2025 NHL storylines include Panthers, Ovechkin and Olympic hockey
The 2025-26 NHL season gets under way on Oct. 7. Sam Cardona-Norberg shares some key storylines.
The HBO Max series “Heated Rivalry” has become the talk of social media since its debut, featuring a love story between two professional male hockey players.
With the finale set for release on Dec. 26, the show has sparked new interest in the sport from viewers who may not traditionally follow hockey. Major League Hockey is the fictional stand-in for the National Hockey League, currently in the midst of the 2025-26 season.
Will the show’s popularity translate to more hockey fans in real life?
“There are so many ways to get hooked on hockey and, in the NHL’s 108-year history, this might be the most unique driver for creating new fans,” an NHL spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter.
The program is based on a 2019 romance book by Rachel Reid.
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