Category: Culture

Book Review – 1972: The Series That Changed Hockey Forever

Fifty years ago was the 1972 Summit Series, where the best NHL players from Canada faced off in an eight-game exhibition series against the top hockey players from the Soviet Union. But, as it turned out, this was no mere exhibition series. In the book “1972: The Series That Changed Hockey Forever,” author Scott Morrison gives a comprehensive, almost exhaustive history of the Summit Series. Many books have been written on this subject, but “1972” might be the best.

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Charlestown’s Secret Roller Hockey Scene

“PING” was the sound heard as a little orange ball smacked the metal post. “TAP!” “TAP!” “TAP!” echoed into the night sky as carbon fiber blades slammed on the concrete rink.

Flying down the rink at breakneck speeds are seven young men carrying hockey sticks. “Vroom” was the distinct sound their skates made as they swept along the pavement and fired backhanders into the crossbar of the net. Once someone scores, they do their best to celly like Bergeron, Marchand, or McAvoy.

If you ever find yourself in the Charlestown neighborhood of Boston, make your way to the western edges of the neighborhood. Not far from Sullivan Square and the infamous traffic circle lies Ryan Playground. Nestled by the banks of the Mystic River, this playground is where the local Townies spend their summers honing their hockey skills and having fun.

All summer, local roller hockey players from the Town frequently meet to play seemingly endless two-on-two hockey games.

These hockey games can be a challenge to find. Continue reading “Charlestown’s Secret Roller Hockey Scene”

Review: The Mighty Ducks Game Changers, Season 1, Episode 10

“State of Play” is the 10th and final episode in the first season of The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers, and it delivers what viewers have been expecting all along: a rematch between the Don’t Bothers and the Mighty Ducks. It does this with some plot twists and — to quote Coach Orion from the third Mighty Ducks film — a few “little duck tricks.” 

NOTE: This review contains minor spoilers. 

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Review: The Mighty Ducks Game Changers, Season 1, Episode 9

“Head Games” is the penultimate episode in season one of The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers. It skillfully continues the series’ trajectory towards an inevitable final showdown between the Don’t Bothers and the Mighty Ducks. It’s a great episode that entertains without an iota of hockey action. 

NOTE: This review contains minor spoilers. 

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Review: The Mighty Ducks Game Changers, Season 1, Episode 8

“Change on the Fly,” the 8th episode of The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers, appropriately describes Alex’s changing attitude as the Don’t Bothers continue their win streak. However, winning comes with a price: the Don’t Bothers are slowly becoming the Mighty Ducks. 

NOTE: This review contains minor spoilers. 

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Review: The Mighty Ducks Game Changers, Season 1, Episode 7

“Pond Hockey,” the seventh episode of The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers, starts out promising. The Don’t Bothers are understandably angry at Evan for thinking of rejoining the Ducks. But the episode crams too much into too little time, feels rushed, and isn’t as satisfying as the previous six episodes. 

NOTE: This review contains minor spoilers. 

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Review: The Mighty Ducks Game Changers, Season 1, Episode 6

Usually, a spin-off series will have guest stars in the first episode to draw in viewers and connect the past to the present. In The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers, we had to wait until the sixth episode to see what the old Ducks players were up to these days — and it was worth the wait.

Entitled “Spirit of the Ducks,” Game Changers brings back Fulton Reed, Adam Banks, Guy Germaine, Connie Moreau, Les Averman and Ken Wu from the Ducks movies. It’s the episode that we’ve all been waiting for, and while it feels good to reconnect with old friends, there are some hurt feelings, too. 

NOTE: This review contains minor spoilers and assumes you’ve seen the previous episode. 

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Review: The Mighty Ducks Game Changers, Season 1, Episode 5

In the fifth episode of The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers, entitled “Cherry Picker,” the Don’t Bothers are psyched because their next game is against the Hawks. No, these aren’t the black-clad “evil team” from the original Ducks film. The Hawks, who now wear orange and black, are the second-worst team in the league, which means the Don’t Bothers (0-5 thus far) might get their first win of the season. But a surprise visit from Evan’s estranged father suddenly complicates things for Evan, Alex and the team. 

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The Wyatt Russell Hockey Rookie Card

Did you know that Wyatt Russell has a hockey card? Yes, the actor who plays John Walker — a.k.a. the new Captain America — in the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier used to be a pro hockey player. His hockey card is from a set of movie trading cards made to promote the film Goon: Last of the Enforcers. Russell’s life — going from hockey player, to actor playing hockey player, to actor playing Captain America — took an interesting and unconventional road. 

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Review: The Mighty Ducks Game Changers, Season 1, Episode 4

“Hockey Moms” — the fourth episode of The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers — is about the characters moving out of their comfort zones, and doing what is right instead of what is easy. The episode focuses on a showdown between the the Don’t Bothers moms and the Ducks moms in a skills competition. 

Note: This review contains very minor spoilers and assumes you’ve seen Episodes 1-3 of Game Changers. 

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