The 10 Rules of Hockey Romance

Rule #1: The Meet-Cute Must Involve Equipment

Whether it's a stick to the face, a puck ricocheting into someone's coffee, or a collision with full gear in a hallway, first contact requires someone to be wearing skates.

How I’ve respected this rule: see, Bombshells! Our hero swears off women…then meets the loveliest new goalie on the women’s team…

Rule #2: At Least One Character Has Emotional Baggage the Size of a Zamboni

Past trauma, family drama, career-ending injuries, or secret shame—your hockey player needs issues that run deeper than surface-level commitment phobia. The bigger the baggage, the more satisfying the eventual healing.

See: Overnight Sensation! Castro is a hottie but the dude has some lingering issues. Heidi Jo is undeterred!

Rule #3: The Love Interest Must Be Impressive at Something Non-Hockey

Whether they're a brilliant athletic trainer, the team yoga teacher, or a savvy PR specialist, they need their own expertise. They're not just there to cheer from the stands—they have their own life worth disrupting for love.

How I’ve respected this rule: this is the fun stuff! See Love Lessons for hockey player vs. fashion stylist! He hates shopping. Or so he thinks…

Rule #4: There Will Be At Least One Scene in the Locker Room

Tension, vulnerability, steam from hot showers, the intimacy of a sacred space—the locker room is where guards come down and truth gets spoken. Use it wisely.

See: hilarious scenes in Bombshells when the team plays a prank on Anton. Honestly, see all my hockey books for locker room fun!

Rule #5: The Team is a Found Family (With All the Dysfunction That Implies)

The men’s teams are brothers, and the women’s teams are sisters! Which means they'll chirp each other mercilessly, have each other's backs completely, and meddle in personal business with zero boundaries. The team dynamics should feel lived-in and real.

Aw, heck yes! How about O’Doul in Hard Hitter demanding that every player submit a suggestion for how to woo a woman! (Spoiler: not all these suggestions are good or reasonable.)

Rule #6: Hockey Comes First (Until It Doesn't)

The sport isn't just a job—it's identity, purpose, sometimes the only thing they've ever been good at. The moment they're willing to risk it for love is when you know it's real.

See: Eric Bayer’s identity crisis in Moonlighter when he’s suddenly in love with a pregnant CEO. You’re welcome. :)

Rule #7: There Must Be One Scene That Makes Readers Clutch Their Chests

Whether it's a quiet moment of vulnerability, a grand gesture, or a perfectly timed "I love you," there should be at least one scene that hits so hard readers have to put the book down and collect themselves.

I don’t feel comfortable telling you which these scenes are. You’re gonna have to choose for yourselves!

Rule #8: Goalies are Weird, and Very Bendy

Goalies are hockey's beautiful weirdos—they have to be, standing alone in front of 100mph slap shots while wearing enough padding to stop a small car. They're superstitious, intense, and operate on a completely different mental frequency from the rest of the team. Plus, that flexibility from all the stretching and positioning? Pure romance gold.

How I’ve respected this rule: so many goalies! See: Beacon in Pipe Dreams, Silas in Superfan, Hale in The Last Guy on Earth, Sylvie in Bombshells…

Rule #9: The Hockey is Real Hockey

Research rules! The game, the culture, the superstitions, the way players talk and think. Readers will know if we’re faking it. And they love the little things—like what the penalty box is really like, and the fact that extra pucks are kept in an Igloo cooler. Besides… this means we get to go to hockey games!

How I’ve respected this rule: so much research! So many games and articles at The Players’ Tribune. And YouTube. I love my job. ❤️