Sean Avery Transitions from Hockey to Romance Novels

Former NHL player Sean Avery is making a significant career change—he’s now venturing into writing romance novels.

The 45-year-old author launched his first book, titled “Summer Skate,” this May, with plans for its official release in September.

Avery, stepping away from his ice hockey roots, has embraced a “sexy and addictive” narrative style with this new project.

This shift is quite different from his earlier 2018 memoir, “Ice Capade: A Memoir of Fast Life and Tough Hockey.” It’s hard to picture that transition—moving from hockey life to love stories.

Co-authored with Leslie Cohen, “Summer Skate” will be published by Simon & Schuster.

He recently shared the book cover on Instagram, stating, “On September 9, 2025, the romance novel game is about to be promoted. I’ll pre-order #Summerskate with my link in Bio.”

The story, set in Long Island, New York, follows Jessica Reilly, a bestselling author. Simon & Schuster describes her as someone escaping the burdens of motherhood and daily responsibilities by pretending to undergo a mental breakdown.

As the plot develops, Jessica finds herself next door to a group of lively hockey players, including one, Carter Hughes, who is a rookie with the New York Rangers and seemingly her love interest.

The narrative thickens as Hughes becomes intertwined with the Hampton power scene, adding complexity to the story.

Avery’s decision to write a romance might seem surprising, but perhaps even former athletes have a creative side they want to explore.

Interestingly, Stacey Abrams, a Democratic gubernatorial candidate from Georgia, also dabbled in romance novels under the pseudonym Serena Montgomery.

Avery played for various teams, including the Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, and New York Rangers, before retiring from professional hockey in 2012. He even made a foray into acting, appearing in the 2023 film “Oppenheimer.”

Whether readers will embrace his new direction remains to be seen; after all, it seems NHL fans might not typically lean toward romance novels.