A list of 15 Novels about Hockey

  1. Beartown by Fredrik Backman

    This novel plunges readers into a remote, struggling town where the junior hockey team is the community's last hope. When a violent act throws the team and the town into chaos, the story moves beyond the rink to ask profound questions about loyalty, truth, and morality.

    Backman uses the sport to expose the razor-thin line between ambition and corruption, making the team’s fate a powerful metaphor for the town’s soul.

  2. Us Against You by Fredrik Backman

    Picking up in the aftermath of Beartown's shattering events, this sequel explores a town split in two. With the hockey club fractured and a new rival team emerging across the water, every game becomes a battle for identity and survival.

    The narrative masterfully depicts how the fierce passions of hockey can fuel old grudges and political turmoil, cementing the sport as the town's lifeblood and its greatest source of conflict.

  3. The Winners by Fredrik Backman

    Concluding the trilogy, The Winners returns to Beartown years later, where the echoes of the past still resonate. A devastating storm forces a final confrontation between the rival hockey towns, with old players and new generations colliding on and off the ice.

    Here, hockey is more than a game; it is legacy, memory, and the brutal, beautiful force that binds families and tears them apart.

  4. Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese

    A profound and essential novel, Indian Horse follows Saul, a young Ojibwe boy torn from his family and sent to a brutal residential school. He discovers a rare and transcendent talent for hockey, and the rink becomes his only sanctuary.

    The novel chronicles his journey from the school to an all-Indigenous travelling team and eventually the pros, exploring how the sport offers both a path to freedom and a painful reminder of the racism he cannot escape.

  5. The Deal (Off-Campus #1) by Elle Kennedy

    When confident hockey captain Garrett Graham’s GPA threatens his spot on the team, he strikes a deal with the one girl who’s immune to his charms: brainy Hannah Wells. This novel expertly blends the popular "fake dating" trope with the high-pressure world of college athletics.

    The on-ice action and locker-room dynamics provide an authentic backdrop for a romance built on witty banter and undeniable chemistry.

  6. Him (Him #1) by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy

    Years after a misunderstanding at hockey camp fractured their friendship, rivals Jamie Canning and Ryan Wesley are unexpectedly reunited as coaches. Set against the backdrop of elite summer training, this second-chance romance explores unspoken feelings within the hyper-masculine culture of professional hockey.

    The authors weave a compelling narrative where the tension on the ice is matched only by the emotional charge between the two leads.

  7. Heated Rivalry (Game Changers #2) by Rachel Reid

    For years, NHL superstars Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov have been bitter rivals, their on-ice battles legendary. But in secret, their animosity gives way to a passionate, clandestine affair during the off-seasons.

    Reid crafts an electrifying story of forbidden love between two elite athletes at the top of their game, examining the immense pressure of living a public life while hiding a private truth.

  8. The Hockey Sweater by Roch Carrier

    An iconic work of Canadian literature, this short, poignant story captures the essence of hockey as a cultural institution. In rural 1940s Quebec, a young boy’s world is turned upside down when he outgrows his beloved Montreal Canadiens jersey.

    When a mail-order mix-up delivers a sweater from the rival Toronto Maple Leafs, he faces playground humiliation. It's a charming and powerful fable about childhood, loyalty, and what it means to belong.

  9. Icebreaker (Maple Hills #1) by Hannah Grace

    Anastasia Allen is a driven figure skater with her sights set on the Olympics. Nathan Hawkins is the captain of the university's hockey team. When a prank gone wrong forces them to share a rink, their worlds collide.

    Icebreaker thrives on the friction and eventual sparks between two dedicated athletes from different disciplines, offering a fresh look at campus life, team dynamics, and the sacrifices required to compete at a high level.

  10. Pucked (Pucked #1) by Helena Hunting

    Violet Hall has one rule: never date a hockey player. But that rule is tested when she meets Alex Waters, the notoriously handsome captain of the NHL's top team and her new stepbrother's best friend.

    Filled with laugh-out-loud humor and sizzling chemistry, this romantic comedy uses the world of professional hockey—from superstitious rituals to rabid fans—as a vibrant and entertaining setting for an unlikely love story.

  11. Check, Please! Book 1: #Hockey by Ngozi Ukazu

    This delightful graphic novel follows Eric “Bitty” Bittle, a former figure skater and amateur baker who joins his university’s hockey team. Through Bitty's vlogs and charming interactions, readers experience the warmth and camaraderie of a found family.

    Ukazu perfectly captures the rhythms of college hockey life, from intense practices to team traditions, creating a story that is as much about friendship and self-acceptance as it is about the sport itself.

  12. The Score (Off-Campus #3) by Elle Kennedy

    Dean Di Laurentis, the charming and carefree playboy of the Briar University hockey team, has always gotten what he wants. But when he sets his sights on Allie Hayes, he finds himself in uncharted emotional territory.

    The novel provides an entertaining window into the friendships and rivalries that define a college team, exploring themes of personal growth and ambition against the backdrop of a sport that shapes every aspect of its players' lives.

  13. Game Changer (Game Changers #1) by Rachel Reid

    Veteran NHL star Scott Hunter has carefully guarded the secret that he is gay. A chance encounter with Kip Grady, a sweet and witty hockey fan who has no idea who he is, leads to an unexpected connection.

    The novel offers a thoughtful exploration of identity and vulnerability within the rigid confines of professional sports, telling a heartwarming story about finding the courage to be yourself.

  14. Good Boy (WAGs #1) by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy

    Blake Riley, the jovial and often-shirtless forward for the Toronto franchise, is known for his on-ice antics and off-ice charm. When he needs a place to stay, he ends up crashing with Jess Canning, the sharp-witted sister of his former teammate.

    This novel provides a humorous and heartfelt look at life in the pro hockey orbit, integrating realistic depictions of media scrutiny, fan culture, and the personal challenges that come with fame.

  15. King of the Ice by Kelly Jamieson

    After a career-ending injury and a public breakup, NHL player Max Hall retreats to his hometown to lick his wounds. There, he's forced to confront his past, including the woman he left behind. For Max, hockey is both his greatest passion and the source of his deepest regrets.

    Jamieson delivers an authentic and emotional story of redemption, showing how the journey back to the ice is intertwined with the journey back to oneself.