A Black hockey phenom battles rivals, racism, and himself in a quest to become Rookie of the Year, risking everything--including the woman he loves. As scandal threatens to derail his career and relationship, he must find the courage to redefine success and reclaim his identity before it's too late.

SYNOPSIS:

Troy Taylor wants to become the first Black player to be named National Hockey League Rookie of the Year. His journey is a collision of ambition, identity, and resilience. He's drafted first overall by the Carolina Cougars in 1997. His chief rival for Rookie of the Year, Russian defenseman Andrei Safin, is a relentless force. Troy’s teammates simmer with jealousy over his lucrative contract. Overconfidence leads him astray; he arrives at training camp overweight, earning the ire of his coaches.

Off the rink, Troy faces a storm of racism from fans and reporters who see him as an outsider. His agent, more focused on branding Troy as “the Jackie Robinson of hockey” than guiding his career, adds to the pressure. Jasmine Hunter, Troy’s fiercely independent partner and a trailblazing clothing designer, stands as his anchor. Yet their relationship offends some in the Black community because she’s multiracial.

Troy’s frustrations boil over, leading to violent confrontations with teammates. He spirals, convinced Jasmine cannot grasp the weight of his struggles. Drawing parallels to Robinson and Black hockey pioneers Herb Carnegie and Willie O’Ree, Troy yearns for the unburdened freedom his peers enjoy. But when an assistant coach orchestrates a scandal, sending Jasmine incriminating evidence, their relationship teeters on the brink.

Faced with losing Jasmine, Troy confronts his insecurities and learns to channel his pain into purpose. A transformative meeting with Carnegie and O’Ree inspires him to embrace a new mantra: play BIG—with Belief, Intensity, and Gratitude. This shift propels Troy to dominate on the ice. He earns the coveted Rookie of the Year award. Jasmine and Troy are then feted at the White House for a design she made for her girl-crush Hillary Clinton, Having realized his greatest victory is not on the ice but in reclaiming his identity and love, Troy proposes to Jasmine. Of course, she accepts.