What role does redemption play in Indian Horse?

I think that the last half of the novel involves redemption for himself through his own eyes. After leaving the Toronto Marlies, Saul reaches rock bottom. Disillusioned by the intense racism found in hockey as well as burdened by dark secrets from St. Jerome's school, Saul loses himself. It takes returning his roots and returning to God's lake to come out of the fog of alcoholism to find himself again. Saul needed to redeem his indigenous wounded soul. The ending of the book shows promise when he skates with Virgil and some kids.