Plot

A high school hockey coach works against the clock to unite his divided family, team, and town with a quest to achieve the impossible as he fights terminal cancer.

They say there's more to life than hockey, but not in Eveleth. This small mining town in Northern Minnesota obsesses over their high school hockey team even though it's been many years since they once dominated and won championships. The fortunes of their town and team have paralleled the ups and downs of the mining industry which has been struggling. This season brings added significance and pressure as Head Coach Jake Murray prepares to lead a team that includes his two sons, Brooks and Tate Murray. Once the local hero, he is now the target of "Fire Jake" calls from frustrated parents and residents. And, an intense sibling rivalry is brewing between Brooks and Tate. Since an early age, Brooks has worked hard in pursuit of his dream to play college hockey at Harvard while his promising yet troubled younger brother Tate's efforts have been devoted to video games and fishing. The rising tensions in their home and community also challenge Jake's marriage with his loving wife Wenona. After the start of another disappointing season that is riddled with challenges both on and off the ice, Jake learns that more than just his team is failing. A battle with terminal cancer will make this his final season. As he struggles to accept his fate, Wenona and her Native American family help him find a sense of greater sense of appreciation, meaning, purpose and peace through their indigenous wisdom. With a renewed faith, Jake learns to "be present" and embraces the "way of the warrior" as a father, husband, teacher and coach. The entire community is shaken by the news of Jake's condition but his new spirit and approach serves to deeply inspire his family, friends, students and players. Coach Murray instills in his team - and, by proxy, the town itself - a renewed sense of passion and pride. Bonded by their strong Iron Range history and values, the team rallies together for an improbable and magical run that culminates with a Minnesota state high school hockey championship.—JPM

WAY OF THE WARRIORS is a story about a small town with big dreams.

They say there's more to life than hockey, but not in Eveleth. This small mining town in Northern Minnesota, known as the Home of Hockey Legends, obsesses over their high school hockey team even though it's been many years since they once dominated the State of Hockey. The fortunes of their town and hockey team have paralleled the ups and downs of the mining industry which has been steadily declining.

This season brings added significance and pressure as Head Coach Jake Murray prepares to lead a team that includes his two sons, Brooks and Tate Murray. Once the local hero, he is now the target of "Fire Jake" calls from frustrated parents and residents that are tired of losing. Jake is stuck in a rut, unable to help himself or anyone else as he struggles to make sense of an increasingly complicated and divided world.

An intense sibling rivalry is brewing between Jake's two sons, Brooks and Tate. Since an early age, Brooks has worked hard in pursuit of his dream to play college hockey at Harvard while his supremely gifted yet troubled younger brother Tate's talents have been largely wasted.

The rising tensions in their home and community are also testing Jake's marriage as his wife, Sara, who has become increasingly frustrated and begun to detach, focusing her energy as a political activist in a battle to prevent the local development of a large copper mine that poses major risks to her Native American tribe's sacred land.

After the start of yet another disappointing hockey season that's riddled with challenges both on and off the ice, Jake learns that more than just his team is failing. A fight with terminal cancer will make this his final season.

After initial stages of denial, anger and depression, Jake's eventual acceptance of his condition triggers a wake-up call to live his precious remaining days to their fullest. As he re-opens his closed heart and mind, the union and bonds of their marriage return. Reunited with her true companion, Sara helps Jake embrace the way of the warrior to find a greater sense of gratitude, purpose, and peace.

With a genuine appreciation of his precious life and many blessings, he finds his way to becoming a better husband, father, coach, teacher, and human being. Jake's newfound spirit serves to inspire and unite the closely-knit yet divided Iron Range community as he instills in his team - and, by proxy, the town itself - a renewed sense of passion and pride. Bonded by their strong heritage and values, the team and town unite for a magical run that culminates with an improbable Minnesota state high school hockey championship.

WAY OF THE WARRIORS is a life-affirming story about the power of unity and importance of legacy.