Move over, Heated Rivalry - there's a new ice hockey romance obsession

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. Move over, Heated Rivalry - there's a new ice hockey romance obsession 15 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleAnnabel RackhamCulture reporterAmazon Prime VideoOff Campus focuses on the romance between students Garrett Graham and Hannah WellsIf you thought you'd had your fill of ice hockey romance for the year, then think again. First came surprise hit Heated Rivalry, a Canadian series which arrived on streaming in the UK in January and led to global fame for its stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie. And in the last few weeks, Amazon Prime released Off Campus, another adaptation of an ice hockey romance book, which the streamer says has instantly become its top show worldwide.

Based on the series by Canadian author Elle Kennedy, which sold 25 million copies, the show has been praised by fans for its portrayal of female desire, its emotionally intelligent male characters and, of course, its high-stakes sports action. Amazon Prime VideoBest friends and team mates John Logan (Antonio Cipriano) and Garrett Graham (Belmont Cameli)The show follows the sex lives and romantic dramas of college ice hockey players at a fictional Boston university. Book content creator Meagan Carioti, 27, says "hockey is a hot, passionate sport" which "translates really well into romance", thanks to its intensity.

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Social media manager and ice hockey enthusiast Sophie Bonser, 30, thinks interest in ice hockey from outside North America is partly due to a novelty that stems from people not having grown up playing the sport. Games tend to be low scoring, meaning tense, narrow-margin wins. "Every game is high stakes, which translates well in TV," Sophie tells the .

Sophie BonserSophie is a British ice hockey fan - and a fan of Off CampusThe show's male characters - Garrett Graham (played by 28-year-old Belmont Cameli), Dean Di Laurentis (played by 28-year-old Stephen Kalyn) and John Logan (played by 26-year-old Antonio Cipriano) - don't fall into the typical "jock" stereotypes viewers may be used to seeing in sports dramas. Off Campus references the derogatory slang "puck bunny", which is used to describe female ice hockey fans who are more interested in the players than the game itself. But there is an emphasis in the show on ice hockey players wanting to respect women, rather than use them.

Amazon Prime VideoIce hockey romances are praised for combining the bravado and brutality of hockey with sensitively handled relationshipsThe first series of the show is adapted from two of Elle Kennedy's books - The Deal and The Score - which were first released in 2015 and 2016. Some of the show's scenes have been praised by female fans for depicting male characters showing care about women's sexual satisfaction. Meagan says it is "so powerful" to see "women's pleasure and comfort talked about, prioritised and valued" in a TV show but feels this isn't common enough.

The story has become one of the most prominent items on the global agenda.