A hockey insider weighs in on whether love stories on the ice can translate off it

When Fiction Feels Close to Reality

December 7, 2025: A former NHL player is weighing in on the growing conversation around hockey romance, saying the passionate, rivalry-fueled love story at the center of Heated Rivalry isn’t as far-fetched as it might seem. According to the retired pro, intense competition, close quarters, and emotional pressure can absolutely create the conditions for real-life romances—sometimes in unexpected ways.

The Appeal of Heated Rivalry

Heated Rivalry, the popular hockey romance novel by Rachel Reid, centers on two elite players whose on-ice rivalry slowly transforms into a secret relationship. The story has gained a massive fanbase for its emotional depth, competitive tension, and insider portrayal of professional hockey culture.

What makes the book resonate, the former NHL player suggests, is how accurately it captures the emotional environment of the sport—where passion, ego, and vulnerability constantly collide.

“It’s Not That Unrealistic”

Speaking candidly, the ex-player explained that professional hockey creates intense bonds, even between rivals. Long seasons, travel, media pressure, and physical exhaustion strip people down to their most authentic selves. In that context, emotions can escalate quickly.

“You’re seeing the same people nonstop, even the ones you’re supposed to hate,” he suggested, noting that rivalry doesn’t always stay hostile. Respect, fascination, and attraction can sometimes grow beneath the surface—very much like what readers see in Heated Rivalry.

Rivalries Fuel Emotion

Hockey rivalries are among the most physically and emotionally charged in professional sports. On the ice, conflicts are public and aggressive. Off the ice, however, players often share similar routines, struggles, and mindsets—common ground that can quietly bridge divides.

The former NHL player added that rival teams often stay at the same hotels, practice in shared facilities, and socialize within the same circles, making personal connections more likely than fans might assume.

Why Stories Like This Resonate

Romance novels set in professional sports succeed largely because they exaggerate—but don’t invent—emotion. The pressure to perform, maintain public images, and suppress vulnerability mirrors real-life experiences for many athletes.

HOLR has the latest commentary on how sports romance continues to grow in popularity precisely because it humanizes elite athletes, showing what happens behind the helmet and beyond the scoreboard.

Real-Life Boundaries Still Exist

Despite acknowledging the realism, the former player was clear that professional boundaries, league culture, and media scrutiny often prevent relationships—especially secret ones—from progressing easily. Careers, sponsorships, and locker-room dynamics all complicate personal connections in the real world.

That tension, he noted, is exactly what makes stories like Heated Rivalry so compelling.

Fiction Rooted in Truth

While Heated Rivalry is ultimately a work of fiction, its emotional foundations ring true for those who’ve lived inside the sport. Intensity, rivalry, and proximity can blur lines—sometimes leading to relationships no one sees coming.

As romance narratives continue to explore professional sports, insight from real players only strengthens the genre’s credibility. And according to this former NHL insider, love born from rivalry isn’t just good storytelling—it’s entirely possible.