SYNOPSIS
The Cannons is an immersive feature documentary following the day-to-day lives of Coach Neal Henderson and his team of young African American hockey players in the longest serving minority hockey program in North America, the Fort Dupont Hockey Cannons in Washington DC. Over the course of one pivotal hockey season, two teenage boys and one legendary coach navigate the trials and tribulations of inner city living while striving to pursue their dreams on and off the ice. In a year of immense change in America and racial tensions, The Cannons is a story about hope; the power of sport; and the pursuit of the American Dream.
ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS
Director/Producer/Shooter/EDITOR
Steven Matthew Hoffner
Steven has been producing sports documentaries for over 12 years with the NHL including the critically acclaimed half hour NHL Network docu-drama “Behind the Stripes,” and the 10-part doc-drama series “NHL Life,” winning 7 w3 silver awards.
Co-Director/Producer
AJ Messier
AJ graduated from the University of Western Ontario with honors in Film Studies. In his 14 years in Toronto, AJ has shot for clients such as the National Hockey League, the Royal Ontario Museum, and TD Canada Trust. Some of his most enriching work to date has been with Save the Children Canada focusing on their projects in South America, and at the Standing Rock march in South Dakota in 2017.
EXECUTIVE Producer
RobERT Ford
Robert has produced shows on top television networks including the Showtime documentary series by Lebron James “Shut up and Dribble,” as well as the Facebook series starring Steph Curry “Stephen vs The Game.” In 2020, Robert co-directed and co-executive produced the Emmy nominated HBO football sports documentary series, “The Cost of Winning,” executive produced by Michael Strahan.
ABOUT THE FORT DUPONT
HOCKEY CANNONS
The Fort Dupont Ice Hockey Club, founded in 1978 by Neal Henderson, is a developmental program that provides local and inner-city youth with the opportunity to participate in an organized ice hockey program. Skaters have a wide range of experience in skating and playing the game along with ages ranging from 8 - 17. Our goal is to provide educational purpose and teach young people discipline, via sports activities, to establish self-esteem, a sense of purpose, and to offer an incentive to excel academically.
Fort Dupont, named for Civil War naval hero Samuel Francis Dupont, is one of the forts that are collectively known as the Civil War Defenses of Washington, D.C. Our colors, contrary to popular belief, are not the Boston Bruins colors. The Black in our colors represent the Black soldiers who defended the fort. The Gold represents the brass buttons on their uniforms. The White represents the White officers.
