Ethan Carter
The excitement surrounding Heated Rivalry showcases a deep passion among book lovers for more engaging hockey stories. On Sunday, April 19, at BookCon, the panel titled “You Had Me at Hockey: Exploring the Popularity of Sports Romance” featured prominent authors Rachel Reid (Heated Rivalry, Game Changer), Emily Rath (Pucking Around), Ngozi Ukazu (Check Please), Stephanie Archer (The Wild Card), and Kate Cochrane (Wake Up, Nat & Darcy). They gathered with moderator Bal Khabra (Collide) to delve into the explosive rise and enduring appeal of hockey romance novels.
Khabra initiated the discussion by exploring how hockey gained immense popularity. Ukazu humorously remarked that the genre seems to have “escaped containment,” akin to the Omegaverse’s mainstream emergence. Meanwhile, Reid expressed the intriguing element of mystery surrounding hockey, stating, “what hockey players are doing seems impossible.” Archer chimed in, highlighting the physical toll of the sport and the celebrity status of players, particularly in Canada, which adds an entertaining layer to the genre.
However, the genre’s success is not solely based on its tropes. Rath asserted, “It must be acknowledged that a fundamental reason for this popularity in publishing is rooted in racism.” She pointed out that for a long time, the voices of straight, white women dominated the romance genre, emphasizing that hockey is one of the least diverse sports. According to a 2022 report by ESPN, the NHL is the most predominantly white among major professional sports, with 83.6% of players and staff identified as white, starkly contrasting with other leagues like the NFL and NBA.
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Diving deeper into their genre, the authors discussed their unique writing processes, including the often-challenging task of crafting intimate scenes. Rath remarked, “I believe the least appealing aspect of writing is creating a sex scene.” This sentiment resonated with Reid during her Saturday panel, where she explained that sex scenes can significantly enhance emotional arcs within the narrative. When readers inquire whether they can bypass the spicy content, Archer firmly states about her own works, “No, you cannot skip the sex scenes. Missing them means losing vital character development and the emotional journey.”
The conversation also ventured into the future of the genre. Many authors actively incorporate BIPOC and queer representation in their novels, challenging a narrative that often centers on whiteness and homophobia. “We are crafting the world we aspire to see,” Rath expressed enthusiastically.
Reid has observed a shift towards the inclusive future that these authors and their audiences yearn for, noting that the NHL is showing a willingness to collaborate with them. She mentioned, “Individuals within the organization genuinely want to pursue change and are eager to make this a reality.”
With the hockey fandom reaching unprecedented heights, there is a dedicated team of authors poised to drive significant change within the literary landscape.
Daniel Mercer
