BWCA Sled Hockey Combine | 2025 | Full Documentary
TITLE
BWCA Sled Hockey Combine | 2025 | Full Documentary
LOCATION
Boundary Waters Canoe Area
Ely, MN
Eveleth, MN
PARTNER
CREW
Cole O’Brien, Director / Cinematographer / Editor
Mickey Uss, Editor
Alex Haberle, Editor
Eric Gislason, Producer
Northern Pine Productions partnered with the Hendrickson Foundation to tell the story of the Boundary Waters Sled Hockey Combine, an extraordinary experience that brings together adaptive hockey athletes, Paralympians, coaches, and wilderness guides for a week of growth, mentorship, and adventure in Northern Minnesota.
The film follows participants as they leave the rink behind and enter the Boundary Waters, where they are challenged physically and mentally while building confidence, independence, and lifelong friendships. Through intimate interviews, cinematic wilderness photography, and authentic moments of connection, the story highlights how hockey can serve as a vehicle for personal development, inclusion, and opportunity.
Rather than focusing solely on the sport itself, the film explores the deeper impact the experience has on the athletes and their families. Themes of perseverance, community, leadership, and overcoming adversity are woven throughout the narrative, creating an emotional and inspiring portrait of individuals pushing beyond perceived limitations.
This project was produced as part of the Hockey Changes Lives initiative and demonstrates the power of documentary storytelling to capture not only what an organization does, but why its mission matters.