Themes: Hockey Players, Small-Town Life, Fathers and Sons
Main Cast: Rob Lowe, Cynthia Gibb, Patrick Swayze, Ed Lauter, Jim Youngs
Release Year: 1986
Country: US
Run Time: 111 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Rob Lowe stars as the title character, a young hockey prodigy with a gift for scoring, but no such penchant for pugilism -- when the gloves drop, so does he. Despite his fragility, Coach Chadwick (Ed Lauter) takes him on the roster for his stick-handling ability alone. However, he ends up being sent home after being singled out by a particularly nasty goon, Racki (George Finn), who pummels the "pretty boy" in brutal fashion. Disheartened, Youngblood heads back to the rural Canadian farm he calls home, where his father (Eric Nesterenko, a former player for the Chicago Blackhawks) and older brother (Jim Youngs) teach him the invaluable lesson that hockey is "no place for a nervous person" (to quote a famous NHL announcer). Overseen by his elders, he immediately begins a combat-training regimen to prepare for his return and imminent showdown with the evil Racki; meanwhile, he strikes up a relationship with the coach's daughter (Cynthia Gibb). ~ Jeremy Beday, All Movie Guide
Eric Nesterenko - Blane Youngblood; George Finn - Racki; Fionnula Flanagan - Miss McGill; Walker Boone - Assistant Coach; Martin Donlevy - Referee Hannah; Bruce Edwards - Thunder Bay Trainer; Peter Faussett - Huey; Ken James - Frazier; Keanu Reeves - Hiver; Rod Sapiensze - Thunder Bay Assistant Coach; Harry Spiegel - Thunder Bay Coach; Steve Thomas; Jason Warren - Fan; Sebastiani Bianchi; Joe Bowen - Radio Announcer; Catherine Bray - Bar Girl; Johnny Braybrook; Nick Calabrese; Paul Calvalini; Don Campbell; Frank Cini - Young Fan; John Coranci; Vito Cramarosa; Ricky Davis - Young Kelly; Rick di Biase; Jain Dickson - Bar Girl; Warren Dukes - Fan; Murray Evans - Linesman; Fred Fioruni; Lorraine Foreman - Teacher; Andy Gribble; Jay Hanks - Young Fan; Kevin Hunter; Gerry Iuliano; Jules Jardine; Davin Kimber - Hamilton Mustang; Mark Laniel; Michael Legros - Linesman; Sid Lynas - Fan; Jamie McAllister - Young Fan; Howie McCarrol, Jr. - Young Fan; Brian Meharry; Dave Mezzaros; Jeff Palmateer; Bruno Pullara; James Richmond; Kevin Robinson; Claudio Russo; Tim Salmon; Greg Salter - Young Fan; Barry Swatik - Skating Guard; Steve Torkos; Steve Trearty; Neil Trineer; Charlie Wasley - Young Dean; Rob Watson; Michael Winger - Thunder Bay Bomber; Peter Zezel - Rossini
Credit
Alicia Keywan - Art Director, Eric Nesterenko - Consultant/advisor, Eileen Kennedy - Costume Designer, Peter Markle - Director, Jack Hofstra - Editor, Stephen E. Rivkin - Editor, William Orbit - Composer (Music Score), Torchsong - Composer (Music Score), John Capik - Songwriter, Craig Chidquico - Songwriter, Tena Clark - Songwriter, Steve George - Songwriter, Nick Gilder - Songwriter, John Hiatt - Songwriter, Max Hoffman - Songwriter, Steven Isham - Songwriter, Marc Jordan - Songwriter, John Lang - Songwriter, Steve Lynch - Songwriter, Laurie Mayer - Songwriter, William Orbit - Songwriter, Richard Page - Songwriter, Steve Plunkett - Songwriter, Randy Rand - Songwriter, Keith Richards - Songwriter, Jeff Silverman - Songwriter, Mickey Thomas - Songwriter, Diane Warren - Songwriter, Kathleen Graham - Makeup, Vince Cresciman - Production Designer, Mark Irwin - Cinematographer, Peter Bart - Producer, Peter Guber - Producer, Jon Peters - Producer, Patrick Wells - Producer, Angelo Stea - Set Designer, Bobby Hannah - Stunts, Robert Hannah - Stunts, Peter Markle - Screen Story, John Whitman - Screen Story, Ken Friedman - Screenwriter, Peter Markle - Screenwriter, Smokey Robinson - Featured Music
The film begins with a 17-year-old farmhand from rural New York state, Dean Youngblood (Rob Lowe), who has dreams of playing in the National Hockey League. First he must prove to himself, his family and his teammates that he can survive in the harsh, brutal world of Canadian Junior Hockey with a rag tag team of roughnecks, the Hamilton Mustangs. Possessing blazing speed and a quick stick, he has a violent run-in with a brutish player, Carl Racki (George J. Finn), during try-outs. Youngblood quickly learns that flashiness and pure athletic ability will not be enough to be successful in this league.
After his mentor and friend on the team, Derek Sutton (Patrick Swayze) is brutally injured by the thuggish Racki, Youngblood returns home to the farm out of fear, sadness, and disgust. After a pep-talk by his older brother, Kelly (Jim Youngs) about the nature of never quitting and always standing up for yourself, Youngblood is inspired to learn how to fight and survive on the ice and adapt the killer instinct that has been stopping him from being successful. Youngblood returns to the team a new man, ready to confront Racki in the final game of the Memorial Cup playoffs between his team and the Thunder Bay Bombers.
The game ends with a stunning game-winning penalty shot by Youngblood; yet it is far from over as Youngblood demands to his coach, Murray Chadwick (Ed Lauter) to be left in the game as time expires to confront Racki. "Let's go, Pretty Boy!", says Youngblood as he and Racki engage in a violent fight to the finish with his teammates and crowd including Youngblood's father Blane (Eric Nesterenko) and girlfriend Jessie (Cynthia Gibb) (Coach Chadwick's daughter), cheering him on. The fight starts with both Youngblood and Racki using their sticks as swords until Youngblood knocks Racki's stick out of his hands. Youngblood and Racki then fight bare-handed. Youngblood emerges victorious, landing several blows to the face and body of his nemesis Racki, and is carried off the ice on the shoulders of his teammates in celebration.
Television rights
The television rights to Youngblood are held by Versus, which airs the film during the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Cameos
Former NHL players Steve Thomas and Peter Zezel both have small, non-speaking roles as Youngblood's teammates on the Mustangs.
Production
The filming of Youngblood took place in the east end of Toronto. Ted Reeve Arena was used as the setting for the interior of the Hamilton Mustangs home rink while Scarborough Gardens Arena was used for the setting of the arena's exterior.
