Amazon Prime released Off Campus in May 2026, an adaptation of Elle Kennedy’s hockey romance series that has quickly become the streamer’s top show worldwide. The series follows the romantic dramas of college ice hockey players at a fictional Boston university, signaling a broader trend in sports-centric romantic television.
The surge in popularity for ice hockey romance on screen reflects a growing appetite for narratives that blend high-stakes athletics with emotionally complex relationships. While the genre has existed in literature for years, recent streaming adaptations have moved these stories from niche book circles into the global mainstream.
Off Campus and the Elle Kennedy Influence
The current obsession centers on Off Campus, a production from Amazon Prime based on the series by Canadian author Elle Kennedy. Kennedy’s original books sold 25 million copies, providing a massive pre-existing audience for the television adaptation. The show focuses on the sex lives and romantic dramas of college athletes at a fictional university in Boston.
Central to the plot is Garrett Graham, played by Belmont Cameli. Graham serves as the captain of the Briar University hockey team and is the son of hockey legend Phil Graham, portrayed by Steve Howey. The narrative also features John Logan, played by Antonio Cipriano, a teammate and best friend to Graham. Viewers and critics have highlighted the show’s portrayal of female desire and the presence of emotionally intelligent male characters as key factors in its success.
Heated Rivalry and the Crave Canada Adaptation
Before the arrival of Off Campus, the genre gained significant momentum through Heated Rivalry, a Canadian series that streamed in the UK in January 2026. Starring Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, the show brought global visibility to the queer sports romance subgenre. The series is based on the Game Changers books by author Rachel Reid.
The production has continued to expand, with Season 2 currently in progress for the Crave Canada adaptation. This upcoming season draws its source material from The Long Game, which is the sixth book in Reid’s series. Jacob Tierney, providing updates on the production, stated that work on the second season is ongoing.
Rachel Reid’s Progress on Unrivaled
As the television adaptations grow, the original literary source material continues to evolve. Rachel Reid is currently working on a new book titled Unrivaled, a direct sequel to The Long Game. The story picks up after the wedding of characters Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, focusing on their progress as teammates on the same hockey team and their experiences being public with their relationship after a decade of rivalry.
I’ve been writing it for about a year now. I was working on it secretly right up until January, when it was announced. I like it. I’m very happy with it. I’m giving myself some time coming up in the next few months to just really focus on that and nothing else to make it as good as it can possibly be before it goes to my editor, because it’s really important.
Rachel Reid, Author
Reid has noted that she is still making plot decisions and frequently rewriting sections of the manuscript to ensure the quality meets the expectations of the fanbase.
The Appeal of High-Stakes Sports Romance
The transition of hockey romance from page to screen is attributed to the inherent intensity of the sport. Meagan Carioti, a 27-year-old book content creator, suggests that hockey is a hot, passionate sport
and that this quality translates really well into romance
.
The attraction also extends to audiences outside of North America, where ice hockey may be less common. Sophie Bonser, a 30-year-old social media manager and hockey enthusiast, attributes this to a sense of novelty. She points to the structural nature of the game, noting that because games are often low scoring, the wins are narrow and tense.
Every game is high stakes, which translates well in TV.
Sophie Bonser, social media manager
This tension mirrors the romantic arcs typical of the genre, where emotional stakes are mirrored by the pressure of professional or collegiate competition. The combination of physical intensity and emotional vulnerability has created a formula that streaming platforms are now aggressively pursuing.
