Ice hockey has always been a sport steeped in a culture of violence, and players universally calibrate the level of physical contact by adhering to unwritten rules known simply as "the code". "The Code" picks up where the rule book leaves off and fills in the gaps, all in an effort to govern the game and its players - allowing them to complete in a manner deemed fair and respectable. To fully understand the significance and history behind "the code", Bernstein interviewed more than 50 past and present players and coaches. Their insights and stories explain why fighting is allowed, and how players police themselves on and off the ice.