OVER the past year, sports headlines have focused as much on inspirational championship glories as shameful transgressions on and off the field of play.

If sport was ever beautiful, it faded just a little in 2011.

Goon is an offbeat comedy based on the incredible true story of a minor league ice hockey player who courted fame for his thuggish conduct.

Adapted from the book by Adam Frattasio and Doug Smith, Michael Dowse's endearing film is a celebration of an underdog who found his calling by flooring his opponents.

The goon of the title refers to an enforcer, whose role is to protect his team-mates using any part of his body that can clatter the opposition.

The brawler in question is dim-witted yet loveable Doug Glatt (Seann William Scott), who works as a bouncer in Orangetown, Massachusetts.

He feels alienated from his Jewish parents (Eugene Levy, Ellen David), who hoped he would train to become a doctor like his gay brother, Ira (David Paetkau).

Doug doesn't mind about Ira's sexuality and when he's sitting in the stands at an ice hockey match and a fellow spectator makes a homophobic jibe, the bouncer shows his displeasure with his fists.

The coach of the local team is impressed with Doug's fighting skills and best friend Ryan (Jay Baruchel) encourages him to try out as an enforcer.

After just one season, Doug transfers to the Halifax Highlanders in Nova Scotia, where coach Ronnie Hortense (Kim Coates) asks him to protect out-of-form scorer Xavier LaFlamme (Marc-Andre Grondin) against bullying rival Ross Rhea (Liev Schreiber).

Away from the rink, Doug nurtures a crush on Eva (Alison Pill), who by her own admission has few morals and many sexual partners.

Scott strikes a balance between naivete and brutish physicality, and catalyses warm screen chemistry with Pill as the bad girl, who finds redemption in Doug's doe eyes.

The plot stays on its feet, culminating in a bloodbath during a vital championship game that almost has us cheering from the multiplex stands.