Liev Schreiber, from left, Seann William Scott and Jay Baruchel attend the premiere of "Goon" in New York, Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012. Baruchel says he hopes the financial success of his hockey comedy ???Goon??? will help stem Canada's talent "brain drain" to Hollywood. The Montreal-based actor is in Toronto to accept Telefilm's Golden Box Office prize for last year's on-ice smash. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Charles Sykes
June 18, 2013 - 10:16 AM
TORONTO - Jay Baruchel says he hopes the financial success of his hockey comedy "Goon" will help stem Canada's talent "brain drain" to Hollywood.
The Montreal-based actor is in Toronto to accept Telefilm's Golden Box Office prize for last year's on-ice smash.
Telefilm says "Goon" collected $4.1 million at Canadian theatres in 2012, more than any other homegrown English-language feature film that year.
The annual prize comes with a $20,000 cash award for the winning film's director and a $20,000 cash prize for the writers.
Baruchel, who co-wrote the film with "Pineapple Express" and "Superbad" scribe Evan Goldberg, accepted a giant novelty cheque along with "Goon" director Michael Dowse at Toronto's Hockey Hall of Fame.
Baruchel, who is working on a sequel to "How To Train Your Dragon," says he's proud to work in his homeland and would like to see more actors with Hollywood success do the same.
"Goon" was a box office hit from the moment it opened in February 2012, beating out Hollywood imports its first weekend out.
Seann William Scott starred as a bouncer-turned-hockey-enforcer who muscles his way through the minor leagues. Baruchel co-starred alongside Liev Schreiber, Eugene Levy, Alison Pill and Marc-Andre Grondin.
Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender Johnny Bower and co-stars Grondin, David Paetkau, George Tchortov and Richard Clarkin were also at Tuesday's awards presentation.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2013