New Wave of Ice Hockey Romance Captivates Audiences
If you believed the year’s supply of ice hockey romance was complete, think again.
Initially, the Canadian series Heated Rivalry debuted on UK streaming platforms in January, propelling its stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie to international recognition.
More recently, Amazon Prime launched Off Campus, another adaptation of an ice hockey romance novel, which the streaming service reports has rapidly become its most-watched show worldwide.
Based on the book series by Canadian author Elle Kennedy, which boasts sales of 25 million copies, the show has garnered acclaim for its depiction of female desire, emotionally nuanced male characters, and intense sports drama.
Off Campus chronicles the romantic and sexual lives of college ice hockey players at a fictional Boston university.
Why Ice Hockey Translates Well into Romance
Meagan Carioti, 27, a content creator familiar with the book series, explains that "hockey is a hot, passionate sport" whose intensity naturally lends itself to romantic storytelling.
Sophie Bonser, 30, a social media manager and ice hockey fan, suggests that the sport’s appeal outside North America partly stems from its novelty, as many international viewers did not grow up playing it.
She notes that ice hockey games tend to be low scoring, resulting in close, high-stakes matches.
"Every game is high stakes, which translates well in TV," Sophie tells the BBC.
Complex Male Characters Defy Stereotypes
The male leads—Garrett Graham (Belmont Cameli, 28), Dean Di Laurentis (Stephen Kalyn, 28), and John Logan (Antonio Cipriano, 26)—avoid the typical "jock" clichés often seen in sports dramas.
Off Campus also addresses the derogatory term "puck bunny," used to describe female fans more interested in players than the sport itself.
However, the show emphasizes the players’ respect for women rather than objectification.
The first season adapts two of Elle Kennedy’s novels, The Deal (2015) and The Score (2016).
Representation of Female Pleasure and Consent
Female viewers have praised scenes where male characters demonstrate care for women’s sexual satisfaction.
Meagan highlights the significance of seeing "women's pleasure and comfort talked about, prioritised and valued" on television, noting this remains uncommon.
"I love men written by women, the yearning is just unmatched and it's the female gaze - what women want - I think [it] is different to what men think women want," she adds.
Oliver Zane, 25, a content creator whose Off Campus reaction videos have attracted hundreds of thousands of views on TikTok, describes himself as a "sucker for girly TV shows," despite not being the primary audience.
"Female writers do such a good job with character development, which makes them more realistic," he says.
He adds that the prioritization of women in the show "is such a draw" and that watching Off Campus helped him better understand women's perspectives.
Bravado Meets Vulnerability and Found Family
Meagan appreciates the contrast between ice hockey’s bravado and the characters’ underlying vulnerability.
She also values the depiction of "found family," exemplified by the strong bonds among teammates.
Addressing Trauma and Sensitive Topics
Actress Ella Bright, known to some British viewers from the CBBC adaptation of the Malory Towers series, portrays Hannah Wells, Garrett’s girlfriend.
Hannah’s central storyline involves coping with the aftermath of a high school rape, with her partner portrayed as sensitively managing her trauma related to sex.
"The show is very female-centred," Meagan says, adding: "Women are talked about and cared for in a respectful way, and the emphasis is on choice and consent."
Oliver describes Garrett’s characterization as "refreshing" and a major strength of the show.
"We're getting more and more stories these days written about male characters being vulnerable and emotionally aware and I like seeing characters take accountability for their actions," he adds.
The series also explores heavy issues such as domestic violence, addiction, and financial insecurity.
Elevating the Ice Hockey Romance Genre
Meagan hopes Off Campus will help the hockey romance genre gain greater respect, as it is often dismissed as "silly, trivial and girly."
"It's just reduced down to 'hockey smut', when it covers such important themes such as female empowerment, while also dealing with heavier topics like domestic abuse, sexual assault and violence," she says.
Oliver concurs, emphasizing the importance of not dismissing shows like this, especially "at a time when young men are being targeted with hypermasculinity."
He references the emotional intelligence of the male characters, and the way they appreciate their female counterparts.
"When I hear stuff like 'oh it's hockey smut' or whatever, I'm quick to tell people there's so much more to the show," he says.
