Full Breakdown
Off Campus Arrives: Prime Video’s New Hockey Romance
5/14/2026, 5:30:06 AM
Premiere and Premise
Prime Video launched *Off Campus* on May 13 2026. The eight-episode series adapts Elle Kennedy’s 2015 novel *The Deal* and follows Briar University’s star captain Garrett Graham (Belmont Cameli) and music major Hannah Wells (Ella Bright). After a locker-room mishap, the pair strike a fake-dating pact: Garrett needs tutoring in philosophy, Hannah wants help attracting her crush, musician Justin (Josh Heuston). Their arrangement gradually turns romantic.
Production Background
Showrunner Louisa Levy developed the series for Prime Video. Production began roughly a year before the HBO Max hit *Heated Rivalry*, and principal photography took place in the summer of 2025, after a two-week hockey boot camp for the cast. The show was renewed for a second season before the first episode aired.
Cast and Creative Team
The ensemble includes Cameli, Bright, Stephen Kalyn (Dean Di Laurentis), Mika Abdalla (Allie Hayes), Antonio Cipriano (John Logan), Jalen Thomas Brooks (John Tucker) and Josh Heuston (Justin). Levy, a former writer-producer, leads a team that also consulted former pro Dave Tomlinson to train actors on ice.
Timeline of Development
- 2015 – Kennedy’s *The Deal* published.
- 2024 – Levy hired; series green-lit.
- Summer 2025 – Filming and on-ice training.
- May 13 2026 – Global streaming debut on Prime Video.
- May 2026 – Season 2 ordered; filming slated for Vancouver.
Series Details
*Off Campus* comprises eight episodes, each about 48 minutes, released simultaneously as a binge drop. The show blends romance, comedy and occasional explicit scenes, earning a TV-MA rating.
Cultural Impact and Industry Context
The series arrives amid a surge in hockey-centric media, following *Heated Rivalry*’s success, the 2026 Winter Olympics, the rise of the PWHL and continued NHL interest. Industry observers note that multiple hockey romances can coexist, expanding representation of the sport in streaming drama.
Official Statements & Responses
Levy emphasized that *Off Campus* is “a college-set story with a robust ensemble” distinct from the queer-focused *Heated Rivalry*. Cameli highlighted the show’s originality, noting that “there’s new shows and movies about American football all the time… nobody’s like, ‘Oh great, here comes another ‘Remember the Titans.’’” Kalyn described the Canadian success of *Heated Rivalry* as “inspiring, honestly.” Bright said the cast’s two-week boot camp “made the skating feel organic” and praised the camaraderie on set.
Critical Reception
Variety’s Aramide Tinubu called the series “a perfectly predictable delight” with “lovely chemistry” but noted “choppy” dialogue. The Guardian’s Lucy Mangan labeled it “hot fun for fans of bums, boobs, hockey and *Heated Rivalry*,” describing it as “slick, soapy, spicy.” The Hollywood Reporter’s Angie Han found it “winningly sweet, tonally shaky,” citing uneven pacing when trauma-focused scenes intersect with light romance. BuzzFeed Australia reviewers found it “fresh and bingeable,” praising emotional depth.
On-the-Ice Training
All principal actors spent two weeks on skates; Cameli, Bright and Kalyn performed many of their own moves. Brooks confirmed that close-up shots were filmed while actually skating, while stunt doubles handled larger sequences. Former pro Dave Tomlinson coached basic techniques, ensuring on-ice authenticity.
Plot Adaptation Discrepancies
In the books, Dean Di Laurentis and Allie Hayes’ romance appears in the third novel *The Score*. The series introduces their secret hookup in season 1, a change Levy described as “organic” and intended to surprise fans.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We're not going anywhere,” — Ella Bright, Actress
- “There’s new shows and movies about American football all the time. Nobody’s like, Oh great, here comes another ‘Remember the Titans,’”’” — Belmont Cameli, Actor
- “I love Heated Rivalry. I am honored to be in the same breath,” — Louisa Levy, Showrunner
- “But at the same time, finding that sweet spot felt like the magic of the show.” — Louisa Levy, Showrunner
- “a perfectly predictable delight” — Aramide Tinubu, Variety critic
- “winningly sweet, tonally shaky” — Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter
What’s Next
Season 2 will begin filming in Vancouver later this summer, shifting focus to John Logan and Grace Ivers while keeping the ensemble format. Levy hinted that Dean and Allie could receive a larger storyline, but confirmed no definitive plans yet. The new season aims to sustain the series’ blend of hockey action and YA romance.
