After a narrow miss with a serious health scare, we took a hard look at what really matters. Hockey Docs is no longer just a project—it’s our recovery story, our purpose, and our promise to preserve the game’s greatest untold moments.
Where We Started When we launched Hockey Docs, it came from a simple place: a deep love for the game and a drive to tell the stories no one else was telling.
Not just goals and stats—but the grit, the heartbreak, and the dreams behind every jersey.
We made films like Charging Bulls, The Collectors, and 22: The Rick Meagher Story because we believed these stories deserved to be remembered. And many of you agreed—you showed up, watched, shared, and supported.
But as time went on, the traditional model of filmmaking began to feel limited. Too slow. Too dependent on gatekeepers. Too disconnected from the people we made these stories for.
Then, life forced a reset.
Why We Pivoted In 2021, we were hit hard by a health crisis that stopped everything. It forced us to step back—and reimagine the future.
We realized something important: if we were going to keep telling these stories, we needed to change how we told them. Not just films once every few years—but a steady stream of stories across formats.
Books. Videos. Podcasts. Behind-the-scenes content. Digital tools that help fans and creators alike.
This pivot was never about doing less—it was about creating more, with more intention, more control, and more direct connection to the people who care.
What Comes Next Here’s how we’re rebuilding Hockey Docs in 2025—and what you can expect moving forward:
📘 More Books That Go Deep Our first release, Junior Hockey Giants: Road to the NHL, hits shelves this summer. More are coming—Draft Day Dreams, Heart of a Giant, and regional titles that explore local legends and family legacies in junior hockey.
Coming This Summer:
🎥 Short-Form Video That Hits Hard We’re rebooting our YouTube channel with quick, story-rich episodes. Expect behind-the-scenes tips, filmmaking advice, and profiles on players you’ve seen—but never truly known.
🎙️ A Podcast That Cuts Through the Noise No filler. Just meaningful interviews with players, scouts, billet families, and behind-the-scenes voices that rarely get the mic. Think ESPN storytelling meets junior hockey roots.
🧠 Insider Access and Digital Extras We’re building a space for our core community—early looks at new projects, exclusive content, and down the road, maybe even an annual Hockey Docs digital event.
If you’ve joined our Insiders list already, you’ll be first in line. If not—you can join here on Substack for all future posts.
Why It Matters We’re not here to chase trends or fight algorithms.
We’re here to tell the stories that make hockey more than a game. To preserve the moments that shaped lives. To create something that lasts.
We’re beyond grateful to everyone who’s walked with us so far. And we’re excited for what’s coming next.
Let’s build this together.
Aaron & Angela Bell Co-founders, Hockey Docs
“It feels like we’ve been given a backstage pass to the game.”
