A new drama series is currently being filmed for Netflix, set in a blue-collar town where ice hockey holds significant importance until a tragic bus accident claims the lives of players and their coach, resonating deeply with the community in Saskatchewan.
Scott Thomas, who lost his 18-year-old son Evan in the Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team bus crash in 2018, expressed his distress upon learning about the series. Despite not having a trailer, release date, or official title yet, the thematic resemblance alone has raised concerns for Thomas, who finds it challenging to see a fictional representation of his family’s painful reality.
Netflix clarified that the show is entirely fictional and not based on real-life events, in response to inquiries made by CBC after the news broke. The series is set in South Dorothy, Minnesota, where a high school hockey team faces tragedy in a bus crash, leading to a plot twist where the coach’s widow, portrayed by Michelle Monaghan, is asked to coach a new team of struggling young men.
Thomas emphasized that the series appears to portray a narrative of overcoming adversity, which starkly contrasts with the ongoing grief and loss experienced by him and his family every day. While he acknowledges the potential for stories inspired by global headlines to be commercialized, he believes that misrepresenting the tragic events undermines the true essence of their story and cause.
The announcement of the series sparked reactions online, with some criticizing it as insensitive or opportunistic, while others argued that fictional storytelling often draws from real-life tragedies. Cultural commentator Craig Silliphant noted the emotional impact of the series, particularly due to its close association with hockey players, similar to what the Humboldt team endured.
As the production moves forward under Shawn Levy’s 21 Laps company, questions linger about the series’ portrayal of trauma and whether it will honor the sensitive nature of the events it references. Silliphant highlighted the importance of storytelling that respects the pain of those involved and urged for a nuanced approach to narrating traumatic experiences with empathy and authenticity.