A beloved hockey story is getting a new life on screen, with former NHL star P.K. Subban involved in a new animated adaptation of The Screech Owls. The project brings together hockey, mystery and comedy for a new generation of young fans while reconnecting older viewers with a familiar Canadian property.
The new Screech Owls animated series is being produced with Subban’s involvement and will introduce the hockey-playing characters to today’s young viewers. The project is part of the former Montreal Canadiens defenseman’s expanding work in entertainment and youth-focused storytelling.
For Subban, the series offers another opportunity to combine his passion for hockey with entertainment designed to reach children and families. The animated format can also introduce the characters and their adventures to kids who may not have encountered Roy MacGregor’s books.
The timing makes particular sense as hockey organizations increasingly look for creative ways to connect with younger audiences. With recognizable characters, fast-paced action and plenty of mystery, Screech Owls has the ingredients for a kid-friendly hockey adventure.
The NHL Is Embracing Animation
The new show arrives as the NHL itself has increasingly experimented with animation. In 2025, the league launched NHL HOCKEYVERSE Matchup of the Week, a 30-minute animated program that uses NHL EDGE positional data to recreate actual games for younger viewers and families.
The league has specifically identified animation as a way to make hockey more accessible to younger fans. NHL executive David Lehanski said the goal was to create “a visual experience” featuring unique characters and settings designed for a younger audience.
The Screech Owls project takes that strategy in a different direction. Rather than recreating real NHL games, it can use fictional characters and stories to make hockey itself the center of a children’s adventure.
The Original Screech Owls Books Have a Long History
The new series is based on Roy MacGregor’s Screech Owls children’s book series, which follows a fictional youth hockey team through games, tournaments and increasingly wild mysteries. The books combine sports with adventure, making them particularly appealing to young readers who enjoy both hockey and suspense.
The franchise has been around for decades, with 30 books published in the original series. The stories have taken the young players to real-world hockey locations and events, including the Quebec Peewee Invitational and the Winter Olympics.
The books previously inspired a live-action television series that aired on YTV from 2000 to 2002, producing 27 episodes across two seasons. Now, the animated revival gives the Screech Owls another chance to introduce hockey-loving kids to the team’s mix of competition, friendship and mystery.
