The popular TV series “Heated Rivalry” may face stiff competition from another hockey-themed show, “Off Campus,” which features a Canadian touch. Adapted from Elle Kennedy’s best-selling novels, “Off Campus” revolves around the relationship between music student Hannah Wells (played by Ella Bright) and hockey player Garrett Graham (played by Belmont Cameli) at a university. The series, currently ranking at the top on Amazon Prime Video in Canada, showcases Canadian talent both on and off-screen, as well as Canadian locations and music.
Elle Kennedy, the author of the “Off Campus” book series, is Canadian and also serves as a producer for the TV adaptation. Raised in Toronto, Kennedy pursued her passion for writing from a young age and has authored close to 50 contemporary novels. The TV series was predominantly filmed in Vancouver, standing in for the fictional Briar University in Boston, with the University of British Columbia serving as the backdrop for various campus scenes.
The Toronto-based band The Beaches experienced a significant surge in popularity after their song “Edge of the Earth” was featured in the second episode of “Off Campus.” The band saw an 888% increase in streams across platforms following the show’s release. The series also features Canadian actors in prominent roles, such as Stephen Kalyn, Dylan Kingwell, and Julia Sarah Stone, among others.
Moreover, several Canadians are involved behind the scenes of “Off Campus,” including executive producer Leanna Billings from Fredericton and co-executive producer Ian Deitchman from Montreal. The series was directed by an all-female team for its first season, with Canadian Dawn Wilkinson contributing her expertise to the project.