In an atmosphere of growing uncertainty, the national hockey team prepares for the World Championship Games in England, March 1950. Optimism continues to erode as their brilliant goal-keeper announces his retirement. Another team regular who also plays tennis, refuses to return home from a tournament in Gstaad. The final blow comes in November 1949, when a plane carrying six players to an exhibition match in London disappears in a storm over La Manche Channel. Although the French government officially confirms the crash, ambiguous statements by communist officials suggest the possibility of defection.

Then comes the 11th of March 1950, the day of departure for the championships. The players are kept waiting for hours at the Prague airport. Their plane, prepared for take off, sits quietly on the runway. Finally, the players are told that the British Embassy has rejected a visa to one of the journalists and the team, out of `solidarity` against this political provocation, will stay home.

When the players meet later, in their favorite downtown pub, they are already under police surveillance. Bitterness and disappointment take over. They blame the communist ministers for using their sport as propaganda. A brawl ensues between two provocateurs and the players. Police vans suddenly appear. The Champions are arrested and taken away. The few players missing from the pub are apprehended later. Great silence surrounds the incident. The young idols effectively vanish.

Without formal charges, they are kept under guard for several months. Separated from each other, tortured and brutally beaten, they are forced to confess that they planned to ask political asylum in England. While being held in Prague`s Pankrac prison, near 'deaths row', they witness the execution of their country's leading opposition leader, Miss Jarmila Horakova. Ultimately, they are charged with treason and subversive activity. The defense is given only three weeks to prepare their case. The prosecution accuses the players of illegal intent to emigrate and undermine the State`s authority. The 'trump card' for the prosecution is a police report from the team's leader, which admits to a secret 1948 meeting during the Davos tournament, where the players discussed an offer of emigration...but rejected it.

The trial is held behind the closed doors. Not even family members are allowed in the court room. The brisk proceedings conclude with a verdict of 'Guilty'. Their combined sentence totals 77 years. All their personal property is confiscated and they are given exorbitant financial penalties. In addition, they are sentenced to a loss of basic citizens' rights for 10 years. Without a chance to say good-bye to their families, the incredulous young men are quickly dispatched to labor camps where they will work in deadly uranium mines.

Czechoslovakian ice-hockey all but ceases to exist. It will take this country another twenty two years to reclaim the title of World Champions.

Central European labor camps at the beginning of the Cold War weren't much different than Soviet gulags. The uranium mines were reserved for political prisoners and their depraved guards. Only here does the cruel truth begin to sink in. Their privileged past now works against them. During those hard years, they all suffered extreme physical and mental abuse.Their outstanding goaltender, named during the trial as the leader of the 'conspiracy', is singled out for especially harsh treatment.

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