Why you (and everyone around you) suddenly loves ice hockey series

With Heated Rivalry and Off Campus that are immensely popular and discussed, and Netflix that acquired the rights last week to adapt the BookTok hit Icebreaker by Hannah Grace (which is produced by Alex Cooper whom you know from her podcast Call Her Daddy), it is clear: we are captivated by ice hockey. Although the sport is often more of a side note than the main topic in these love stories, if you know, you know. But what makes us suddenly feel so drawn to pucks, helmets, skates, and hockey sticks?

The why

The short answer: ice hockey is hot. The game is fast; players glide over the ice at more than 30 kilometers per hour, and it involves a lot of muscles and sweat. Because the rink is about three times smaller than a soccer field, everything happens at full speed. Including the collisions. For that, a hefty amount of gear is needed, which only adds an extra layer of mystery to the sport. Skating is both elegant and tough, and we haven't even mentioned the fact that ice hockey is one of the few sports where a fight doesn't automatically mean the end of the game, but is sometimes simply a tactic. Not like the soccer players who roll on the ground with just a little tap. And then do that twelve times behind a transparent glove. TikTok affectionately dubbed the phenomenon the ‘boy aquarium’.

Which celebs stand next to the boy aquarium?

Although TikTok seems to have only recently become a fan of ice hockey, some celebs were already on board much earlier. Justin Bieber for example, he played ice hockey himself as a child. And guess who was admiring him from the other side of the glass back then? Right, his wife Hailey Bieber. Singer Tate McRae now has a permanent spot next to the rink due to her relationship with Team USA player Jack Hughes. Meanwhile, the rumor mill is working overtime around influencer Lexi Rivera and NHL player Matt Nito. Their Instagram posts appearing around the same days with suspiciously identical views are more than enough evidence for the internet.

It is no longer a big question why the hearts of you, everyone around you, and a growing list of celebs are racing for Ilya Rozanov, Shane Hollander, Garrett Graham, and soon also Nathan Hawkins. Adapting Icebreaker by Hannah Grace is a good move by Netflix, because everything ice hockey will continue to score for now.