Synopsis

In the remote town of Mystery, Alaska, hockey is the center of community life, with residents gathering for the weekly Saturday Game. When a magazine article draws national attention to the town's skating talent, Mystery's amateur team is challenged to face the New York Rangers in a televised exhibition. The unexpected spotlight forces old rivalries, personal troubles, and local divisions into the open.

Factoids & Trivia

• Mystery, Alaska was released theatrically in the United States on October 1, 1999, by Hollywood Pictures.

• The town of Mystery is fictional. The production built the town from scratch near Canmore, Alberta, on the site of a former strip coal mine, rather than filming in Alaska.

• The screenplay began as David E. Kelley's spec script The Game. Kelley described the concept as a blend of the small-town television drama Picket Fences and the hockey comedy The Mighty Ducks.

• The hockey sequences used experienced players and hockey personnel to give the skating and game action greater authenticity. Former NHL coach and broadcaster Barry Melrose also appeared as himself.

• The film's outdoor hockey premise later gained an unexpected legacy. NHL coverage has linked it to the growth of modern outdoor hockey events, including the league's stadium and Lake Tahoe games.

• The film was also known during production by the alternate title Disney's Hockey Project.