Shattered Dreams, Shattered Plans

Jack Leslie's world is upended in a single night. At a glittering restaurant, his boyfriend Rhett—hockey prodigy and son of Vancouver's mayor—proposes, but with a catch: Jack must give up his own hockey dreams to become a stay-at-home partner. The conversation exposes deep rifts: class, ambition, and the weight of family expectations. Jack, torn between love and self, refuses to abandon his passion for hockey. The breakup is public, raw, and devastating, leaving Jack adrift. Rhett's privilege and Jack's working-class grit collide, and the future they built in their minds crumbles. Jack's heartbreak is not just romantic; it's existential, as he faces the possibility that hockey—the thing he sacrificed everything for—may never love him back.

Off-Season Survival Pact

A year later, Jack is still reeling. His performance on the Kelowna Wildcats has tanked, and his friends—Casey, Stacey, Dirk, and Dash—rally around him. The off-season is a time for healing, but also for reckoning. Jack's contract is slashed, and he contemplates quitting hockey altogether. His friends refuse to let him spiral, voting for a "do-over" season and vowing to stick together. Their camaraderie is a lifeline, but Jack's sense of failure lingers. The group's rituals—beer, road trips, and hockey banter—mask deeper wounds. Jack's identity is in crisis, and the only way out is through: one more season, one more shot at redemption.

Meyer Family Chaos

Across town, Mercy Meyer juggles a chaotic, sprawling family. He's the eldest of nine, a failed NHL coach turned auto mechanic, and the de facto parent to a brood of siblings from different mothers. When his father announces yet another baby on the way, Mercy is thrust into crisis mode. The family's finances are stretched, and Mercy's sense of responsibility is crushing. An unexpected offer arrives: coach the Wildcats. It's a chance at redemption, but it means leaving his siblings behind. The family debates, bargains, and ultimately supports Mercy's leap. The cost of ambition is high, but so is the cost of staying stuck. Mercy's decision is a gamble—for himself, and for everyone who depends on him.

One Night, One Rule

In a bar, Jack and Mercy collide—two men with haunted eyes and battered hearts. Their chemistry is instant, electric, and laced with mutual recognition: both are caretakers, both are running from pain. They agree to one night only, no strings, no repeats. The night is raw, passionate, and healing, filled with sex, spanking, and confessions. In the morning, Jack is gone, leaving a note that pleads for distance. Mercy is left with a taste of what he's never allowed himself to want: someone who sees him, someone who might stay. Both men are changed, but neither is ready to admit it.

Colliding Pasts, Colliding Hearts

Fate intervenes: Mercy is Jack's new coach. Their secret history simmers beneath the surface, threatening to explode. Jack's performance on the ice surges, fueled by anger, attraction, and the need to prove himself. Mercy is torn between professionalism and desire, pushing Jack hard while denying his own feelings. Their banter is sharp, their boundaries blurry. The team senses the tension, and Jack's friends become unwitting accomplices in their dance. Both men are haunted by the past—Jack by Rhett, Mercy by his own failures—and the present is a minefield of temptation and regret.

Toothbrushes and Second Chances

When Jack skips practice, Mercy punishes him with "toothbrush therapy"—scrubbing the locker room as penance. The punishment is a pretext for connection, and their banter turns confessional. Jack admits he craves discipline; Mercy admits he craves Jack. Their dynamic deepens, blending kink and care, pain and pleasure. The line between coach and lover blurs further, and both men are forced to confront what they really want. The past is never far away, but the possibility of a future—however messy—begins to emerge.

Spark, Chemistry, and Brat Wars

Jack and Mercy's relationship becomes a battlefield of flirtation and one-upmanship. Jack enlists his friends to make Mercy jealous; Mercy retaliates with his own mind games. Their chemistry is undeniable, but so is their stubbornness. The team becomes a chorus of instigators, pushing the two men toward confrontation and, ultimately, confession. The bratty banter masks deeper fears: of rejection, of vulnerability, of being left behind. When the games finally give way to honesty, the result is explosive—sex, spanking, and the tentative beginnings of trust.

Hockey, Heartbreak, and Healing

The season grinds on, and the Wildcats face brutal competition. Jack's performance is stellar, but his heart is battered. Mercy's coaching is transformative, but his own family drama threatens to pull him under. The team's rivalries—especially with Boston—escalate into violence, and the locker room becomes a crucible for loyalty and pain. Off the ice, Jack's unresolved feelings for Rhett resurface, and Mercy's responsibilities to his siblings and soon-to-be-adopted baby mount. Both men are forced to choose: between the past and the present, between self-sabotage and self-acceptance.

Rivalries and Revelations

The playoffs bring old wounds to the surface. Jack's encounters with Rhett are fraught with longing and regret; Mercy's family faces new crises. The team's rivalry with Boston reaches a fever pitch, and the games become metaphors for the battles raging inside each man. Secrets are revealed: Rhett's father has sabotaged Jack's career, Mercy's mother resurfaces with a troubled half-brother, and the family's fragile peace is threatened. The cost of ambition, love, and loyalty is laid bare, and both Jack and Mercy must decide what—and who—they are willing to fight for.

Spanking, Sex, and Secrets

Jack and Mercy's relationship deepens, blending kink and care in ways neither expected. Spanking becomes a language of love, a way to soothe chaos and build trust. Their sex is wild, healing, and transformative, but secrets linger. Mercy's adoption of his baby brother's child, Jack's unresolved feelings for Rhett, and the ever-present threat of abandonment test their bond. The couple navigates jealousy, fear, and the challenge of building a life together when the world—and their own histories—seem determined to pull them apart.

Playoffs, Promises, and Pain

The Wildcats make a run for the Calder Cup, and the pressure is immense. Jack's performance is heroic, but his body and heart are battered. Mercy's coaching is lauded, but his personal life is in turmoil. The couple's relationship is tested by distance, miscommunication, and the ghosts of the past. When Jack is called up to the NHL, only to be cut by Rhett's father's machinations, the pain is almost too much to bear. Both men retreat, convinced they are better off alone, but the pull between them is undeniable.

The Cup, The Call, The Cut

The Wildcats win the Calder Cup in a dramatic, bruising final. Jack is the hero, but his NHL dreams are dashed by forces beyond his control. Rhett confesses the truth: his father sabotaged Jack's career out of jealousy and control. The revelation is shattering, but also liberating. Jack and Mercy are forced to confront the reality that love is not enough to shield them from the world's cruelty. The victory is bittersweet, and the future is uncertain.

Family, Forgiveness, and Fathers

Mercy confronts his father and his own history of abandonment. The Meyer family rallies, offering support, tough love, and a plan for the future. Jack's parents reveal their own struggles and secrets, and the two families begin to blend in messy, beautiful ways. Mercy's adoption of his baby brother's child becomes a symbol of hope and healing. The couple learns that forgiveness is not a one-time act, but a daily practice, and that family is chosen as much as it is given.

Leaving, Returning, Belonging

In the aftermath of the playoffs, Jack and Mercy drift apart, each convinced they are unworthy of the other. Time, space, and the wisdom of friends and family bring clarity. Jack returns, moving in with Mercy in a rain-soaked, cinematic reunion. The couple confronts their fears, apologizes for their mistakes, and recommits to building a life together. The past is not erased, but it is integrated, and the future is claimed—one day, one choice at a time.

The Meyer-Leslie Bunch

Jack and Mercy settle into domestic chaos: raising a baby, wrangling siblings, and navigating the arrival of Mercy's troubled half-brother. Their home is filled with laughter, kittens, and the ever-present threat of disaster. The couple's love is tested and strengthened by the demands of parenthood, partnership, and the blending of two unruly families. Through it all, they choose each other—again and again—learning that love is not a destination, but a journey of perpetual pursuit.

Characters

Jack Leslie

Jack is a talented, passionate hockey player whose life is defined by ambition, loyalty, and a deep-seated fear of abandonment. Raised by loving but imperfect parents, he is both the baby of his family and the emotional glue that holds his friend group together. Jack's relationship with Rhett is a study in opposites: privilege and grit, certainty and doubt. When forced to choose between love and self, Jack chooses hockey, but the cost is steep. His journey is one of self-discovery, resilience, and the slow, painful process of learning to trust again. Jack's brattiness masks vulnerability; his humor and bravado are shields against a world that has too often let him down. Through his relationship with Mercy, Jack learns that true intimacy requires surrender—not just of the body, but of the heart.

Mercy Meyer

Mercy is the eldest of nine, a man forged in the crucible of family chaos and personal failure. Once a rising star in the NHL coaching world, he is now an auto mechanic, surrogate parent, and the emotional backbone of the Meyer clan. Mercy's sense of responsibility is both his strength and his burden; he is haunted by the fear of repeating his parents' mistakes. His approach to love is cautious, almost clinical—until Jack shatters his defenses. Mercy's dominance is rooted in care, his discipline in devotion. He is gruff, sarcastic, and fiercely protective, but beneath the surface lies a well of tenderness and longing. Through Jack, Mercy confronts his own capacity for joy, vulnerability, and the terrifying possibility of being chosen.

Rhett Elkington

Rhett is Jack's ex-boyfriend, a hockey prodigy born into privilege and expectation. His love for Jack is genuine, but warped by entitlement and the need for control. Rhett's inability to choose Jack over his own ambition—and his father's manipulations—sets the story's central conflict in motion. He is both victim and perpetrator, a man who cannot escape the shadow of his family. Rhett's journey is one of loss, regret, and the painful realization that love cannot be coerced or bought.

Casey Alderchuck

Casey is one half of the Alderchuck twins, Jack's best friend and emotional anchor. His brashness and humor mask a deep loyalty and a keen sense of justice. Casey's rivalry with Boston's Sutter is legendary, and his willingness to fight—on and off the ice—makes him both a protector and a provocateur. He is the first to call Jack on his bullshit, and the last to abandon him.

Stacey Alderchuck

Stacey is Casey's twin, the team's de facto captain, and the voice of reason in the group. He is calm, strategic, and deeply empathetic, often mediating conflicts and offering sage advice. Stacey's own struggles with identity and belonging mirror Jack's, and his friendship is a model of unconditional support.

Dirk and Dash

Dirk and Dash round out Jack's inner circle, providing comic relief, emotional support, and a safe space for vulnerability. Their own relationship—platonic, romantic, or somewhere in between—is a testament to the power of chosen family. They are Jack's co-conspirators, confidants, and the first to celebrate his victories or mourn his losses.

The Meyer Siblings (Bea, Ari, Bryce, Rachel, Dawson, Bethany, Lorelei, Theo)

Mercy's siblings are a microcosm of the story's themes: abandonment, survival, and the messy beauty of family. Each sibling brings their own strengths and wounds, and their collective presence is both a source of comfort and a crucible for growth. Bea is the anxious caretaker, Ari the artist, Bryce the reluctant adult, Rachel and Dawson the rebellious teens, Bethany the mini-Mercy, Lorelei the dreamer, and Theo the love bug. Together, they embody the story's central lesson: family is not about perfection, but about showing up.

Stanley Meyer

The baby Mercy adopts is more than a plot device; he is a living testament to the possibility of healing, forgiveness, and the creation of chosen family. Stanley's arrival forces Jack and Mercy to confront their fears, step into new roles, and redefine what it means to belong.

Logan

Mercy's half-brother, Logan, is a troubled figure skater sent to live with the Meyers. His arrival tests the family's capacity for acceptance and care, and his struggles with identity, eating disorders, and belonging mirror the larger themes of the novel. Logan is both a challenge and an opportunity—a chance for Mercy and Jack to extend the love they have found to someone who needs it most.

Plot Devices

Dual Narration and Alternating Perspectives

The novel's structure alternates between Jack and Mercy, allowing readers to inhabit both men's inner worlds. This dual narration creates dramatic irony, deepens emotional resonance, and highlights the ways in which misunderstanding and miscommunication can both wound and heal. The shifting perspectives also mirror the story's central tension: the struggle to bridge the gap between self and other, past and present, love and fear.

Spanking and Domestic Discipline as Emotional Language

Spanking is not merely a kink in this story; it is a plot device, a metaphor, and a means of communication. For Jack, discipline soothes chaos; for Mercy, it is a way to care and connect. Their dynamic subverts traditional power structures, blending vulnerability and strength, pleasure and pain. The rituals of discipline—rules, punishments, aftercare—become a language of love, a way to build trust and intimacy in a world that has too often failed them.

Found Family and Chosen Bonds

The novel foregrounds the idea that family is not just inherited, but created—through choice, effort, and forgiveness. Both Jack and Mercy are shaped by their families of origin, but it is their chosen families—their friends, teammates, and each other—that offer the possibility of healing. The blending of the Meyer and Leslie clans, the adoption of Stanley, and the inclusion of Logan all reinforce the story's central message: love is an act, not a given.

Hockey as Metaphor and Arena

Hockey is more than a backdrop; it is the novel's central metaphor. The violence, camaraderie, and unpredictability of the game mirror the characters' emotional journeys. Rivalries, injuries, and victories on the ice parallel the battles fought in hearts and homes. The structure of the season—training, playoffs, the Calder Cup—provides a narrative spine, while the rituals of the sport (locker room banter, post-game beers, superstitions) ground the story in a world that is both brutal and beautiful.

Foreshadowing and Circularity

The novel is rich with foreshadowing: the opening breakup prefigures later choices; the "one night only" rule is broken and remade; the specter of abandonment haunts every relationship. The story is circular, with characters returning—literally and figuratively—to the places and people they tried to leave behind. The final chapters echo the first, but with new wisdom and hard-won hope.

Analysis

Heartbreak Hockey is more than a sports romance; it is a meditation on the ways we are shaped by loss, longing, and the families we inherit and create. At its core, the novel asks: What does it mean to belong? How do we heal from wounds that never fully close? Jack and Mercy's journey is one of radical vulnerability—of learning to ask for what they need, to risk being left, and to stay anyway. The book subverts traditional romance tropes by centering kink as care, discipline as devotion, and found family as salvation. It is unflinching in its portrayal of trauma, but equally committed to the possibility of joy. The lessons are hard-won: love is not about erasing the past, but about integrating it; family is not about perfection, but about presence; and healing is not a destination, but a practice. In a world that too often demands we choose between ambition and intimacy, Heartbreak Hockey insists that we can have both—if we are brave enough to keep chasing, and to let ourselves be caught.

Last updated: November 26, 2025