It’s time to head to the rink. 

Michelle Monaghan (True Detective, The White Lotus, Trucker) will star in The Sticks, an eight-episode hockey series from creator Nick Naveda (Words on Bathroom Walls, My Lovely Wife in the Psych Ward) and showrunner and executive producer Bridget Bedard (Love Life, Ramy, Transparent), and Shawn Levy’s 21 Laps (Stranger Things, The Perfect Couple, All the Light We Cannot See). Also joining the cast is a team of young actors who will play Monaghan’s hockey recruits. You can see Monaghan and the players in some behind-the-scenes photos here.

Naveda tells Tudum, “The Sticks is about a lot of things. Hockey, family, love, loss, class, and coming of all ages. But above all, it’s a story about community and the importance of taking care of one another. Seeing this terrific cast of actors bring their characters to life with such curiosity, empathy, and tenderness has been incredibly moving to watch, and I can’t wait for the world to meet the people of South Dorothy.”

For South Dorothy, Minnesota, hockey is everything — until a tragic loss knocks the legs out from under the high school’s legendary team. Monaghan plays Harper Sullivan, an unlikely hockey coach who’s tasked with resurrecting the team from the brink of defeat and bringing South Dorothy back to life. 

The Sticks hails from Shawn Levy’s 21 Laps production company, following hits like Stranger Things, All the Light We Cannot See, The Perfect Couple, and The Adam Project.

“I’ve carried South Dorothy and its people in my heart for as long as I can remember,” says Naveda. “To finally bring that world to life with my Grizzly family at 21 Laps and Netflix is nothing short of a dream come true. Big love and gratitude to my partners for this opportunity, and for all their unyielding support over the years.”

Levy, Dan Levine (Arrival, All the Light We Cannot See, Shadow and Bone), and Robert Atwood (Monarch: Legacy of Monsters) will executive produce for 21 Laps. Moera Ainai (The Perfect Couple) serves as a producer. Executive producer and director Trey Edward Shults (It Comes at Night, Waves) will helm the series’ first two episodes. 

“This show has long been a 21 Laps favorite, and one of the best pieces we have had the privilege of developing and supporting,” says Levy. “Nick and Bridget have built a world and ensemble of characters that are rooted in authenticity and huge heart, which, not surprisingly, attracted such great talent [like] our director Trey Edward Shults, and lead Michelle Monaghan. With its visceral sports backdrop and a story grounded in deep humanity, we cannot wait to bring this show to a global audience.” 

Read on for more information about The Sticks, including the latest additions to the cast. 

What is The Sticks about?

After tragedy shatters a small Minnesota hockey town, a grieving wife steps behind the bench of the team her husband built, guiding a found family of wounded young athletes through a season of loss, love, and rivalry that will decide whether South Dorothy has anything left to believe in, and who will lead it into its next chapter.

Who’s in the cast of The Sticks?

Golden Globe nominee Michelle Monaghan stars in the series as Coach Harper Sullivan. Monaghan leads the ensemble, along with:

• Emilie Bierre (Teacup, A Colony) as Riley Sullivan
• Shai Chase (Diary of a Muslim Cynic, ANINO) as Henry Sullivan
• Josh Macqueen (Motorheads, Black Snow) as Rhett Nelson
• Costa D’Angelo (Tell Me Lies, the upcoming East of Eden) as Owen Boone
• Carter Shimp (Best Medicine, Curse of the Sin Eater) as Austin Ryder
• Ethan Holder (Ballard) as Cooper Cunningham
• Isaac Arellanes (My Life with the Walter Boys, Reservation Dogs) as Manny Rodriguez

Series regulars include:

• Scott Bakula (Quantum Leap, American Beauty, The Baker’s Wife) as Coach Brody Hansen
• Logan Marshall-Green (Marshals, The Odyssey) as Coach Sully
• Alex MacIsaac (The Social Reckoning, When Calls The Heart, Hollywood Arts) as Emma Boone 

And, as recurring characters:

• Bryan Greenberg (Suits LA, Emily in Paris, How to Make It in America) as Cliff Barnes
• Chelsea Field (NCIS: New Orleans, The Last Boy Scout) as Alice Hansen
• Patrick Gallagher (Big Sky, Night at the Museum) as Principal Montgomery 
• Alison Araya (Peacemaker, Riverdale, Family Law) as Joan Garcia
• Aman Smardon (Allegiance) as Kai Becker
• Krista Bridges (Narc, Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy) as Frankie Ryder 
• Ben Cotton (Trinity, The Night Agent, Resident Alien) as Mr. Marchbanks
• Chloe Avakian (Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy, This Is Not a Test) as Izzy Miller
• Caleb Baumann (It’s Not Like That, Grey’s Anatomy) as Elu
• River Codack (Happy Face, Earth Abides) as Tyler Walker
• Angus Albinati as Jack McGrath
• Callum Orchison (The Best Is Yet to Come) as Derek Marchbanks

When will The Sticks be on Netflix?

There’s no word yet on a release date for The Sticks. But you can keep your eyes on the scoreboard and come back to Tudum for updates. 

Director Shawn Levy Breaks Down the Audition Tapes for Marie-Laure Leblanc