HOCKEY BRAWL: BATTLE ON THIN ICE

UNDERDOG DOCUMENTARY WINS BIG AT GEMINI AWARDS

Jeff Newman admits he was shocked when he heard his documentary announced as the winner of a 2006 Gemini Award for Best Sports Program or Series.

"It was truly a surprise. Initially, this was a very simple grass roots production that began as a labour of love. To see it get this kind of recognition is amazing," Newman said.

The project began in January 2004, when Newman first heard Darryl "Beef" Wolski's controversial idea to create a hockey prizefighting tournament featuring goons on skates.

After several months of following the story and paying expenses out of pocket, Newman pitched his concept at CTV Documart, a documentary pitch competition at the Banff Television Festival. He won, and CTV signed on to license the documentary for broadcast.

Newman then assembled a Manitoba-based production team, including Ocular Productions as co-producers and Elemental as motion designers.

Elemental developed the documentary's trailer (still frames can be seen above) and graphics for the show, capturing the intensity of the event, as well as the drama and passion of all that led up to it.