Kelowna

Hockey documentary packs a punch

A large group of friends and supporters got a sneak preview of what National Hockey League officials will see later this weekend.



Kelowna film maker Adam Scorgie premiered a six minute demo video to a packed house at the Paramount Theatre Friday night.



The proposed documentary, 'Ice Guardians' focuses on the life of a hockey enforcer -- a fighter.



The fast paced demo reel featured comments from players past and present including Dave Semenko, Nick Fotiu, Clark Gillies and former Kelowna Rocket Mitch Fritz.



Scorgie will unveil the demo to the National Hockey League Saturday during Heritage Classic weekend in Calgary in hopes the league will give him its blessing to go forward.



"Every time I have met with them before they don't get the concept of what I am trying to do," says Scorgie.



"I'm not trying to glorify fighting and Im not trying to put a negative spin on it. Im just trying to humanize the guys who do this role and give them justice for what they have done for this sport."



Scorgie, who produced the critically acclaimed 'The Union: The Business Behind Getting High,' doesn't think the NHL can say no to his concept.



"It's that good."



While 'The Union' did not glorify the marijuana industry, Scorgie says 'Ice Guardians' will not put professional hockey fighters on a pedestal.



"We are focusing on what it was like to go through that. If you think that it is pugilistic and it's savage, what was it like to be the guy that had to do that to pay his bills. Find out what it's like from him," says Scorgie.



"I want to follow these guys through a season and see what it's like day in and day out, the stress, the pressures. Kind of do what they did with the 24/7 series which was a huge success on HBO."



He says if the NHL does give the project the green light, he'll begin filming in the fall.



"We would literally jump into production during pre-season this year, we'd shoot all next year and probably push to have the editing done for the Toronto Film Festival next year."



The Toronto Film Festival takes place in September.