Top photo: Paul Jerry / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
There is something special about a small-town hockey game. Everybody seems to know everybody, the players take things seriously, and even a friendly rivalry can become a surprisingly big deal. In Corner Gas, that combination was always good for a few laughs, especially when Brent LeRoy found himself caught between his friends and his own pride.
In “Face Off,” the twelfth episode of the first season, the Dog River River Dogs are getting ready to begin their hockey season. Their talented goalie, Brent, feels that his teammates are taking him for granted. When a rival team from Stonewood shows interest in him, he suddenly has something important to think about.
Meanwhile, Emma and Oscar Leroy have a disagreement of their own. Emma wants her husband to get rid of his old car, but Oscar is not convinced that the vehicle is the problem. It is a classic Corner Gas situation: two ordinary problems become the source of plenty of small-town comedy.
Brent LeRoy Finds Himself at a Crossroads
Brent, played by series creator Brent Butt, is usually comfortable being the center of attention at Corner Gas. But hockey gives him a different kind of challenge.
As the River Dogs prepare to start their season against the Stonewood Saints, Brent realizes that his teammates do not seem to appreciate what he brings to the team. He is a good goalie, but being dependable does not necessarily mean getting the recognition he deserves.
Then comes an opportunity to join the rival Stonewood team. Suddenly, Brent has to consider whether staying loyal to the River Dogs is worth it when another team appears ready to value his abilities.
That decision gives the episode its main storyline. It is not simply about which team will win a hockey game. It is about feeling appreciated, being part of a group, and wondering whether the grass might really be greener on the other side.
The River Dogs Need More Than a Good Goalie
Brent is not the only River Dog having a difficult time. The other players are struggling to score, and the team has another problem: it does not have a coach.
That is where Lacey Burrows, played by Gabrielle Miller, steps into the picture. Although she is not the obvious choice for a hockey coach, she becomes involved in helping the team.
Lacey’s involvement gives the hockey storyline another entertaining direction. Her willingness to step forward changes the team’s situation, and the River Dogs eventually manage to put together one of their best games.
There is a funny little twist to the outcome, too. The official episode description makes clear that their impressive performance ends in a tie. Not exactly the championship result a sports fan dreams about, but in Dog River, getting that far is worth celebrating.
The story also gives viewers a chance to see Brent outside his usual gas-station surroundings. Instead of dealing with customers and small-town conversations, he has to decide where his sporting loyalties belong.
Emma and Oscar Have a Car Problem
While the River Dogs are dealing with hockey, Emma and Oscar are having a disagreement at home.
Emma Leroy, played by Janet Wright, believes Oscar’s old car has outlived its usefulness. She wants him to replace it, but Oscar, played by Eric Peterson, does not share her opinion.
As far as Oscar is concerned, the car is perfectly fine. He does not see why everyone is making such a fuss about it. Emma, however, is not ready to let the matter go.
Their disagreement adds a second storyline that feels familiar to anyone who has ever watched a married couple argue over an old vehicle. One person sees something that needs replacing, while the other sees a perfectly good possession that still has plenty of life left.
The official episode synopsis even hints at a memorable game-night mishap involving Emma, Oscar’s car and a hammer. It is the sort of everyday domestic trouble that Corner Gas handled so comfortably.
Janet Wright and Eric Peterson make Emma and Oscar’s disagreements especially enjoyable because their characters have such different ways of looking at the world.
Familiar Faces and Special Guest Appearances
“Face Off” features the familiar ensemble that helped make Corner Gas such a recognizable Canadian comedy.
Alongside Brent Butt and Gabrielle Miller, the episode includes Fred Ewanuick as Hank Yarbo, Nancy Robertson as Wanda Dollard, Eric Peterson as Oscar Leroy, Janet Wright as Emma Leroy, Lorne Cardinal as Davis Quinton and Tara Spencer-Nairn as Karen Pelly.
There are also guest appearances from Jamie Hutchinson, Darren Dutchyshen and Jennifer Hedger. Hutchinson appears as Rocket Ronnie, while sports broadcasters Dutchyshen and Hedger appear as themselves.
The guest appearances are particularly appropriate for an episode built around hockey. The show’s official walking-tour archive explains that Dutchyshen and Hedger filmed their scenes at TSN studios in Toronto, with Brent Butt and director David Storey travelling there for the shoot.
It is a fun production detail that gives this episode a little extra connection to Canadian sports broadcasting.
The Real Saskatchewan Locations Behind Dog River
One of the pleasures of watching Corner Gas was its small-town atmosphere. Dog River may have been fictional, but the series had a real Saskatchewan home.
The show was filmed on location in Rouleau, Saskatchewan, with additional production work taking place in Regina. The town became closely associated with the series, attracting fans who wanted to see the places that appeared on their television screens.
The official Corner Gas walking tour identifies Rouleau’s curling and skating rink as one of the locations used in “Face Off.” The rink appeared in exterior shots, while the interior hockey-game scenes were filmed at a rink in Regina.
That is a lovely detail for fans who enjoy learning how television shows were made. The fictional Dog River hockey team had a real-world Saskatchewan location behind its game-day scenes.
The production also helped turn Rouleau into a popular destination for fans. The show’s familiar gas station and Ruby Café set became major attractions, and the official website preserves information about those locations and their role in the series.
A Memorable Mix of Hockey and Small-Town Comedy
“Face Off” is a good example of what made the early episodes of Corner Gas enjoyable. It takes two ordinary situations and lets the characters’ personalities provide the comedy.
Brent’s hockey dilemma gives the episode a central question about loyalty and appreciation. Emma and Oscar’s disagreement provides a separate domestic comedy story, while Lacey’s unexpected involvement with the River Dogs adds another layer to the game.
It also gives fans a little Canadian hockey culture, a few special guest appearances and a glimpse of the real Saskatchewan locations behind the fictional town.
Originally broadcast on April 21, 2004, “Face Off” remains a charming early-season installment for viewers revisiting Dog River. And perhaps the most appropriate result for a small-town hockey team is that the River Dogs manage to finish their big game with a tie.
Did you enjoy Brent’s hockey storyline more, or were Emma and Oscar’s arguments about the old car your favorite part? We’d love to hear what you remember about this episode.
Sources
- cornergas.com
- tvmaze.com
- imdb.com
- tvguide.com
- cornergas.com
- cornergas.com
- cornergas.com
- bellmedia.ca
