H.E. Double Hockey Sticks 1999

Satan, in the form of Ms. Beelzebub, Rhea Perlman sends an apprentice demon named Griffelkin, Will Friedle, to Earth with a dangerous mission: steal the soul of a rising hockey star who dreams big. The target is Dave Heinrich, Matthew Lawrence, a driven young player who hopes to become the youngest man to lift the Stanley Cup. The arrangement is clear and chilling—Dave’s soul in exchange for a championship for the Delaware Demons, a thinly veiled stand-in for a real pro team, and a chance at glory that could define his life.

From the moment Griffelkin lands on ice and ice-cold ambition, the plot starts to twist in amusing and human ways. The demon’s plan includes more than just a simple heist of fate; it hinges on a clever manipulation of team dynamics and the unforgiving calendar of a professional season. Dave, hungry for success, signs on to the deal with a mix of bravado and naiveté, not fully grasping the moral price of his future glory. The two strike a very particular bargain, setting off a chain of moves that will force Dave to confront what it means to be a true teammate and to fight for something bigger than personal fame.

Griffelkin, ever the schemer, reconfigures the path by arranging a trade that lands Dave on the Annapolis Angels, the league’s last-place squad. This clever detour lets the demon fulfill the letter of the contract without allowing Dave to actually win the Cup himself. Yet as the season unfolds, Griffelkin’s own heart begins to thaw. He grows tired of Ms. Beelzebub’s petty tricks and, drawn toward a sense of justice, chooses to side with the forces of good. His transformation isn’t instant, and it’s fed by moments of humor, danger, and doubt, painting a character arc about redemption as much as fate.

Into this moral scramble enters Gabrielle, an Angel who sees a path to salvation for Dave and for Griffelkin alike. Gabrielle Union appears as Gabrielle, a beacon who believes that the fate of one soul can hinge on the outcome of a single Cup final. She lays out a hopeful premise: if the Angels win the Stanley Cup, Dave’s soul could be saved. Her message isn’t just about mercy; it’s about teamwork, resilience, and trust among players who may not always see eye to eye but who learn to fight for a collective dream. Griffelkin listens, and the idea of a shared victory begins to take root, reshaping how he evaluates power, loyalty, and the meaning of redemption.

As the teams clash in the high-stakes finals, Dave comes to a stark realization: the only way to save his own soul is to become a true team player. He leaves behind brash individualism and leans into cooperation, trusting his teammates, listening more, and contributing selflessly to a shared goal. The Angels rally around this shift, stepping up offensively and defensively, and the underdog story starts to tilt toward the light. The Demons, strong and ruthless, find themselves facing a collective push that they hadn’t anticipated, and the tide begins to turn in unexpected ways.

The climactic moments are a testament to teamwork and perseverance. The Angels win the Stanley Cup, shattering the Demon hold on Dave’s fate and nullifying the original deal. With victory achieved through unity, Griffelkin’s arc reaches its own crest: he chooses to join Gabrielle, shedding his demonic role to become an angel who has earned his wings through courage, reform, and the willingness to help others. His new status comes with a gentle acknowledgment that there are tasks to complete and virtues to prove, signaling a hopeful future beyond the battlefield of celestial bargains.

Furious at the defeat and frustrated by Griffelkin’s sudden turn toward good, Satan—Ms. Beelzebub—storms back to Hell in a blaze of rage, left to reckon with the consequences of a plan that backfired in ways she hadn’t anticipated. The curtain falls on a story that blends fantasy, sport, humor, and a moral compass: true victory isn’t just about scoring the winning goal, but about the character forged in the process and the choice to do what’s right, even when it costs you something you crave.

In the end, the film leaves us with a quiet, uplifting verdict: the Cup is won, a soul is saved, and a fallen demon finds his wings by choosing goodness over greed. The ice becomes a stage for growth, and the players—real and imagined—remember that the greatest glory comes not from domination, but from the courage to work together for a common dream.