IB

Title: Icebound After a string of devastating injuries sidelines three starting forwards, the NHL’s newest franchise, the North Shore Avalanches, signs an unexpected replacement from the AHL: a talented young forward who’s spent her entire career proving she belongs. Thrown into the spotlight with a two-year contract in Vancouver, she faces relentless media scrutiny, skeptical teammates, and the pressure of becoming the first woman to play a full-time forward role in the NHL. The last person she expects to clash with is the team’s star center—the same man she accidentally collided with at the airport before either of them knew they’d be playing on the same line. Their first impression is anything but friendly. He’s convinced she’s a distraction the team can’t afford, while she’s determined to let her game do the talking. But as practices, road trips, and game-winning plays force them closer together, their rivalry transforms into an undeniable partnership—both on and off the ice. With championship dreams, league-wide attention, and a strict no-distractions mentality hanging over the team, they’ll have to decide whether risking their hearts is worth risking everything they’ve worked for.