Late Bloomer: Ed Jovanovski Ed Jovanovski is one of the most talented young defenders in the National Hockey League. He is destined to become a superstar. Ever since becoming the first pick in the 1994 NHL entry draft, Jovanovski has been an idol for youngsters throughout Canada; especially for those of Macedonian origin who look up to Ed as a role model. Ed, who first played organized hockey at the age of eleven, really wasn’t that interested in hockey in the first place. His first love was soccer. Our story is focused on the life and times of one of the very best hockey players in the world. From his beginnings in working class Windsor, Ontario, and born to Kostadin and Liljana, (who emigrated to Canada from Macedonia in the early 1970’s),to the trials and tribulations of the world’s finest professional hockey league. The documentary was shot on location in 2004 in Windsor, Vancouver, and Boca Raton, Florida, and attempts to profile the rise of an unlikely star. Interviews with family, relatives, and friends are intertwined with coaches, officials and a journalist who covers Canada’s unofficial favourite pastime. From a creative perspective, our aim was to bring to life the real Ed Jovanovski, (pronounced Yoh-vanovski), not the Jovanovski presented in the 15 second sound bite on the nightly sports or the dressing room interview. We aimed to learn more about Ed’s family, his upbringing and his character. The Late Bloomer: Ed Jovanovski features an in-depth look at Ed’s family life with his wife Kirsten and their two children. Also featured are interviews with officials of the Vancouver Canucks from the pressure-filled confines of General Motors Place on Griffiths Way in Vancouver. We interviewed Ed’s parents Kostadin and Liljana and their views on Ed’s apprenticeship in the N.H.L. and whether the early morning treks to the arena were all worth it. We’ll find out more about Ed’s origins from the town of Jegunovce in Macedonia, and about his activities within the Macedonian communities of Windsor and Vancouver. Our documentary also focuses on his early years in Windsor, his schooling, friendships, and his early years in the Windsor minor hockey league program. The Late Bloomer: Ed Jovanovski features original music by Davor Jordanovski, who has masterfully intertwined traditional Macedonian folk harmonies with contemporary rhythms. Languages: English, Macedonian