Ice Guardians

Great hearing and seeing actual players in the video clips and interviews speaking for themselves instead of some biased, deceptive media talking head. Excellent depiction of an enforcer in hockey and the NHL. The hot issues, enforcers, fighting, concussions..., were discussed fairly by all sides. Well done!

I thought the preview was better than the actual film. The documentary lacks any narration and ends up being an endless stream of clips from interviews with tough guys (oh and Jay Baruchel has a lot to say though I have no idea what makes him an authority on the subject). The story drags on far too long (this could/should be a one hour film!) and the constant footage of fights gets a bit tiresome, if not gruesome, over time. I played hockey my whole life and still struggle with the role of fighting in the game. I was looking for some stimulative thought in this contentious issue but didn't get any from this film. It is very biased, effectively glorifying the enforcers of the game (albeit in a rather covert way). I didnt watch a film on fighters without expecting to see some good fights, but at the end of the day this film lacked any balance or thought provoking ideas about the issue. Just more of a celebration of violence and a subtle resentment of how the game has changed over time.

This is the only movie, show, or documentary that I have ever rated a 10/10. It was amazing! Enforcers have done more to protect players than any rule ever has. This documentary does a great job of explaining the fighting aspect of the game and those who do the dirty work. It also clears up a lot of misconceptions that people and the media have on the subject.

This film is a must watch for any hockey fan and indeed great viewing for any sports fan in general An amazing insight into the life of a professional hockey player, specifically looking at the role of the enforcer. It is cut together very well, it grips you to the point of not being able to look away in fear of missing something. The players them selves are captivating and the various experts add levels of depth. This includes Dr Victoria Silverwood, who adds her views following her PhD study entitled "Five for Fighting: The Culture and Practice of Violence in Professional Ice Hockey".

I cannot wait to watch it again, as I have a firm feeling that I will "see" other things that I missed the first time around.

Really a solid look into fighting in hockey, the role of the enforcer and concussion related injuries in hockey in particular but in sport in general also. Some of these guys just deserved the acknowledgment for what they brought to the game for the last 30 or 40 years. Great interviews with some great former hockey players and insight into how they saw the game, the direction it is headed and what are the things that need addressing going forward.