Gerry Miller (Michael Moriarty) is a professional ice hockeydefenseman relegated to the minor leagues because his play is not aggressive enough. In an effort to get back to the majors, he plays dirty and gets into fights on the ice, which gets him back to the majors. His aggressive play results in the death of a former friend (Paul D'Amato) playing for an opposing team who sustained a ruptured spleen during a game. Miller appears largely indifferent to the situation, appearing to view it as a normal part of playing top-level ice hockey. He is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon by the district attorney and is under pressure to accept a plea bargain while his team and the league dissociate themselves from the scandal. He is defended by George Graff (Kevin Conway), a disabled lawyer who is one of the few people that believes he can get Miller exonerated in court.[1][2]
The Deadliest Season was a 98-minute-long courtroom and sports drama[19] made-for-TV movie that originally aired in the United States on CBS in 1977.[20][21] In Canada, the movie aired in August 1979 on CBC.[3] In Australia, the film first aired in November 1980,[7] and later aired on March 23, 1982, on ATN7.[5] In 1984, it reran in New York on Channel 2.[22] It re-ran on television in Alaska in November 1986.[6]
^Didinger, Ray; Macnow, Glen (2009). The ultimate book of sports movies : featuring the 100 greatest sports films of all time. Philadelphia: Running Press Book Publishers. p. 316. ISBN9780762435487. OCLC316825645.