Power Play

As predicted, the last instalment of Kevin Sylvester’s “Hockey Super Six” was not, in fact, the last instalment. In this new adventure, the Super Six come back from the not-quite-dead to find themselves once again fighting to save the day when bad guys are trying to take over the world – or at least the rink. Former star hockey player Sam Boni is holding an eternal grudge after a devastating championship loss. He has made it his life’s mission to win every possible trophy by whatever means necessary, including using time/space travel to cheat his way to the top.

Power Play is heavy on the science piece as much of the plot revolves around lasers, entangled neutrinos, and quantum links. As usual, Sylvester takes the time to explain, in comic-book format, all the complicated language and concepts that will come to be important later. He also continues to break the fourth wall and address readers directly, warning of spoilers to come and pointing out specific things that readers should try to remember, and then calling back to those later. For example, when an atom-focusing laser that looks like a goalie pad is discovered in the rink rafters, Sylvester writes: “Remember that from Chapter 2, everyone?” It’s an effect that isn’t very common but is fun for readers.

There will always be things that I don’t love about this series. I don’t like the sporadic bold font and capitalization. The hockey puns aren’t necessarily funny to me (although I cannot help but be impressed with how Sylvester manages to come up with new ones every single time). But here is the thing, and it’s a big thing: I recognize that I am NOT the target audience for this book, and, when I really stop to consider who these books are written for, Sylvester nails it every time.

My one complaint with this particular book? I spent way too much time trying to find the joke in the name ‘Ned Doosa’. Ron Dell, I got. Patinage, sure. Sam Boni? Easy. But Ned Doosa required me to seek the assistance of a Québécois colleague, and even then we weren’t quite sure we were getting the joke. It’s bothering me more than I care to admit!