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?"