It’s always fun to root for an underdog, especially when watching a movie where there aren’t real-life stakes or money on the line which could adversely affect anyone who’s betting on an always surefire loser to win. Fortunately, Cody Lightning’s Smudge the Blades approaches this topic in a lighthearted context, showcasing the Treaty 6 Blades, a hockey team in Alberta made up of Indigenous kids with impossible odds after they lose their hotheaded coach. They enjoy what they’re doing and could use a win, but they’re also dealing with aspects of adolescence and normal teen pressures that distract from their commitment to the sport.
That their new coach is a volunteer who works as a Zamboni driver and only took the job to get with one of the player’s moms adds to the comedy, but this film takes itself more seriously than perhaps it could, which helps makes the endearing arc of its story all the more emphatic and entertaining. The Toronto International Film Festival is the perfect launching pad for this distinctly Canadian story, which should work well for both sports enthusiasts and general audiences alike and which features a talented cast of Indigenous actors with just as much promise as the characters they play.
Movie Rating: 7/10
Smudge the Blades makes its world premiere in the Centrepiece section at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival.
