William Douglas has been writing The Color of Hockey blog since 2012. Douglas joined NHL.com in 2019 and writes about people of color in the sport. Today, he profiles Wagner Shell III, a 12-year-old defenseman from Mississauga, Ontario, who makes his acting debut in the adaptation of the hockey cult classic film “Youngblood,” which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on Saturday.

A frigid, gray and snowy February day on an outdoor rink, cold feet and numerous takes couldn’t wipe the 100-watt smile off Wagner Shell III’s face.

The 12-year-old defenseman from Mississauga, Ontario, was not only back playing hockey after a serious leg injury but doing it in his feature film debut in the making of “Youngblood,” a reimagined adaptation of the 1986 hockey cult classic that st

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