René Fasel

Five Rings Films presents the inspiring story of how Czech Republic won gold at the first Olympics to feature professionals from the NHL.

As the host country for the 2018 Winter Olympics, South Korea’s national ice hockey team was automatically given a spot in the Olympic hockey tournament. The team would play at the highest level for the first time, facing the top countries in the sport. The skill gap between them and their opponents was huge, as South Korea had just 180 professional hockey players. Failure and defeat weren’t acceptable results, as losing face is considered the worst thing that could happen in Korean culture. But how to avoid humiliation, when defeat seems certain?

Hockey is a nationwide phenomenon in Slovakia. It is more than just a sport. It has become synonymous with success, a unifying element of society. Recently, a generation of hockey players who achieved exceptional success during our independence has been ending their professional careers. They leave behind world championship titles, Stanley Cup victories, statistics, and news reports. A comprehensive view of their path to success has been lacking until now.