The unlikely rise of women’s ice hockey fandom: from romance novels to nationwide meetups
As hockey gains traction through social media, romance novels and online fan culture, Ice Hockey Gals is helping women and LGBTQ+ fans turn that interest into friendship, belonging and community.
Basingstoke, UK – 6 July 2026 – Ice hockey is finding a growing female audience through social media, online fan culture and the popularity of hockey romance stories. As a result, communities like Ice Hockey Gals are emerging as women look for friendship, belonging and connection through the sport.
Founded by Tara Davies in February 2026, Ice Hockey Gals has grown to more than 6,000 followers across Instagram, TikTok and Facebook, alongside a 700-member WhatsApp community, all through organic growth and word-of-mouth – reflecting the appetite for spaces where women and LGBTQ+ fans can come together through hockey.
That growth reflects a broader cultural movement in how women are discovering the sport. Once largely confined to local rinks and traditional sports coverage, ice hockey is increasingly reaching new audiences through hockey romance fiction via BookTok and social media commentary. Stories such as Off Campus and Heated Rivalry have helped make hockey more visible beyond the rink, introducing new audiences to the sport’s players, culture and emotional pull.
Netflix’s recent announcement of an upcoming TV adaptation of Hannah Grace’s international bestseller Icebreaker is one of the clearest signs yet that hockey is moving further into the mainstream, helping create a female-led fan culture around a sport that has traditionally been marketed elsewhere.
For many fans, communities like Ice Hockey Gals are where that online interest becomes something real. Women and LGBTQ+ fans are turning up to games alone and leaving with new friendships, travelling across the country together to watch hockey and organising their own social plans through a shared love of the sport.
Created for fans who may not always see themselves reflected in a sport typically dominated by straight men, Ice Hockey Gals brings together long-time supporters of UK ice hockey and people discovering the sport for the first time through popular culture.
What begins at Ice Hockey Gals meetups often extends well beyond them. Members now use regional group chats to organise their own game-day meetups, brunches and pub trips, showing how online connection is translating into lasting offline friendships.
A recent survey of Ice Hockey Gals members found that 67% of respondents said the community had made following hockey more social and enjoyable, emphasising the role fan spaces can play in turning online interest into long-term engagement with the sport.
Tara Davies, founder of Ice Hockey Gals, said: “I started Ice Hockey Gals to help other fans find their people. There are girls, gays and theys all over the UK who love the sport, but many have been following it on their own. As more fans discover hockey through social media, romance novels and popular culture, it’s been incredible to see how many people are looking for that same sense of connection.
“Seeing people turn up to events by themselves, leave with new friends and then go on to organise their own meetups together has been amazing. It shows that people weren’t just looking for hockey content – they were looking for community.”
As more women and LGBTQ+ fans discover hockey through popular culture, communities like Ice Hockey Gals turn that interest into long-term fandom, friendship and belonging. That matters as UK ice hockey continues to navigate challenges around visibility and sustainability. Women and queer audiences are often the ones driving the wider cultural momentum that can help the sport reach new audiences and build a more secure future.
– ENDS –
About Ice Hockey Gals
Ice Hockey Gals is a UK community for women and LGBTQ+ fans who love ice hockey. Founded by Tara Davies in February 2026 after recognising a demand for more connection among underrepresented hockey fans, the community brings people together through online conversation and game-day meetups across the UK. Ice Hockey Gals exists to help fans find their hockey people, turning a love of the sport into real-life friendship. Visit www.icehockeygals.com and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.
Media Contact
Tara Davies:
icehockeygals@gmail.com