Maya is a sixteen-year-old girl living in Beartown. She recently survived a sexual assault committed by the town's star hockey player, an event that divided the community and brought intense public scrutiny upon her. She processes her trauma through playing guitar and writing songs, often seeking isolation away from the judgmental eyes of the locals. She feels responsible for the strain the incident places on her parents' marriage and her younger brother's well-being.

Peter is the General Manager of the Beartown Ice Hockey Club and a former NHL professional. He falls out of favor with the town after reporting his daughter's assault to the police, an act that costs the local hockey team its championship and funding. He carries immense guilt over his perceived failures as a father and a manager. He desperately wants to rebuild the hockey program while protecting his family from public backlash.

Benji is a talented hockey player known for his brute strength and violent tendencies on the ice. He comes from a troubled family with a history of tragedy and views the hockey rink as his only true sanctuary. He actively hides parts of his identity from the rigid, traditional town out of fear of rejection. Despite his tough exterior, he demonstrates a strong moral compass when he sides with Maya over his former best friend.

Elisabeth Zackell is a world champion hockey player recruited to rebuild the Beartown Ice Hockey Club. As a woman coaching a men's team in a rural, traditional community, she faces immediate skepticism and prejudice. She completely ignores what other people think of her and focuses entirely on building a winning team through rigorous, unconventional training methods.

Teemu is the leader of "the Pack," a feared local gang that operates as unofficial enforcers for the Beartown Ice Hockey Club. He balances a reputation for violence with a genuine desire to provide food, shelter, and care for his specific community. He uses intimidation tactics to ensure the hockey club survives its current crisis.

William is a deeply angry teenager who plays for the rival town of Hed. Following the departure of his former teammate Kevin, William attempts to establish himself as the dominant force in the region. He uses physical intimidation and bullying to secure respect, actively targeting vulnerable individuals to prove his own masculinity.

Amat is an extremely fast and talented hockey player from the Hollow, the poorest section of Beartown. He faces severe social ostracization after acting as a witness and standing up against Kevin during the assault investigation. Without regular hockey practices, he temporarily loses his direction before committing himself to training for the newly formed A-team.

Bobo is a large, jovial high school student and hockey player. He uses humor and pranks to gain acceptance among his peers and the older men on the A-team. Behind his class-clown exterior, he carries the heavy burden of helping his father manage the household while his mother suffers from a terminal illness.

Vidar is Teemu's younger brother and an exceptionally skilled hockey goalie. He returns early from a disciplinary clinic for teenagers with behavioral issues. He possesses a volatile temper and a willingness to engage in physical altercations, qualities the new coach plans to harness on the ice.

Richard is an unpopular but highly effective local politician. He excels at identifying people's weaknesses and manipulating situations to his advantage. He brokers back-room deals involving factory purchases and early clinic releases to piece the Beartown team back together, serving his own strategic goals.

Ramona is the sharp-witted owner of the Bearskin pub, functioning as the central hub for the town's gossip and gathering. She sees through the tough exteriors of the local men, providing food, employment, and blunt advice to those who need it most. She acts as a moral compass for the rougher elements of Beartown.

Ana is an outdoorsy, practical teenager who is skilled at hunting and navigating the forest. She serves as Maya's primary emotional support following the assault, building a hidden camp on a small island for them to spend the summer. She struggles with her own difficult home life, frequently needing to care for her alcoholic father.

Kira is Peter's wife and a highly educated lawyer. In Beartown, her professional success is frequently overshadowed by her status as a hockey manager's wife. The trauma of her daughter's assault creates a severe communication breakdown between her and Peter, leaving her isolated as she attempts to hold her family together.

Leo is Maya's twelve-year-old brother. He feels immense guilt for failing to protect his sister from her attacker. Without a healthy outlet for his anger, he resorts to self-harm and begins seeking out violent situations, drawing the attention of both school bullies and local gang members.

Kevin is the former star hockey player of Beartown whose assault on Maya fractured the entire community. He experiences a mental breakdown after Maya confronts him with a gun, prompting his parents to divorce and his mother to move him far away from the town.

Sune is the former coach of the Beartown hockey team. He mentored Peter during his childhood and continues to serve as an advisor. Despite his illness, he maintains a sharp understanding of the sport and the town's complicated social dynamics.

Alicia is a young hockey enthusiast who finds sanctuary playing behind Sune's house. She faces a difficult home life, prompting the older members of the town to coordinate quiet protection for her so she can continue practicing the sport safely.

Fatima is Amat's hardworking mother. Living in the poorer Hollow district, she fully supports her son's hockey aspirations while balancing her job and helping her dying friend navigate difficult family conversations.

Ann-Katrin is Bobo's mother. She is secretly suffering from a terminal illness and struggles with how to break the devastating news to her family. Her declining health forces her son to mature rapidly.

Adri is Benji's older sister. She shares a deep, intimate understanding of her brother's troubled personality. She works proactively to manage his dangerous impulses and secures him employment to keep him anchored to the community.

Jeanette is a young teacher at the local school who advocates for teaching students discipline through martial arts. She actively intervenes when she witnesses bullying and provides a healthy, physical outlet for students dealing with trauma.

David is the coach of the rival Hed hockey team and the former coach of the Beartown juniors. He knows the emotional vulnerabilities of his players and utilizes them strategically to increase their aggression on the ice.

Zacharias is Amat's long-time best friend. Unlike the majority of the town, he has no interest in hockey and prefers playing video games. He feels marginalized by a community that only values athletic prowess on the ice.