A Legend On Film

It's rare to see documentaries being made about people who are still adding to their legacies, but one goaltender deserves the length of film that the producers of his documentary are committing to the project. Making Coco: The Grant Fuhr Story is all about the netminder who backstopped the Edmonton Oilers to four Stanley Cups during their dynasty years in the 1980s before stories of substance abuse came out in the early 1990s, a prolonged suspension as a result, and trade away from Edmonton to Toronto that ended the netminder's run in the Alberta capital. Produced by Score G Production Films, Adam Scorgie's company, and directed by Don Metz, Making Coco: The Grant Fuhr Story looks like one amazing documentary.

Here is the trailer for the film, and I'll discuss more below.

Having seen Adam Scorgie's other hockey film, Ice Guardians, and how powerful the message was in that film, I can already tell you that I'm excited to see this film when it is released. Making Coco: The Grant Fuhr Story not only looks highly-informative and entertaining, you can see the emotional side of the film coming out in the trailer with Grant Fuhr's eyes welled up with tears. All I can say is that if Making Coco is as good as Ice Guardians is, Adam Scorgie might be hockey's version of Ken Burns.

Grant Fuhr broke into the NHL on October 14, 1981 against the Winnipeg Jets, and he began an ascent to greatness that few have followed. Four Stanley Cups in five years is one heckuvan achievement, but Fuhr's lone Vezina Trophy during that time makes little sense based on how good he was in keeping Wayne Gretzky and the high-octane Oilers moving down the ice away from his net.

Regardless, from 1981-82 until 1988-89, Fuhr averaged 49 games played per season, posting an average of 26 wins, 13 losses, and 6 ties - a winning percentage of .711! There aren't many goaltenders who have posted that winning percentage in one season, let alone eight seasons in a row, but Grant Fuhr certainly did. If you want some additional numbers to marvel at, Fuhr posted 36 assists over those eight seasons including a career-high 14 helpers in 1983-84 in which he outscored teammate Pat Conacher and finished three points back of Dave Semenko! Not bad at all!

Why am I writing about this movie? Well, it was announced that the Calgary International Film Festival would show Making Coco: The Grant Fuhr Story on its closing weekend with the film's world premiere screening on September 29 at 7:30pm MT at Eau Claire Cinema #5 in Calgary on the final Saturday of the festival! Following the movie's showing, there will be extended Q&A session with Grant Fuhr, director Don Metz, and producer Adam Scorgie! How cool is that?

The only problem? Tickets to the premiere and the Q&A are already sold out!

Wow, Toronto sold out and now Calgary has sold out for the Premiere of #MakingCoco The Grant Fuhr Story. Wonder what’s going to happen when Edmonton dates get released! #WhoWouldHaveThought #MyMansTheMan https://t.co/nVHtB4Ov0v

— Lisa Fuhr (@fursiegirl) September 5, 2018

Congratulations to Adam Scorgie, Don Metz, Grant and Lisa Fuhr, and everyone who was involved with Making Coco: The Grant Fuhr Story on selling out the premiere! I'm excited to see the film when it finally hits a theatre near me, so find a theatre near you and grab a ticket to see Making Coco: The Grant Fuhr Story!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!