A new TikTok trend has emerged, with women referring to ice hockey arenas as 'boy aquariums' as they flock to games in search of entertainment and potential romantic partners. The term, inspired by hockey-themed romance books and TV shows, has gained traction on social media, with users sharing videos of their experiences at matches.
TikToker Ava Stewart posted a video captioned 'Went to the boy aquarium last night' before pointing at the rink to reveal players in action. Another user, @therealskellz, shared a clip with the caption 'Went to the boy aquarium to find my husband.' The trend has even been embraced by professional teams, such as the Stavanger Oilers, who posted a TikTok featuring a candy bar tied to a hockey stick with the caption 'Who wants to go fishing at the boy aquarium? We do!'
The trend has been boosted by the popularity of shows like 'Heated Rivalry,' which follows two closeted gay and bisexual professional hockey players. The series, based on Rachel Reid's 'Game Changers' book series, has been renewed for a second season on Crave/HBO Max. Actor Hudson Williams, who plays hockey player Shane Hollander in the show, revealed that multiple closeted professional athletes have reached out to him, saying the series 'was hitting people right in the nerve.'
As the trend continues to grow, women are sharing clips of themselves 'feeding' the 'animals' at the boy aquarium, with rink employees seen holding buckets of pucks. The phenomenon shows no signs of slowing down, with more women attending hockey games and documenting their experiences online.
