Some of the best Ice Hockey films

The weather is getting colder and at the moment, even with the heating on full, I am finding it hard to warm up. Obviously, there are other ways to warm up – all the blankets in the world, a big mug of hot chocolate, exercise or maybe some kind of sport. With the latter in mind let us take a look at some of the best Ice Hockey films out there. I did want to include Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Sudden Death but that is an action film that takes place during a hockey game so I am going to leave that out. Instead I am going to only include films that focus on the sport itself.

While I wait for a film based on the longest ice hockey game ever that took place in Norway – The Storhamar Dragons beat the Sparta Warriors back in 2017. It had eight overtimes and lasted for more than 8 1/2 hours after the game started. You could have had some amazing betting bonuses on that game! The longest NHL game went to six overtimes. That was in the 1936 Stanley Cup finals – here are some great films (in no particular order) to check out.

The Mighty Ducks

The 1992 movie starring Emilio Estevez was the first in a series of films. Estevez plays a self-centred Minnesota lawyer sentenced to community service coaching a ragtag youth hockey team. It follows the typical story beats for this kind of sports story, but it is acted well and is one of the few films on this list that the whole family can enjoy.

Miracle

The 2004 docudrama directed by Gavin O’Connor, looks at the real story of the United States men’s ice hockey team, led by head coach Herb Brooks (Kurt Russell) that won the gold medal in the 1980 Winter Olympics. The American team’s victory over the Soviet professionals in the medal round was dubbed the “Miracle on Ice.”

Russell puts in a fantastic performance as he unites the team.

The story had previously been shown in the 1981 film Miracle on Ice that featured Karl Malden as Brooks.

Goon

Seann William Scott plays Doug Glatt who becomes the enforcer for a minor league ice hockey team in the 2011 film. While it does deal with some of the more violent aspects of the sport and is full of funny moments, it is more character-driven than some of the other films, which often just focus on winning the big game. Instead, we follow a man who is willing to give everything for the team.

Scott gives a great performance in the lead role and he is ably supported by Jay Baruchel, Liev Schreiber, Alison Pill, Marc-André Grondin, Kim Coates and Eugene Levy.

Youngblood

Rob Lowe, Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves in an ice hockey film! What more do you need to know?

This 1986 movie sees Lowe playing Dean Youngblood, a 17-year-old farmhand from rural New York, has dreams of playing in the National Hockey League. When he gets there he realises he is not tough enough and has to toughen up. What follows are training montages, very 80s style workouts, and lots of other clichés, but it all comes together in a piece of ridiculous yet fantastic 80s gold. If you like Roadhouse and Point Break then this one is for you.

Slap Shot

This 1977 film directed by George Roy Hill and starring Paul Newman could possibly be the classic ice hockey movie. It follows a minor league ice hockey team that up the violent behaviour to become more popular.

Full of great characters, funny moments, some violent showdowns with larger than life villains and more. It captures the 1970s better than many other films from the time. Top it off with a superb performance by Paul Newman as player-coach Reggie Dunlop and you are in for a great time.

There you. Five great ice hockey movies.

What is your favourite ice hockey film?