Directed by Jace Alexander
Written by Barry Schindel, Matt Witten, & Bernard Goldberg
An investigation into the murder of a high school hockey coach leads Briscoe and Green to suspect Keith Taylor, a player with a violent temper. The victim, Russ Crider, had suspended him before an important game where scouts would be present. Crider's blood is found on Keith's hockey stick, so Keith is charged with murder. However, further investigation reveals that his over-competitive father Ray was present at the time and may have been involved. McCoy lures Ray into confessing with the threat of having Keith tried as an adult and jailed for life.
Keith testifies that Ray, furious over the suspension, lost his temper and beat Crider to death with the hockey stick. Subsequently Keith took the blame to protect his dad. The defence claims Ray experienced "sports rage"; he was so angry that he temporarily lost his senses and was not responsible for his actions. McCoy plays video footage of Ray attacking another parent during a game, and argues that adults are responsible for their actions - especially parents, who should set an example for their children. The jury convicts and the DAs reflect that, after all Ray did to further his son's hockey career, he now won't be around to see it.
This episode contains examples of:
- Jerk Jock: Keith
- Papa Wolf: Ray Taylor
- Ripped from the Headlines: Based on the case of Thomas Junta, who was jailed for killing his son's hockey coach.
- Screw the Rules, I Have Connections!: Ray used personal connections to get scouts to come to an upcoming game, and therefore thought his son should be exempt from the rules.
- Sore Loser: Both Keith and his father.
- Sports Dad: Ray was obsessed with his son's hockey career. He would yell at the other parents at games and killed a coach for not giving him enough time on the ice.
- Vicariously Ambitious: Ray was this with Keith.
