Hockey heroes

by Kelly Jamieson

Because it’s playoff season in the National Hockey League I’ve been watching a lot of hockey lately (I'm cheering for Vancouver, BTW! GO CANUCKS!) I’ve also been writing about hockey, working on a spin-off story to my most recent release, Breakaway. The hero of Breakaway, Jase Heller, has three brothers, all of them hockey players, and I’ve just finished writing Tag’s story which (fingers crossed!) I hope you will be able to read later this year.

I’ve read the advice that romance writers should never write about heroes who are athletes. But I’ve broken rules before and writing a romance with a hockey player hero was something I always wanted to do. I live in Canada, and hockey is a part of life here. I grew up watching hockey as a little girl, every Saturday night on Hockey Night in Canada. As a teenager, my boyfriend played hockey and when we watched games together he would teach me about all the rules, things like offside, icing and last change. I grew to love the game and I will admit to a certain bloodthirsty love of a good fight, although I don’t like it when players actually get hurt and in my head I know it's stupid and violent. As an adult and a mom, I’m both disappointed and relieved that my own son never wanted to play hockey! My husband and his two brothers all played hockey and he’s still teaching me obscure rules, but I think I know quite a bit about it.

Lately hockey has been BIG in the news here because of the possibility of a NHL team returning to my city. This actually formed the basis of the book I just finished, although it looks like my “fantasy” isn’t going to  come true quite the way I wrote it!

Lest you think that hockey players are big and ugly and have no teeth, behold:

Patrick Sharp

Zach Parise

Henrik Lundqvist

Ryan Kesler

But of course, it’s not looks that make a hero, although big muscles and a sexy smile do help! Qualities of determination, passion, loyalty, dedication, sacrifice and courage are important for heroes too. And don’t professional athletes have all those? In Breakaway, Jase is a man who grew up with a lot of struggles that made him determined to succeed. He’s loyal to his team, dedicated to his sport and passionate about hockey. He’s brave enough to fight when he needs to, but also brave enough to step away when fighting isn’t right. He’s not perfect—he’s afraid of commitment and responsibility (at least, at first) and he’s a fun loving guy rather than serious. But a hero is also someone who’s brave enough to face his flaws and fears and willing to grow.

In Breakaway, Remi’s best friend isn’t thrilled that she’s getting involved with a professional athlete. She’s thinking about the athletes that have been in the news lately—men who cheat on their wives. Men who are accused of rape. Men who get drunk and crash their cars. Men who take performance enhancing drugs. Some of the qualities that make them so successful—single-minded determination and ambition —can also turn selfish. And when an athlete becomes a “star”, when he becomes wealthy, able to do whatever he wants, buy whatever he wants, he can feel privileged, entitled and maybe above the law.

Jase is successful and he has reporters and puck bunnies stalking him, and he’s definitely wealthy, but at his core he remains profoundly grateful for the talent he’s been given and remains determined to make the best of that by working hard at his profession. Yes, it’s a game, but even fun-loving Jase knows that it’s a business and it’s serious. And when the chips are down—oh, sorry wrong sports metaphor. How about, when the puck is dropped Jase mans up and takes responsibility for his actions.

Any other athlete romance heroes you’ve fallen in love with? What do you like about athlete heroes?


My name is Kelly Jamieson and I write romance. I like to read it, too. I believe in the power of romance stories to portray strong, loving, romantic, sexual relationships that succeed, and to celebrate strength, courage, honour, and love. I believe love, romance and sex teach us about ourselves, about each other and about relationships, and break down barriers and boundaries.

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