NHL's 'Hot for Hockey' campaign ends after not-so-hot reception | CBC Sports

Series of audio stories presented like hockey romance novels no longer available on Spotify

A series of audio stories promoted by the National Hockey League as a way to tap into the success of hockey romance shows such as Heated Rivalry appears to have been removed from Spotify after they garnered widespread criticism and concern.

One of the first instalments, titled "The Storm Between Us," featured Carolina Hurricanes centre Sebastian Aho and the team's season opener against the Florida Panthers on Sept. 29.

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But by Tuesday morning, the audio stories could no longer be found on Spotify.

"This was a small way to give a playful nod to something that's clearly going on in the cultural zeitgeist — among many different marketing activations," the spokesperson said.

The statement did not explicitly say that the stories had been removed from Spotify. The Sports Business Journal had reported that instalments would roll out " throughout the season ."

One of the first 'Hot for Hockey' instalments featured Carolina Hurricanes centre Sebastian Aho. (@nhl/TikTok)

"And so since it seems to be a cultural phenomenon, we figured why not get on board," Bettman said.

"I hate the attitude towards women like we aren't real fans; yes I love a hockey romance BUT I have been letting the Pittsburgh Penguins ruin my life for over 20 years and no one will take that fandom from me ever," one TikTok user wrote.

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Tory Lindberg, a 31-year-old Columbus Blue Jackets fan from Ohio who runs a BookTok account, said she's faced skepticism since she started getting more seriously into hockey after Heated Rivalry.