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Netflix is heading to the rink and officially getting into the hockey romance game.
The streamer has announced an adaptation of Hannah Grace’s best-selling romance novel, IcebreakerMonday at the Banff World Media Festival. The novel is the first in the Maple Hills series set at Grace College.
“Netflix has a long history of turning beloved romance novels into massive global hits. We know our members can’t get enough of these stories, which makes Icebreaker “The perfect next chapter for us,” said Jenny Howe, head of scripted series at Netflix in the US and Canada.
Icebreaker — one of the most, if not the most popular titles in the hockey romance subgenre — is about the relationship between a college hockey player and a college skater.
The show’s synopsis reads: “The upcoming college romance series follows Anastasia Allen, a competitive skater with her eyes on an Olympic gold medal. Everything changes when Anastasia is forced to share the rink with Nate Hawkins, a hockey player equally determined to turn pro. Despite the cold temperatures on the ice, the heat between Anastasia and Nate is undeniable. Is ambition or attraction the sharpest blade?”
Amanda Lasher (Gossip Girl, the sassy kind) will serve as the showrunner. She will co-write and executive produce the series alongside Jade Bartlett. Alex Cooper’s Unwell Productions is executive producing the series with Cooper, Matt Kaplan and Meena Lefevre also serving as EPs.
“I’ve been a fan of steamy YA since seventh grade; I’ve been reading Judy Blume sneakily hidden behind a text book,” Lasher said in a statement. “I love the genre, and it was a pleasure working with Jade, the Unwell team and Netflix to bring this beloved Hannah Grace film to life.” Icebreaker A novel on the screen.”
“It’s been a pleasure playing in the world of Hannah Grace,” Bartlett added Icebreaker; A story full of ambitious, talented, and undeniably exciting characters. But the real special sauce is that they are, above all, very kind and compassionate people. …And we can’t get enough of them.”
The green light comes on the heels of two successful hockey romance series on other broadcasters. Crave and HBO Max Hot competition The wave on television (it has always been very popular in the field of romance novels) began in November. The show, which follows a decade-long love story between two rival hockey players, became a global hit and launched its stars, Hudson Williams and Connor Story, into the spotlight. It is scheduled to return in 2027 for its second season.
Last month, Prime Video released its journey into the world of hockey romance, Off campuswhich became the third biggest debut of all time. The buzzy show, centered around a college hockey team and the women in their lives, is currently filming its second season, which will feature a new couple — played by Mika Adbala and Steven Kalin — in the lead roles.
“By supercharging the romantic kind of hockey, Icebreaker “It has ignited a passionate fanbase and helped redefine the landscape of contemporary romance,” said Howe. “We are thrilled to partner with Jade Bartlett, Amanda Lasher and the team at Unwell Productions to bring this irresistible love story to life.”
