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Screenwriter John Rice Directing Hockey Comedy Stan's Cup

by Alex Billington
January 26, 2009

There is always room for more sports comedies, right? Well, what about more hockey comedies? John Rice will be making his directorial debut with his own screenplay for Stan's Cup, a comedy set in the world of old-timers' hockey. Rice previously wrote the screenplays for films like Chasers, The Calling, and Windtalkers. Stan's Cup is said to have a Full Monty vibe to it, with a focus on an unusual place and the eccentric people who inhabit it. In regards to that "unusual place" that they're looking for, the production will shoot in Warroad, Minnesota, referred to as Hockeytown USA, starting sometime in the spring.

Stan's Cup will focus on a broken-down, once-great hockey player who gets a chance to finally fill his legendary father's skates by giving his hometown, known as Hockeytown USA, a pseudo rematch of the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" game against a Russian team of ex-Olympians. I can't tell if that means it will be set during the present or back in 1980. Anyone? Sounds like it's the former. Whatever the case, given that classics like Slap Shot and Mighty Ducks already have a strong hold on the hockey comedy niche, I doubt something like this could top either of those. But as always, I'll be curious to find out more and see who they cast.

Explore tags: Movie News, Opinions

Jmoney

As long as they aren't playing Trinidad & Tobago then I'll give it a chance
Dave Lister, J.M.C.

What? No mention of Mystery, Alaska? Yeah, it was a sackless and heartless piece of David E. Kelley garbage; but it was a pseudo-comedy, with hockey as the central theme. As far as the timing of it goes, it's been about 32 years, since Slap Shot and 13 years since the last Ducks movie; and Mystery, Alaska came out 10 years ago. I think it's safe to say that the hockey theme is kind of a clean slate, at this point. Now, the big question... Can they make it be good? That might be a stretch. The writer's previous screenplays don't really impress.
Ak

Hockeytown is NOT Minnesota. It's Detroit. Minnesota is "The State of Hockey"
curiouscaseofredbuttons

At least it's not being made in Quebec.
Kurt Kollman

Sounds like it could be a fun, entertaining movie. I would definitely go see it.
http://dbdunn@centurytel.net Warroad Hockey

Ak you need an education. Warroad was Hockeytown years before Detroit co-oped the name. Do some research before posting your opinion.
Mnhockey

How many players from Warroad MN on Olympic and NHL teams? How many from the whole state of Michigan, EVER, not Hockeytown OR hockey state, sorry AK? Dah, do your research AK, Detroit became hockeytown in the 80's, Warroad in the 60's. Detroit, Hockeytown,????? There's less players in detroit than in AbuDabi.
Desiree

I'm from Warroad - and we ARE hockey town.
kristin

Hey now, Warroad is my hometown. And the name "hockey town" was given to us many years ago and it stuck because Warroad continues to show that they deserve it. It's not just our hockey players that make the name, but for the fact that most everyone in our town enjoys watching and cheering on our hockey teams, or enjoy playing hockey for their own pleasure.
David

Warroad has had more olympic hockey players per capita than any other city in the country. THAT is why we are Hockeytown USA. Unlike Detroit, where the redwings just use it as a Marketing Term.
bob

Detroit was named hockeytown usa in 1996 when Warroad has had the name Hockeytown USA for more than four decades. don't believe me go to this link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hockeytown
Russ W

Being from California, having had the pleasure to live and experiance Hockey Town USA first hand, I submit their is no other "Hockey Town" as such in the good ol USA, but Warroad Minnesota. Know doubt casting many of the locals is in order!
Andrew H.

I've heard that casting is looking at Michael Keaton and John Goodman as some of the main actors.
http://www.elte.com/ Hand Knotted Rugs

With a project like this it's like a blank canvas. It will be 100% "make or break" by the writing.