Netflix is bringing another hockey romance to the screen following the success of “Heated Rivalry.” The streaming platform recently announced the adaptation of Hannah Grace’s best-selling book “Icebreaker” into a college romance drama series.
“Icebreaker,” a young adult romance novel published in 2022, tells the story of figure skater Anastasia Allen and hockey team captain Nate Hawkins, who fall in love while sharing the ice at the fictional University of California, Maple Hills campus. The book has achieved significant success, becoming a No. 1 New York Times bestseller, selling close to five million copies, and being translated into 24 languages.
Describing the storyline, Netflix revealed that the plot revolves around Anastasia and Nate, who come from different worlds but find themselves drawn to each other after a fateful accident forces their teams to share the same rink. The streaming giant teased, “the only thing more dangerous than wanting to win is wanting each other.”
Jinny Howe, head of scripted series at Netflix, unveiled the new series at the Banff World Media Festival, expressing confidence in the popularity of romance novels among viewers. The announcement didn’t specify the streaming start date.
“Icebreaker” will follow the success of Crave’s “Heated Rivalry,” based on Rachel Reid’s novels, which won a Peabody Award and was praised as a Canadian content triumph. Both series explore romantic relationships in the context of professional hockey.
The rise of sports romance books, particularly in the hockey genre, has been notable, with titles like “Canadian Boyfriend,” “Body Check,” and “Pucking Sweet” gaining popularity. The genre’s growth has been supported by BookTok, a community on TikTok dedicated to discussing literature.
Amanda Lasher, the showrunner for “Icebreaker,” brings experience from acclaimed shows like “Riverdale,” “Gossip Girl,” and “Togetherness.” She expressed her enthusiasm for the steamy young adult genre, citing her long-standing love for it since her school days.
“Icebreaker” is the first installment in Grace’s Maple Hills series, followed by “Wildfire” (2023) and “Daydream” (2025), all set at the University of California campus bearing the same name.
