Netflix’s upcoming Off Campus rival has already mapped out its full three-season future, casting key players from Hannah Grace’s bestselling Maple Hills trilogy ahead of its debut. The news shows the streamer is building a hockey romance franchise rather than a one-off series.
The opening volume in the series, Grace’s Icebreaker, became a major hit in 2022, moving up the charts across several countries while being translated into 24 languages and selling more than five million copies worldwide. The story centers on Anastasia “Stassie” Allen, an athlete bound for the Olympics, and Nate Hawkins, a leader on his college’s hockey team, who find themselves sharing a rink at a most inconvenient moment.
Connor Simos (Subversion) has landed the role of Nate, while Daisy Jelley (Poser, Geek Girl) is playing Anastasia. Netflix has also confirmed that Aidan Shaw, who previously appeared as a hockey player in Crave’s Heated Rivalry, will take on the part of goalie Russ Callaghan. Devin Craig (Sex Lives of College Girls) rounds out the cast as Henry Turner.
The casting of Russ and Henry reads as confidence in the show’s long-term plans. Both are Nate’s teammates and central figures in the trilogy’s interconnected stories. Grace’s books follow three college-level Maple Hills Titans hockey players, each with a standalone romance.
The Books Behind The Show
The first book in Grace’s Maple Hills trilogy is Icebreaker. Wildfire followed as the second volume, released in 2023, with Daydream arriving last on the shelves in 2024. The source describes each title as standing apart from the others.
Russ and Aurora meet after a one-night encounter and wind up working side by side as counselors at a summer camp, where the blazing heat sets the tone for Wildfire. Aurora dreams without limits, while Russ steadies her, making for a pairing that feels destined. Meanwhile, Daydreamer puts Henry together with an aspiring author who runs a local book club, and she gives him the support he needs to study for a class. In return, Henry helps her get past her writer’s block, a fitting exchange between two people chasing their own creative pursuits.
The trilogy’s structure mirrors Prime Video’s Off Campus, which follows interconnected, standalone stories across seasons.
Off Campus Sets The Bar
Before its premiere, Off Campus was renewed for a second season, setting a high bar for college hockey romance adaptations on Prime Video. The series launched as the third-biggest original show ever for the platform, drawing 36 million viewers in its first 12 days of release (via THR).
The show has been in Prime Video’s worldwide Top 10 TV Shows chart since its May debut. It is currently in third place.
The Roadmap Ahead
The very beginning of Netflix’s casting hints at a longer plan ahead. By bringing Aidan Shaw and Devin Craig into the first season, the streamer appears to be laying groundwork for their stories early on, much like Off Campus built up Garrett Graham’s teammates from the start.
The trilogy’s shape gives Netflix a clear path. Nate graduates in Icebreaker, then it’s Russ’s turn, followed by Henry. That order matches the books’ publication schedule.
Icebreaker does not yet have a confirmed release date.
Key Facts Box
- Icebreaker sold over five million copies worldwide
- Translated into 24 languages
- Second book, Wildfire, published 2023
- Third book, Daydream, published 2024
- Off Campus reached 36 million viewers in first 12 days
- Prime Video’s third-biggest original launch ever
Netflix has laid out a clear plan for its adaptation, anchored in a bestselling trilogy with a cast already pointing toward the next two seasons. This is a calculated wager, not a fleeting trend.
See the video the story is built around at Screen Rant.
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