Face Off is Maureen Ulrich's second hockey novel for teens. Its prequel, Power Plays, received critical acclaim and was a finalist in the Saskatchewan Book Awards. She is also an avid playwright, having created 26 plays for young people and 4 for adults. Maureen Ulrich was born in Saskatoon in 1958, but grew up in Edmonton and Calgary. She obtained Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education degrees from the University of Saskatchewan, and has taught middle-years students for 23 years, as well as working in the oil-field industry. Maureen currently lives in Lampman, in southeastern Saskatchewan.