Hockey has made it big on the small screen. TV’s buzziest show, Heated Rivalry, debuted in late 2025, with Off Campus following in 2026. They join beloved Canadian show Shoresy, which has a sixth season going into production this fall.

These shows all challenge traditional hockey culture in their own ways.

Shoresy promotes an inclusive vision of hockey that includes women and Indigenous people in leadership positions. Heated Rivalry‘s queer romance challenges the sport’s longstanding assumptions of heteronormativity. Off Campus highlights the issue of sexual assault within hockey.

But as the NHL season begins, a series of controversies suggests that many of the sport’s longstanding cultural issues appear to remain unresolved.

Hockey’s culture problem

Hockey has long been associated with traditional ideas about masculinity, toughness and heterosexuality. The culture surrounding hockey has historically marginalized women and LGBTQ people.

Sexist phrases like “puck bunny” are used to diminish female fans, while Hockey Canada’s 2022 discrimination report found that negative comments about sexual orientation and gender identity accounted for 61 per cent of incidents witnessed by officials. Players’ self-reported allegations were most commonly related to race, sexual orientation and gender identity.

It is also one of the most expensive sports, with participation typically limited to families who can afford to spend thousands of dollars on equipment, league fees and travel costs.

Players and managers in........

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