Summary

Chapter 1 reveals that Benjamin “Benji” Ovich will die young of a violent death.

Chapter 2 summarizes how Maya Andersson left Beartown after she was raped by Kevin Erdahl. The rape ignited violence between the people of neighboring towns Hed and Beartown. One young hockey player and a member of “the Pack” (3), Vidar, was killed. Benji, who had been Kevin’s best friend, also moved away.

At that time, Beartown hockey almost came to an end. Peter Andersson, Maya’s father and the team’s general manager, resigned and gave up hockey. It was only because of new sponsors that the team survived at all.

Elisabeth Zackell was hired as the team’s coach and put together a new team that was headed by Amat. Amat was a star. He was injured during the spring and kept the team from being promoted to a higher...