In the days of Roch's childhood, winters in the village of Ste. Justine
were long. Life centered around school, church, and the hockey rink, and
every boy's hero was Montreal Canadiens hockey legend Maurice Richard.
Everyone wore Richard's number 9. They laced their skates like Richard.
They even wore their hair like Richard. When Roch outgrows his cherished
Canadiens sweater, his mother writes away for a new one. Much to Roch's
horror, he is sent the blue and white sweater of the rival Toronto Maple
Leafs, dreaded and hated foes to his beloved team. How can Roch face the
other kids at the rink?