Netflix announces 'incredibly moving', 'Heated Rivalry style' hockey drama 'The Stick'

'The Sticks' will star Michelle Monaghan playing a wife who takes over coaching a team her late husband built

Netflix has announced a new hockey drama following the success of Heated Rivalry and the growing interest in hockey-focused romance stories.

The Sticks will star The White Lotus' Michelle Monaghan as Harper Sullivan, a grieving wife who takes over coaching the hockey team her late husband built. The eight-episode series comes from creator Nick Naveda and does not yet have a release date.

The series is set in the small Minnesota hockey town of South Dorothy, where Harper guides a group of young athletes through a season shaped by loss, love and rivalry.

The official synopsis reads: "After tragedy shatters a small Minnesota hockey town, a grieving wife steps behind the bench of the team her husband built, guiding a found family of wounded young athletes through a season of loss, love, and rivalry that will decide whether South Dorothy has anything left to believe in, and who will lead it into its next chapter."

Teacup star Emilie Bierre will play Riley Sullivan, while Shai Chase of Diary of a Muslim Cynic will portray Henry Sullivan.

The cast also includes Josh Macqueen, Costa D'Angelo, Carter Shimp, Ethan Holder and Isaac Arellanes, with Netflix releasing first-look images showing the actors in their hockey uniforms.

Speaking to Netflix's Tudum, Naveda described The Sticks as a story about hockey, family, love, loss and class, but said its central theme is community and looking after one another.

"Seeing this terrific cast of actors bring their characters to life with such curiosity, empathy, and tenderness has been incredibly moving to watch," Naveda said, adding that he is excited for audiences to meet the people of South Dorothy.

Naveda also said he has carried the fictional town and its characters with him for years and described bringing the world of The Sticks to life with 21 Laps and Netflix as "nothing short of a dream come true."

With Heated Rivalry helping fuel renewed enthusiasm for hockey-centred stories, The Sticks could be Netflix's next major entry into the genre.