Why “Heated Rivalry” Is Fueling Today’s Hockey Smut Obsession

If you've been hanging out on BookTok, you've probably noticed hockey smut content everywhere. It all started with BookTok creators sharing their favorite hockey novels, which eventually evolved into dark romance writers exploring M/M hockey romance. A small niche on Kindle grew into a popular genre of smut and has even extended to queer love stories. Interestingly, most readers of M/M hockey smut are actually women who enjoy the mix of rivalry and slow-burn romance in this genre.

And now there's a new TV show called Heated Rivalry on HBO Max and Crave, which is making hockey romance even more popular. Based on Rachel Reid's book, this NSFW Canadian romance series revolves around two hockey players who are secretly in love. It kicked off as a BookTok favorite and premiered on November 28 with two episodes, dropping new ones weekly until the Season 1 finale on December 26.

So, how did hockey romance like Heated Rivalry go from niche to mainstream?

Where Did The Hockey Smut Trend Start?

TikTok, BookTok, and AO3 were promoting M/M sports romance long before it caught mainstream attention. BookTok creators, in particular, can't stop sharing their favorite hockey romance reads, often posting snippets and reactions from these Kindle books. So it's really the smut community online that has been the driving force behind this popularity.

Before M/M hockey smut took over, the genre already had strong M/F roots. Romance books like He's Not My Type by Meghan Quinn, Pucking Around by Emily Rath, and Her Greatest Mistake by Hannah Cowan are among the few popular BookTok recommendations for hockey smut. Then, M/M hockey smut BookTok favorites include the CU Hockey series by Eden Finley and Saxon James, and, of course, Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid, which has only just started as a BookTok favorite too.

How Heated Rivalry Pushes M/M Sports Romance Forward

Heated Rivalry stands out for its portrayal of queer romance in professional sports, while maintaining emotional depth. Director Jacob Tierney said it best: "We deserve a gay show that is sexy and horny and fun." And he is right. M/M hockey romance works because it embraces a love story in the same way as any heterosexual romance while offering a fresh view.

What makes the show even more significant is how it directly tackles homophobia in professional sports. Heated Rivalry shows how secrecy and fear shape the lives of characters in a league where being openly gay can feel risky. This also appears in other major leagues like the NFL, where being an openly queer player is rare and will likely place the player in intense scrutiny. In fact, until today, no NFL player has openly come out as queer.

Why Women Are Driving the Demand for M/M Hockey Smut

In a recent Cut article about Heated Rivalry and hockey smut, data showed that male-male stories (M/M) are the most popular category on Archive of Our Own (AO3). The article also noted that even Dipsea's co-founder has shared how straight women frequently request M/M erotic stories.

Read more on the best erotic audio sites for women.

Tierney also noted that the show does well because it attracts female viewers. Women have always influenced romance trends, and Heated Rivalry is no different. They read the book version, watch the show, and discuss it online, all of which helps bring this gay love story to new audiences.

Many women prefer erotica that lets them enjoy the story without feeling like they must identify with the characters. M/M romance allows them to escape the cultural expectations tied to heterosexual relationships. With queer love stories, there are no strict gender roles or expectations, and it might be why women gravitate toward M/M hockey smut. The relationship dynamics feel fresher and more focused on chemistry, which is what truly matters in romance novels and what makes them a page-turner.

Where to Read Hockey Smut for Free

With hockey smut everywhere, readers are on the hunt for the spiciest stories online. Kindle has traditionally hosted hockey smut books, and platforms like AO3 offer a space for fans to share their own fanfiction. But recently, erotic story generators have emerged, which allow fans to craft their own erotic stories, including hockey romance tailored to their favorite characters and unique kinks.

Smut generators like Smitten empower erotica fans to create the spicy stories they want, allowing them to write M/F or M/M hockey smut stories that explore rivalries, chemistry, and slow-burn emotional build-up. This trend shows that, with today's tech advancements, smut fans are not just consuming hockey smut; they're actively shaping this genre. With Smitten, your next favorite queer hockey romance could be one you create yourself.

Start creating your hockey smut here.