At a certain point when Saul is playing for the Moose and becomes their star player, father Leboutilier comes to a practice to visit him. Why does the Father care for Saul more than he cares about the other students of St. Jerome’s and why does Saul mi

Saul was special to Father Leboutilier. There was of course his almost magical hockey ability, as Father Leboutilier felt hockey was a gift from God to Saul. But there is a much darker reason for the priest's visits. We find out later in the book that Leboutilier had sexually abused Saul. His fondness for Saul has many layers to it: some truly affectionate and some truly disturbing.