Published: August 31, 2005
Sports: IceHogs
Catch 'RoadHogs,' but cover your ears How to get 'RoadHog'
By REED SCHRECK, Rockford Register Star
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ROCKFORD -- You don't have to like hockey to enjoy "RoadHogs: The Other Half of the Season."
It just helps.
Chris Toltzman's documentary film of life on the road with the 2004-05 Rockford IceHogs was previewed to about 200 fans Monday evening at 10th Inning Bar & Grill. It runs an hour longer than Toltzman wanted at 2 hours, 24 minutes, 46 seconds. The team's public address announcer simply had too much problem trimming 45 hours of footage shot over 600 hours.
The show is long, but it keeps your attention and flows smoothly. Action shots are interspersed with interviews, humor and candid shots, including (gee, thanks, Chris) one of yours truly nourishing his body before a game in Fraser, Mich.
Toltzman's objective was to reveal reality. That he did. Almost too much so.
The warning label "Adult Language Version" is appropriate. If you wondered if hockey players and coaches swear, you get your answer emphatically and often.
It does mean anyone under 18 should not see the unedited copy. Fortunately, each DVD includes clean and unedited versions.
The piece is something any hard core sports fan would enjoy. It truly depicts life away from home at the minor league level.
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