeri instead of the more audience- Kharlamov.a Russian film friendly PG-13 rating. But like the fictional team it portrayed, MORRISON: Mystery, Alaska didn’t have to over, Disney auctioned off the win the game to be a winner. buildings. I walkWhen by filmingthe old was Fans had a new hockey movie to enjoy, one that didn’t need a “2” now. or “3” in its title and rehash old set all the time. It’s a dog park stories. HOWARD BALDWIN: In fair-

KAREN ELISE BALDWIN: The opening was fun. It was in New heldness, an (former outdoor Los exhibition Angeles York. Russell was there, and gameKings backowner) in 1991.Bruce But McNall the NHL commissioner Gary Bett- NHL never picked up on the man was there. Everyone loved idea of an annual outdoor Scott Grimes, who played ‘Bird- behind their own net, and two STEPHENSON: the movie. game until we did Mystery, POND PROBLEMS players skate behind the net, scene of the game, Connor Alaska. They talk like they There were issues late in the yelled, “Jeez! That was close!” and Biebe passes the puck up Banks shoots the In puck the final and it MELROSE: I love everything invented the idea. shoot when temperatures rose ie’ Burns. And he turned and the ice. We had some dolly David E. Kelley does, all his and the ice started to melt. his overreaction was kind of shots from the side of the ice and then the goalie catches it. movies and shows. I enjoyed KAREN ELISE BALDWIN: funny.It wasn’t But close then to I thought,his face, andyeah, and some sled shots behind hits the crossbar, flutters up, the movie. It was fun but not at What do they say? Imitation those skaters. The actors were assistant director and a cam- the point of making fun of the is the most sincere form of FOX: like that for stitches, and then weaving through the other eramanThey had bet me a takesix-pack that ofshot. beer An our scenes in one day, at Culver I really don’t want to split a guy team, and we were able to fol- on how many times it would the hottest actor in Hollywood City on Mike a sound Myers stage. and IOne shot low them, which was sort of a take me to hit the crossbar whenNHL. And it came Russell out. Crowe was DEMING:flattery. thing I realized right away he’d have a scar in every movie breakaway situation. We were and make the puck do that. about people who are pas- is that they all eat very well. DEMING:that he’s in. - FOX: Even though Mystery, sionate about It was a sport,a nice aboutfilm (laughs) There were chefs most fond of is in the big game guage of television, essentially, crossbar, and the puck would Alaska hockey, and how that can making food. Just talk about The sequence I’m aconstantly game broadcast, mixing thewith film people lan goWell, down. I couldn’t I shot doit one it. I’d time hit the most critics, I thought that the permeate their life and their in the stands and out on the ice and the puck went over the dressing-room didn’t do scenes well with were as comeback.near the end The of playthe film, starts when in the middle of the action. crossbar and broke the glass realistic as any sports movie. written by people who played whenfirst class. they Iwere had asetting stand-in, up so the Mystery team stages a They were a bit crude due to hockey.family’s life. It was definitely lights.I didn’t I havehad my to sitown in dressingmy spot language and subject matter, room. It was big-time, for me but I thought those scenes HOWARD BALDWIN: The anyway. BUT THEN I THOUGHT, YEAH, I DON’T WANT TO were very realistic. not just for young people, for the love of the game. For but for older people that play ‘TINKER’ TIMES TWO WHEATCROFT: One thing that SPLIT HIM FOR STITCHES, THEN HE’D HAVE A TURNER: Mystery, Alaska was manyfilm is small really towns about inplaying winter and watch the game. Mystery, Actor Bancroft and double I had to remember is that I was a pretty amazing experience climates, hockey is the be-all, Alaska captures the spirit of Morrison played the part of SCAR IN EVERY MOVIE HE’S IN - JIM WHEATCROFT for everyone who was involved end-all for nine months of the game and the passion that Mystery’s ‘Tinker’ Connolly. the puck in, and it went by DISNEY COURTESY PHOTOS OFTOP: BRAD TURNER; COURTESY PHOTOS OF BOTTOM: DARREN MORRISON. the year. It is a social event, people have for it. playing against actors. I flipped in it. It’s the first thing that | 72 | THE HOCKEY NEWS NOVEMBER 25, 2019 NOVEMBER 25, 2019 THE HOCKEY NEWS | 73 |