Mark Messier’s “Game 7” releases 5-part Prime Video sports documentaries

You’ve seen these games before. But not like that.

Five of the most iconic serial decision-makers in professional sports are featured in the new anthology series “Game 7,” arriving worldwide on Prime Video starting Tuesday, October 22nd. The series is dedicated to celebrating the life-changing impact of some of sports’ greatest moments, including the journeys, lessons and memories that extend beyond the walls of arenas and stadiums.

“There’s 100 years of history to talk about,” said Mark Messier, one of the series’ producers and co-founder of the sports and entertainment brand “Game 7.” “We look at not only great, unique moments from Game 7 from a sports perspective, but also the human story that led up to that Game 7.”

Each episode is a deep dive into a memorable Game 7. From baseball, there’s the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox in the 2003 ALCS and the Chicago Cubs’ extra-innings World Series victory over the Cleveland Indians in 2016. From the NBA in 2016 In 2006, the Dallas Mavericks pulled off an upset of the defending champion San Antonio Spurs in the second round of overtime. And two of Messier’s six Stanley Cup victories came from the NHL – in 1987 against the Philadelphia Flyers, as a member of the Edmonton Oilers and in 1994 as captain of the Rangers.

“A 54-year drought, a passionate fan base, the Original Six team and generations of fans who had never seen a Stanley Cup – let alone the actual Stanley Cup being awarded at Madison Square Garden,” recalled Messier. “It was a crucial moment for everyone. And I think when it comes to going beyond the game, it’s become bigger than hockey.”

Each episode features first-hand perspectives from players on both the winning and losing sides. Additionally, the production team, led by executive producer Connor Schell of Words + Pictures and director Daniel Amigone, finds a unique way to craft each story.

For the Oilers’ victory over the Flyers, producers used scenes from more than two seasons of footage filmed for an early entry in the sports documentary catalog called “The Boys On The Bus.” The plan was to win Edmonton’s promotion to a third straight Stanley Cup in 1986, but a surprising loss to the Calgary Flames led to a second season of play – and a dramatic arc that went from heartbreak to triumph.

“They were basically given permission to follow us throughout the year, from training camp to our unfortunate loss to Calgary,” Messier said. “Now they have to go back to their executive producers and ask for more money to make it for another year. They essentially became part of the team and fortunately we had a coach and many players who welcomed them into our family and the locker room. It got to the point where we forgot they were there.”

The Game 7 series production team also includes brand co-founder Mat Vlasic and actor Danny DeVito, as well as Jake DeVito and Lucy DeVito through their production company Jersey Films 2nd Avenue.

The producers’ many contacts helped them recruit figures outside the sports world to tell their stories, such as Rage Against the Machine guitarist and Harvard graduate Tom Morello.

Morello grew up in a Chicago suburb and was turned into a Cubs superfan by his aunt as a child. In “Game 7,” he shares his perspective with passion and perspective.

“The fans played a big role in this story, and we felt it just felt right to do it,” Vlasic said. “With the way we tell these stories, we always try to tell them beyond the boundaries of sport. This can be done from the perspective of the athlete, but also from the perspective of the fans and the people the athletes are doing it for.”

As co-creator of the groundbreaking ESPN series “30 for 30,” Schell has been a major player in sports documentaries for decades.

“Connor was really instrumental in the development, and that’s exactly why we wanted to work with him to take it to the next level,” said Vlasic. “How do we set the new standard? We don’t want to talk about the life story. We really want to talk about this moment and the things we can learn from it.”

Schell’s experience has brought a unique perspective to “Game 7” at a time when the genre is more popular than ever.

“I think what might be interesting for fans is our theory that everyone in their life can have a Game 7 moment,” Messier said. “I think that’s the interesting part of our overall brand – it can scale beyond the world of sports.”