Prime Video’s Off Campus Review: A Sweet Hockey Romance Worth Watching

Prime Video’s new romantic drama Off Campus arrives with high expectations, often compared to another hockey romance hit, Heated Rivalry. Both series share a foundation—hockey romances based on popular novels—but Off Campus carves its own path with a lighter, sweeter tone.

Unlike Heated Rivalry, which blended steamy romance with high emotional stakes, Off Campus prioritizes warmth and genuine connection over intensity. The show was renewed for a second season in February, signaling strong audience appeal.

Off Campus follows the love lives of a college hockey team at the fictional Briar University in Massachusetts, adapting Elle Kennedy’s 2015 novel The Deal.

The story centers on two key characters:

• Garrett Graham (Belmont Cameli), the team captain and son of a former NHL legend (Steve Howey). Already drafted by the Boston Bruins, Garrett is a campus celebrity with a reputation that precedes him—his devoted fans are even called “puck bunnies.”
• Hannah Wells (Ella Bright), a music major working three minimum-wage jobs after her department’s funding is cut. She dislikes hockey, viewing it as unnecessarily violent and privileges the team receives.

Their paths collide in an awkward meet-cute, leading to repeated interactions. Garrett, forced to learn her name, agrees to a deal: Hannah will tutor him in philosophy in exchange for him pretending to be her boyfriend to impress her crush, emo rock band frontman Justin Kohl (Josh Heuston).

“That he only wants Hannah when it appears she’s with someone else is just one of several red flags about this kid.”

What unfolds is a familiar romance arc—strictly professional beginnings evolve into friendship, then deeper affection. While their dynamic follows a classic trope—a brunette overachiever and a curly-haired phenom with daddy issues—their relationship feels more tender than torrid.

The series includes several sex scenes, but they lack the fiery chemistry seen in Heated Rivalry. Instead, the emotional bond between Garrett and Hannah drives the narrative forward. Despite being 28, Cameli convincingly portrays the younger character, bringing charm and authenticity to the role.

Off Campus may not match the intensity of Heated Rivalry, but its wholesome, feel-good approach makes it a refreshing addition to the hockey romance genre.