Isle of Ice

The New York Storms are nearly always dead-last in the CHL (Continental Hockey League). The owner is tired of losing, especially after the team's earlier majesty when they had won an unprecedented four consecutive Wellington Cups. He hires a lower-league coach, Dale Patton, as his new head coach who subsequently realizes that the team as it currently exists is a losing proposition. By bringing up a few exceptional players from the lower leagues, he gets the team on its way to forging their own brand of championship play. Originally written about the New York Islanders and considered by the NHL for a studio product agreement, I was forced to rewrite it and exclude any references after receiving a "suggested edit"; list of over 100 changes. The changes were so outrageous and would have altered the script to the point where it was the Mighty Ducks instead of the "Rocky of Hockey." A few examples were making sure there was no mention of "blood on the ice," "fighting," "excessive language," and my personal favorite, "absolutely no mention whatsoever of officials MISSING a call"; because, in their words, "referees NEVER MISS CALLS." Gotta love the corporate sports world. Needless to say, I altered the script, forewent the NHL product agreement, and kept the original integrity of the project. I believe I made the right choice.