H.E. Double Hockey Sticks (1999) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Dave, a talented young hockey player desperate to become the youngest Stanley Cup champion, signs a bargain with Griffelkin because he's driven by ambition and naivety. He doesn't fully grasp the moral consequences of trading his soul for championship success. The deal offers him a shortcut to his dreams without requiring genuine teamwork and personal growth.

Foreshadowing: Early scenes show Dave's intense focus on personal glory, making him vulnerable to a tempting shortcut.

• dave heinrich
• soul deal
• stanley cup
• ambition
• bargain

Satan, appearing as Ms. Beelzebub, dispatches her apprentice demon Griffelkin to Earth specifically to steal the soul of rising hockey star Dave Heinrich. The mission is to exploit Dave's dreams of Stanley Cup glory by making a soul-for-victory bargain, using his ambition against him.

Foreshadowing: The prologue establishes Satan's interest in souls and her strategy of sending demons to manipulate mortals.

• satan
• griffelkin
• beelzebub
• soul stealing
• demon mission

Griffelkin arranges a trade that sends Dave from the Delaware Demons to the Annapolis Angels, the league's worst team, specifically to prevent Dave from winning the Stanley Cup himself. This cunning move lets Griffelkin fulfill the letter of their contract, Dave plays for a team that could technically win, while ensuring the star won't achieve the glory he sought.

Foreshadowing: The bargain's wording allows for this loophole, which Griffelkin exploits to satisfy both his mission and his growing doubts.

• trade
• annapolis angels
• delaware demons
• manipulation
• contract

Griffelkin's conscience develops gradually after witnessing Beelzebub's cruel tricks and experiencing moments of doubt about his mission. He grows tired of serving petty evil and becomes drawn to the idea that a soul can be saved through genuine sportsmanship rather than deception. His transformation is fueled by finding justice and compassion.

Foreshadowing: Griffelkin's discomfort with Beelzebub's collapsible chair trick marks the beginning of his moral awakening.

• griffelkin redemption
• conscience
• switch sides
• good vs evil

Angel Gabrielle reveals that if the underdog Annapolis Angels win the Stanley Cup, Dave's soul could be saved from the demonic bargain. This hopeful premise transforms the stakes from personal glory to collective triumph, giving Griffelkin a reason to oppose Beelzebub and helping Dave realize that true teamwork matters more than individual success.

Foreshadowing: Gabrielle's intervention comes at a pivotal moment when Griffelkin is already questioning his loyalties.

• gabrielle
• angel
• soul salvation
• stanley cup win
• redemption

Dave realizes that winning the Cup alone won't save his soul, he needs to become a true teammate. He abandons his selfish, individualistic approach, helps his Angels teammates improve, and commits to selfless cooperation. This shift in character is what allows the team to rally together and achieve collective victory.

Foreshadowing: Dave's early arrogance and focus on personal stats set up his necessary character growth.

• dave team player
• character growth
• teamwork
• selflessness
• transformation

When the Annapolis Angels defeat the Delaware Demons in the Stanley Cup finals, the victory breaks the original soul-for-championship deal. The specific wording of the bargain is fulfilled in an unexpected way, the Cup is won, but through genuine teamwork rather than demonic manipulation, causing the contract to collapse and saving Dave's soul.

Foreshadowing: The bargain's exact wording becomes crucial, as it allows for interpretation that favors Dave when won fairly.

• cup victory
• deal nullified
• contract loophole
• soul saved
• demons defeated

After helping Dave and the Angels achieve their victory, Griffelkin chooses to leave his demonic role and join Gabrielle as an angel. His redemption arc completes when he decides to become a force for good, though he must still complete tasks to fully earn his wings. He chooses courage and reform over his former life of scheming.

Foreshadowing: His earlier decision to help Dave against Beelzebub foreshadows his full transformation.

• griffelkin angel
• redemption
• transformation
• new path
• wings

Satan, in her Ms. Beelzebub form, storms back to Hell furious because her plan backfired spectacularly. Not only did Dave's soul remain unsnatched, but her own apprentice Griffelkin defected to the good side. The Angels' unexpected championship victory undermined her scheme entirely, leaving her defeated and enraged.

Foreshadowing: Beelzebub's confidence in her demonic scheme makes her eventual defeat more humiliating.

• satan defeated
• beelzebub rage
• hell
• plan backfired
• anger

The Annapolis Angels, despite being the league's last-place team, won because Dave's transformation into a true team player inspired collective effort. Rather than relying on one star, the team learned to fight together, trust each other, and contribute selflessly. This unity proved stronger than the Demons' individual talent and ruthless approach.

Foreshadowing: Early scenes highlight the Angels' struggles and Dave's initial frustration with the weaker team.

• underdog victory
• teamwork beats talent
• annapolis angels
• demons defeated
• unity