Liev Schreiber says 'Goon' is meant to celebrate hockey's bruisers

22.05.12

TORONTO - The new Canadian comedy "Goon" is rife with blood and brawls as a minor-league hockey enforcer is encouraged to pull no punches in order to win.

While the film's on-ice violence brings to mind recent headlines about player concussions and the deaths of three NHL enforcers, co-star Liev Schreiber says the intention was to celebrate the sport's bruisers and highlight how undervalued and underappreciated they are.

"I only saw the film for the first time two nights ago and that's really what I came away with," said Schreiber, who plays veteran minor leaguer Ross (The Boss) Rhea.

"I was surprised ... that there was so much heart in this movie, particularly when you look at a guy like Ross Rhea who — at the tender age of 39, 40 years old — is leaving the only thing he's ever known his whole life," added the actor.

"If I could say anything to Ross, or for that matter any of these guys, it would be, 'You're not underappreciated, you're not undervalued. We know who you are and we know what you've done and we know what you've given for the game and for your teammates and we love you for that.'

Source: Winnipeg Free Press