Former NHL forward Sean Avery has co‑written a romance novel with bestselling author Leslie Cohen, publishing a fictional tale about a novelist and a hockey player that mirrors elements of Avery’s own varied post‑hockey life.
The book, Summer Skate, released this month and described on its retail page as “sexy and addictive,” centers on a novelist with a rebellious streak who falls for a hockey player with a dark past. Avery and Cohen appeared together at a library fundraiser to promote the book and said they are already working on a follow‑up project.
Avery, who played a decade in the NHL as a feisty forward and twice led the league in penalty minutes, said the collaboration grew out of an agent’s suggestion to explore “sports romance” after he published an autobiography in 2017. He described the writing process with Cohen as candid and, at times, unexpectedly intimate because of the book’s romantic nature.
"I'm a bit of a showman," Avery told People.com. "It's in my blood. I feel it. It's what makes me want to get up out of bed every day, you know, to chase it. So, it's been an interesting journey here, but I think I've found my sweet spot, and I'm starting to really settle into it and have fun."
Avery and Cohen said they held frank conversations about sexual content while drafting the novel. Avery acknowledged differences between his instincts and Cohen’s perspective on what appeals to women readers, and said the back‑and‑forth improved the manuscript. "We had battles," he said, adding that creative tension was part of the process.
The male lead, Carter Hughes, is not a direct self‑portrait of Avery, the former player said. "I didn't go to American University, and Carter did. He's much taller than me, you know, he's not a small player. He's a high draft pick. I wasn't a high draft pick," Avery said.
Avery’s public profile has been shaped as much by off‑ice activity as by his playing career. Known for his abrasiveness on the ice, including an incident that led to a league rule targeting goaltender distraction — often referred to as the "Sean Avery Rule" — he has worked as a model, actor and restaurateur and briefly interned at Vogue. That high profile and history of controversy have frequently drawn media attention since his retirement from professional hockey.
Summer Skate follows a wave of genre crossovers in which public figures collaborate with experienced novelists. Avery and Cohen’s partnership aligns Avery’s sports background with Cohen’s romance publishing experience; Cohen is a married mother, and Avery is a married father. Both said they kept professional boundaries while discussing adult themes for the novel.
The authors have promoted the book in interviews and media appearances, including a visit to SiriusXM Studios on Sept. 10. The pair said fans’ responses to Summer Skate will help shape their next book together.
Summer Skate is the latest chapter in Avery’s post‑NHL career, which has included frequent media appearances and ventures outside of sports. The novel adds a literary element to a public life already marked by athletic controversy, fashion and entertainment projects, and entrepreneurial efforts.