Matt Mons (Mark the Ref) was formerly the GM and Hockey Director of the Carolina Ice Palace, where the movie was shot. He has personally suspended several players on Polly's Pies in real life beer league action, including writer/director Jeff Tyner.
The game Riley watches in the opening scene is between the South Carolina Stingrays and Greenville Swamp Rabbits of the ECHL. The game was played on October 28, 2022, with the Stingrays winning 4-1.
Alec Reusch landed the role of Riley by reaching out to writer/director Jeff Tyner's casting post on the Reddit community r/hockeyplayers.
The team photo Riley looks at in the opening scene is of Jeffrey M. Zucker's real life beer league team, the Bear Seals.
The opening title credits was shot in one night by director Jeff Tyner. Producer/actor Jeffrey M. Zucker (John Calamino) acted as Riley's "stunt driver."