Indian Horse

Analysis

When I hit the ice I was effective. I scored twenty-three points in nine games. But the taunting from the stands continued, and I fumed and smoldered and racked up one hundred and twenty minutes in the penalty box. I caused the Marlies to play short-handed a lot of the time, and we lost seven of those games. Finally, they benched me completely. After one night of sitting in the stands, I packed my bag and got on a bus back to Manitouwadge.( chapter 38)

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In context, the above quote captures the end of Saul's career in hockey. Despite his incredible talent, Saul continues to experience the bullying, taunts, and racism that marked his youth, but where he once channeled his frustration onto the ice and his performance... he now finds that same frustration impacting his performance negatively. As a result, Saul begins to react to the taunts of his opposition and get into fights during the game, something that negatively impacts his team and leaves them short handed at key moments. Saul's job was to carry the puck and score goals, and his fighting eventually resulted in him being permanently benched and removed from the team.

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Indian Horse