Brenna is a fiercely independent junior at Briar University and the daughter of the school's head hockey coach. Driven by a desire to become a sports journalist, she continually faces sexism and dismissal from men in the broadcasting industry. To protect herself from past trauma, she uses sarcasm and a signature red lipstick as emotional armor, preferring casual hookups over serious emotional commitments.

Jake is the confident, disciplined captain of the Harvard University men's hockey team. Having recently signed a lucrative rookie contract with the Edmonton Oilers, he demands total focus from his teammates to win the national championship. He initially views romance as a distraction but finds his rigid priorities challenged by his growing attraction to Brenna.

Chad is the demanding head coach of the Briar University men's hockey team and Brenna's father. He raised Brenna alone after his wife died in a car crash. His gruff exterior and strict rules mask a deep-seated terror of losing his daughter, which causes a significant emotional rift between them.

Summer is a bubbly, fashion-forward student at Briar University. She provides a sharp contrast to Brenna's cynical demeanor, offering unwavering loyalty and an optimistic perspective on life and relationships. She models the kind of healthy romantic partnership that Brenna internally longs for but actively avoids.

Eric is Brenna's high school ex-boyfriend and a former top NHL draft pick. Following a traumatic incident during their teenage years, his life spiraled into severe drug addiction. He frequently contacts Brenna for money or help when he is intoxicated, serving as a constant reminder of her most painful memories.

Ed Mulder is an executive at HockeyNet who holds the power to grant Brenna her dream internship. He embodies the systemic sexism in the sports broadcasting industry, consistently dismissing Brenna's expertise, getting her name wrong, and paying attention to her only when she claims a connection to a famous male athlete.

Hazel is Jake's childhood best friend from their hometown. While she claims to look out for his best interests, she views Brenna with intense suspicion, labeling her a "puck bunny" who intends to sabotage Jake's senior season. Her protectiveness masks deeper, unexpressed feelings.

Mike is a Briar University hockey player known for his crude sense of humor and casual approach to dating. His carefree lifestyle is upended when he becomes the target of an eccentric freshman's aggressive romantic pursuit, forcing him to reckon with genuine emotional attachment.

Hunter is a star forward on the Briar University hockey team. He possesses a strict sense of team loyalty, making him highly critical of any association with rival Harvard players. His reckless off-ice behavior, however, frequently puts his own athletic career in jeopardy.

Brooks is Jake's roommate and fellow Harvard hockey player. Wealthy and hedonistic, he frequently partakes in casual relationships and recreational drug use, testing Jake's strict rules. Despite his partying, he demonstrates surprising loyalty and emotional insight when Jake needs support.

Daryl Pedersen is the cynical head coach of the Harvard University men's hockey team. He demands ruthless selfishness from his players and holds a deeply personal, decades-long animosity toward Briar's Coach Jensen. He uses this rivalry to pressure his players into abandoning personal relationships for the sake of the sport.

Rupi is an eccentric, highly confident freshman at Briar University. She decides immediately that hockey player Mike Hollis is her soul mate and pursues him with a relentless enthusiasm that flips the typical dynamic between athletes and fans.

Georgia is a highly respected sports journalist, reporter, and opinion host. She is Brenna's professional idol, renowned for asking hard-hitting questions and challenging the misogynistic culture within sports broadcasting. She offers solidarity to younger women attempting to enter the industry.

Josh is a younger player on the Harvard hockey team who recently engaged in a casual fling with Brenna. His subsequent drop in athletic performance leads his captain, Jake, to force him into breaking off the relationship.

Tansy is Brenna's cousin, who admires Brenna's bold confidence. She frequently experiences dramatic ups and downs in her own romantic relationship, which sometimes disrupts her plans with Brenna.

Fitz is a Briar University hockey player and Summer's boyfriend. He represents a stable, drama-free relationship dynamic that sharply contrasts with the secret, high-stakes romance Brenna is attempting to navigate.