Sixth grader Elliot’s mediocre skating skills kept him benched much of his first hockey season. Now in his second year, he volunteers to replace an injured player as goalie. After Elliot (white) makes a wish for victory on his Carey Price bobblehead before their first game (Price is a Montreal Canadiens goalie), the team not only wins but Elliot doesn’t allow a single goal. Convinced it’s because of the bobblehead, the wishing ritual becomes an essential part of Elliot’s pre-game prep. This blithe premise is deftly turned into something more substantial as it examines issues of self-confidence and emotional well-being. Elliot’s having a shutout season, but every win ups the pressure he feels to succeed. Only Elliot’s best friend and teammate Duncan knows about the bobblehead wish; when the secret gets out, Elliot is sure Duncan is to blame, causing a rift in a friendship already experiencing tension. At home, Elliot feels bad whenever he hears his parents arguing about the cost of him playing hockey and angry when they seem more interested in his sister’s science contest project than his games. When Elliot begins to lash out, it becomes clear he’s struggling—first and foremost to believe in himself—in this entertaining and insightful novel. Discussions of athletes’ mental health—with goalie Price, who is Indigenous, one of Elliot’s role models for his openness about seeking treatment—and of sexism in traditionally male sports are welcome moments throughout a sporting story set in Canada. (Ages 9-12)