Netflix is set to bring another captivating romance story to the screen following the success of “Heated Rivalry.” The streaming service announced its plans to adapt the popular novel “Icebreaker” by Hannah Grace into a college romance drama series.
“Icebreaker,” a young adult romance novel published in 2022, tells the story of Anastasia Allen, an ambitious figure skater, and Nate Hawkins, a charismatic hockey team captain. The two protagonists find themselves falling in love after being compelled to share the ice at the fictional University of California, Maple Hills campus. The bestseller has achieved great success, selling nearly five million copies and being translated into 24 languages.
Describing the plot, Netflix revealed, “She’s the transfer gunning for Olympic gold. He’s the campus star chasing the NHL. But when an accident forces their teams to share one rink, Anastasia Allen and Nate Hawkins collide — and discipline gives way to obsession, because the only thing more dangerous than wanting to win is wanting each other.”
Jinny Howe, Netflix’s head of scripted series for the U.S. and Canada, unveiled the upcoming series at the Banff World Media Festival. Howe expressed Netflix’s excitement for bringing beloved romance novels to a global audience, emphasizing that “Icebreaker” is the perfect addition to their lineup of romantic adaptations.
This new series follows the successful path of Crave’s “Heated Rivalry,” based on novels by Canadian author Rachel Reid. The show, which depicts the evolving relationship between two male hockey players on and off the ice, received critical acclaim, winning a Peabody Award and being celebrated as a Canadian content success by Culture Minister Marc Miller.
“Icebreaker” and “Heated Rivalry” are part of the increasing popularity of sports romance books, particularly within the hockey genre. The rise of this sub-genre has been fueled by platforms like BookTok, a community on TikTok dedicated to sharing book recommendations.
Amanda Lasher, the showrunner for “Icebreaker,” brings her expertise from working on popular shows like “Riverdale,” “Gossip Girl,” and “Togetherness” to the project. Excited about the genre, Lasher shared, “I have been a fan of steamy YA since the seventh grade; reading Judy Blume stealthily hidden behind a text book. I love this genre.”
“Icebreaker” marks the first installment in Grace’s Maple Hills series, which includes “Wildfire” (2023) and “Daydream” (2025), all set at the University of California campus.