A wave of television dramas — including the Canadian comedy Shoresy, the queer romance Heated Rivalry, and the campus drama Off Campus — is putting pressure on hockey's long-standing culture of exclusion by depicting the sport as a space for women, LGBTQ+ people, and Indigenous communities. The shows arrive as the NHL (North America's premier professional ice hockey league) faces renewed controversy, including fan backlash over team signings of players acquitted in a high-profile sexual assault case, a coach accused of abusive tactics, and a decision by the Dallas Stars to cancel their Pride Night. Researchers studying online hockey fan communities say supporters and critics are actively contesting the sport's future direction, though whether fictional portrayals of a more inclusive game will translate into real institutional change remains an open question.