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Tipped Off
05-16-2007, 02:25 PM
Wahl "In the Crease"

Spokane Chiefs fans know rookie Mitch Wahl as a hardworking goal scorer and one of the exciting young talents on the team with a bright future ahead of him. What they may not know is that he also appeared this past season in a new hit hockey movie called "In the Crease," (http://www.InTheCreaseMovie.com) that has been hailed by critics across North America as the best in years.

The action packed and inspiring real life story of a teenage hockey team's quest to win a national championship, this 90 minute film also features 15 NHL stars including Joe Thornton, Brendan Shanahan, Scott Niedermayer, Brian Rolston and many more sharing their own personal stories and triumphs. Released on DVD in the U.S. in late November, it was the #1 Sports DVD in the country just four weeks later. This March, it also debuted as the #1 Hockey DVD in Canada.

For "In the Crease," co-directors Matt Gannon and Michael Sarner filmed the elite, California Wave Bantam AAA travel team as it trained for and competed at nationals in 2005 and 2006. Wahl, who hails from Seal Beach, California, was the team's co-captain and its leading scorer just prior to being drafted by the Chiefs fourth overall in the 2005 WHL draft.

"We really wanted to do for hockey what Friday Night Lights did for football and Hoosiers did for basketball," said Gannon, who co-produced the Oscar nominated "Girl with a Pearl Earring" starring Scarlett Johansson and grew up playing hockey himself. "And that's to tell a great sports story about a team overcoming adversity and riding the high of big wins and the heartbreak of tough losses. But what makes this story even more special is that it's not actors. It captures real players like Mitch and his Wave teammates who are some of the top young talent in the game. I know Chiefs fans will really enjoy seeing Mitch's life before he made it to Spokane and getting to know him and his family."

"This is a film that gives a true inside look at the hockey experience. Players, coaches and families around the world can relate to it, and hockey fans have a chance to see what really goes on behind the scenes, " said Sarner. The Wave team, based out of Long Beach, California, draws some of the top players from across Southern California and is beginning to send several to the prep school, NCAA Division I and WHL ranks, as well as to the US National Team.

Despite the team's recent success, it's still an underdog story. "These are beach kids who walk into an ice rink in flip flops, strap on their equipment and play against some of the best teams in the country with much more impressive histories," said Gannon. "But, in the end, it's not just the Wave's story we're telling, it's every team's story of what it takes to become champions."

For those who are looking for good hockey action, there's plenty of that as Wahl and his teammates take on hockey powerhouses like Honeybaked of Michigan. Wahl can be seen completing the national championship as the top scorer of the tournament.

In addition to those previously mentioned, the film also features special appearances by NHL players Martin Havlat, Mathieu Schneider, Scott Gomez, Jeremy Roenick, Glen Murray, Mike Comrie, Craig Conroy, Mike Knuble, RJ Umberger, Derian Hatcher, and retired great Al MacInnis.

You can view the trailer and buy the DVD at http://www.In TheCreaseMovie.com

getashorty
05-17-2007, 11:35 AM
I bought this movie a few weeks ago and thought it was great.

An excellent hockey story that all players and fans can relate to, good action, and the pros tell some cool stories that I'd never heard before about growing up playing in Canada and the U.S.

To see how good Wahl was at 14, you can understand why he was a first round draft choice.

Definitely recommended viewing.