Power Play
Power Play was a Canadian television drama series, which aired on CTV from 1998 to 2000. The series was filmed at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario. The show starred Michael Riley as Brett Parker, a former New York City sports agent who became the general manager of a National Hockey League franchise, the Hamilton Steelheads. One of the throughline plots of the series dealt with Parker's ongoing love–hate relationships with the sport, the team and his superior at McArdle Industries, corporate executive Colleen Blessed, played by Kari Matchett. The cast also included Gordon Pinsent as team owner Duff McArdle, Jonathan Crombie, Jennifer Dale and Al Waxman. The show's theme song was a modernized version of the Stompin' Tom Connors classic, "The Hockey Song", performed partly by Connors himself, and then transitioning to the performance of the band Rusty. The show was briefly aired on the US network UPN, starting in 1999, but was pulled after just two episodes. The second episode aired in the US has the distinction of being the lowest-rated episode of any prime-time TV series ever aired by any US network.
Episodes
Perambulate Me Back to My Habitual Abode
Brett Parker returns to his hometown of Hamilton, Ontario, and is offered the job of general manager to the Hamilton Steelheads after the current one dies. He also tries to reconnect with his daughter.
Changing the Luck
The Steelheads make it into the series, but when Brett breaks the team's lucky bottle, their luck goes from bad to worse. Mark Simpson gets a concussion and hides how bad it is from everyone.
All for One
Mark continues to hide how serious his condition is from the other players, insisting he is able to play. Michelle is sentenced to community service. Bud Travis comes up from Houston to talk about buying the Steelheads.
Seventh Game
Brett reluctantly rehires Lloyd Gorman, whom he had previously fired for working drunk. Mark is furious when he ends up benched in the seventh game because of his concussion. Michelle is hurt while doing her community service, and Brett isn't there for her.
Off Season
Brett's fiancée Andrea comes up from New York, but when Brett heads off to the guys' cabin retreat to talk to Shakey about his contract, Andrea ends up spending all her time with Duff and Brett has an otherworldly experience that teaches him a lesson.
Brothers in Arms
Todd is initially thrilled when his brother Jeff also joins the Steelheads until the competitive nature between the two brothers takes over, and Harry Strand makes it very clear that he will only keep one of the Maplethorpe brothers. Brett has a new idea for their opening night.
The Bad Boy
Brett pursues hockey bad boy Bobby Gunn in an attempt to get the Steelheads on the map, and is willing to ignore his antics until he finds out that Bobby has been dating Michelle. Bobby continues to make enemies as he turns the whole team against him.
Purple Hazing
After an up and coming rookie hurts his hand in a hazing ritual, the team is desperate to cover up what happened. Unfortunately, the entire episode was witnessed by a very enterprising young fan who forces Brett to make numerous offers to keep him quiet.
Family Values
When a family-values orange juice dealer is interested in one of the Steelheads as a spokesperson, the fact that the player in question is cheating on his wife only starts the problems. Brett is forced to choose between Renata and business, with surprising results.
Pucks the Size of Beach Balls
Colleen and Brett are at odds when Brett wants to sell tickets to the luxury boxes but Colleen is desperate to keep profits down so that she will be more successful in selling the team to Bud Travis and move it to Houston.
High Noon
Brett uses his connections to have the suspension listed against American player Frank Dusky, a well known goon, so that he and Todd can have an on-ice brawl. When Rayanne's father dies and Mark chooses to play hockey rather than stay with her, it seems to be the beginning of the end for them.
Dire Straits
Todd can't help but second guess himself as Frank Duskey remains in a coma. Colleen and Brett go over the books and realise there is no way that they can keep the Steelheads alive unless they make some cuts, and decide that one of the team has to go.
Waked at the Forum
Colleen forces Brett to resign after she finds out what he's been up to, leaving Harry Strand as general manager of the team. Brett decides to leave town, but on his way out he has a vision. Duff's condition continues to worsen.
Top Cast
Michael Riley
Caterina Scorsone
Gordon Pinsent
Dean McDermott
Mark Simpson
Kari Matchett
Colleen Blessed
