When 13-year-old Gary MacDonald plays hockey on his backyard rink, anything seems possible?even one day playing in the NHL. But outside of his own backyard, things aren?t so easy. Small for his age, Gary is finding his first year of bantam hockey though: his teammates? bullying is getting on his nerves, and his coach is threatening to drop him from the team because of his size. On top of everything else, Gary has just learned that his recently separated parents are dating other people.
The only positive things in Gary's life are the arrival of the New Mexico Snow Dogs? farm team in his hometown of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, and his new friendship with Dmitri, an up-and-coming superstar from Russia. But even these bright spots are threatened when Dmitri's brother gets involved with the Russian mafia and the Snow Dogs consider leaving for a bigger city.
It's a year of change for Gary, and sometimes he wonders if his hockey dreams will ever really come true.

NANCY RUSSELL is a broadcast journalist with more than sixteen years of experience with CBC Radio and Television. She is the award-winning author of several young adult books, including Rink of Dreams, which was short-listed for the Manitoba Young Readers` Choice Award, Light the Way Home, One Magical Summer, and Farewell to Ferryboats. Russell lives in Stratford, PEI, with her family.

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