Shoresy

Shoresy
GenreSitcom
Created byJared Keeso
Written byJared Keeso
Directed by
Starring
Country of originCanada
Original languages
  • English
  • French
No. of seasons4
No. of episodes24
Production
Executive producers
Producers
Production locationsSudbury, Ontario, Canada
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running time19–33 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkCrave
ReleaseMay 13, 2022 (2022-05-13) –
present
Related
Letterkenny

Shoresy is a Canadian television comedy series created by and starring Jared Keeso that premiered on Crave on May 13, 2022.[1][2] A spin-off of Letterkenny, the series focuses on the titular character of Shoresy (Keeso) as he moves to Sudbury, Ontario, to take a job with a struggling Senior AAA-level ice hockey team, the Sudbury Bulldogs.[3]

In the United States, the series premiered on Hulu on May 27, 2022.[4] A second season was announced in January 2023,[5] which premiered on September 29, 2023.[6] In October 2023, the series was renewed for a third season,[7] which premiered on May 24, 2024.[8] The fourth season premiered on January 24, 2025, and the series has been renewed for a fifth season.[9] The fifth season will premiere on December 25, 2025.[10]

Premise

After losing 20 straight games and running dead last in the four-team Triple A-level Northern Ontario Senior Hockey Organization (NOSHO), the Sudbury Bulldogs are faced with being completely shut down. In an attempt to save the team, veteran player Shore ("Shoresy") makes a bet with team general manager Nat that the team will never lose again if he's given a chance to take control. With the help of new coach Sanguinet, a roster of new players, and the dissolution of the team on the line, Shoresy sets out to prove that the Bulldogs can play as a team, sell tickets to games, and make a name for themselves. He rebuilds the team with veteran players who share his philosophy that it's not enough to "love to win", they have to "hate to lose".

Cast

Main

  • Jared Keeso as "Shoresy" Shore (known as "Waffle" by his foster family)
  • Tasya Teles as Nat
  • Harlan Blayne Kytwayhat as Sanguinet (seasons 1–3)
  • Blair Lamora as Ziigwan (Ziig for short)
  • Keilani Elizabeth Rose as Miigwan (Miig for short)
  • Ryan McDonell as Mark Michaels

Recurring

Guests

Production and development

Shoresy is played by Jared Keeso, but within Letterkenny he was only seen in contexts that obscured his face as Keeso simultaneously played the leading role of Wayne.[11] Justin Stockman of Bell Media explained the decision to proceed with a Shoresy spin-off by noting that he is one of the most popular characters in Letterkenny merchandising, and acknowledging the creative potential involved in building on the story of a character about whom very little is known in the original show.[2]

Production on the series launched in November 2021 in Sudbury.[12] Production locations have included the Sudbury Community Arena.[13]

During the tenth-season Letterkenny episode "VidVok", Tanis explains to Wayne that she managed to get Shore a position on the Sudbury Bulldogs and will be moving soon, setting up the Shoresy series. The show's first teaser trailer was released in February 2022.[14]

Like Letterkenny, the show has received praise for its efforts to include fully rounded and nuanced portrayals of its First Nations characters, which was accomplished in part by including actress Kaniehtiio Horn, who plays Tanis in the original Letterkenny, as a producer tasked in part with ensuring that the indigenous characters were written and portrayed realistically.[15] The series has also received positive notice for inverting the stereotypical gender dynamics in hockey by placing women in power positions as the team's manager, her two assistants and the sports journalist who covers the team for The Sudbury Star, noting that in Letterkenny "Part of the secret ... is that although the men seem to be the focal point of the story and the women seem to be objectified in endless slo-mo walk-ups, the men are all trapped in different stages of arrested development and the women are truly in charge."[16]

While more suburban and rural parts of Sudbury serve as a backdrop for the fictional town of Letterkenny in the series, the central urban core of the city is fully represented as itself in Shoresy. The city is featured prominently in the new series and "the dialogue is rife with quippy mentions of Sudbury landmarks". The various hockey scenes take place at the Sudbury Community Arena, complete with advertising for local businesses on the boards and the Sudbury Wolves logo can be seen in several background shots.[17] The series also features numerous real-life downtown Sudbury food and entertainment venues, including the Coulson nightclub, Peppi Panini and the Laughing Buddha.[18]

The show has also partnered with the real-life Sudbury Wolves on charitable fundraising initiatives, including special limited-edition Sudbury Bulldogs jerseys that would be worn by the Wolves players in an OHL game before being auctioned off to raise funds.[19] The cast also regularly plays a series of hockey games against NHL alumni, in character as the Bulldogs, under the Shoresy Classic banner.[20][21][22]

In June 2024, The Globe and Mail reported that season 4 was set to begin filming.[23]

In December 2024, New Metric and Treewood Games announced that a Shoresy video game was in development.[24] Shoresy: Legends of the North was released for Steam on November 22, 2025.[25]

Episodes

SeasonEpisodesOriginally released
First releasedLast released
16May 13, 2022 (2022-05-13)May 27, 2022 (2022-05-27)
26September 29, 2023 (2023-09-29)October 27, 2023 (2023-10-27)
36May 24, 2024 (2024-05-24)June 21, 2024 (2024-06-21)
46January 24, 2025 (2025-01-24)February 21, 2025 (2025-02-21)

Season 1 (2022)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
11"Never Lose Again"Jacob TierneyJared KeesoMay 13, 2022 (2022-05-13)
Shoresy tries to prevent his team from folding.
22"Veteran Presence"Jacob TierneyJared KeesoMay 13, 2022 (2022-05-13)
Shoresy and his new recruits attend a team mixer at Nat's.
33"Know Your Role"Jacob TierneyJared KeesoMay 20, 2022 (2022-05-20)
The Bulldogs face off against the Timmins Timber Kings and the infamous Apeldoorn brothers.
44"If You Can't Win, Don't Play"Jacob TierneyJared KeesoMay 20, 2022 (2022-05-20)
Shoresy attends his family reunion, and the Bulldogs play the North Bay Norsemen.
55"Hockey Brings People Together"Jacob TierneyJared KeesoMay 27, 2022 (2022-05-27)
The Bulldogs face the powerhouse Soo Cyclones.
66"Don't Poke the Bear"Jacob TierneyJared KeesoMay 27, 2022 (2022-05-27)
The Soo Cyclones return for the Bulldogs final.

Season 2 (2023)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
71"Get'em Focused"Jacob TierneyJared KeesoSeptember 29, 2023 (2023-09-29)
The Bulldogs focus on a league record.
82"Skill vs Will"Jacob TierneyJared KeesoSeptember 29, 2023 (2023-09-29)
The Bulldogs prepare to play the new American team.
93"Set the Tone"Jacob TierneyJared KeesoOctober 6, 2023 (2023-10-06)
The Bulldogs face off against the Soo Hunt and their veteran presence.
104"Players Only"Jacob TierneyJared KeesoOctober 13, 2023 (2023-10-13)
Shoresy starts putting out fires with a players only meeting.
115"The Man Advantage"Jacob TierneyJared KeesoOctober 20, 2023 (2023-10-20)
Shoresy faces judgment from the league.
126"Accountability"Jacob TierneyJared KeesoOctober 27, 2023 (2023-10-27)
The Bulldogs cross the border for the final game of the season against the Soo Hunt.

Season 3 (2024)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
131"4-6"Sean SkeneJared KeesoMay 24, 2024 (2024-05-24)
The National Senior Tournament begins and the Bulldogs are hurt.
142"Charlottetown Reds"Sean SkeneJared KeesoMay 24, 2024 (2024-05-24)
The Bulldogs play the Charlottetown Reds and their captain Gorgeous Gord Gallant.
153"Vaughan Canadesi"Sean SkeneJared KeesoMay 31, 2024 (2024-05-31)
The Bulldogs face off against the Vaughan Canadesi and the dirty Sly Sylvestri.
164"Brooks Barrelmen"Dan SkeneJared KeesoJune 7, 2024 (2024-06-07)
The Bulldogs celebrate their NOSHO record and take on the Brooks Barrelmen and the Freezer twins.
175"SOO Hunt"Dan SkeneJared KeesoJune 14, 2024 (2024-06-14)
The Bulldogs attempt to redeem themselves against the SOO Hunt with Shoresy forced off the ice.
186"Les Rapides De Rawdon"Dan SkeneJared KeesoJune 21, 2024 (2024-06-21)
The Bulldogs compete against Marie-Mai’s Rapides de Rawdon.

Season 4 (2025)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
191"Summer In Sudvegas"Dan SkeneJared KeesoJanuary 24, 2025 (2025-01-24)
While most of the team have left Sudbury for the summer, Shoresy, Dolo, Hitch, Goody, Michaels continue to celebrate their National title. Nat wants them to settle down and begin to focus on hockey again. The group promise to take it easy if she gets them invited to Weird Sudbury, a party that's good and weird. Shoresy is trying to adapt to life after hockey, and becomes a co-host of a webshow for BroDude, where he and Anik Archambault discuss hockey with a rotating third host. After discovering that Shoresy respects both Doug Gilmour and Marty McSorley too much to be himself, the producers bring on Sean Avery, leading to the desired result. Shoresy still feels empty about his role on the webshow, but refuses Nat's request to coach the Bulldogs. He then attempts to win over Laura Mohr, who tells him to work out if he's actually sure about settling down with her first.
202"Blueberry Buddies"Sean SkeneJared KeesoJanuary 24, 2025 (2025-01-24)
The Bulldogs agree to mentor four players from junior hockey who will be leaving to play in the Ontario Hockey League, in return for invitations to Weird Sudbury. After discovering that there had been a complaint of a sexual nature against one of the boys from their regular coach, Shoresy and the Bulldogs discover that it was simply one of them showing his penis in the locker room to get out of training. They react angrily to learning that the boys are unable to undress in the locker room itself in order to not make anyone uncomfortable. Shoresy continues his hosting duties on the webshow, but is uncomfortable when asked to discuss women's hockey with Tessa Bonhomme, Kenzie Lalonde and Meghan Chayka, as he does not believe he has the experience to discuss it. Insulting Bonhomme when after a discussion about Olympic rink sizes, says that while her win at the 2010 Olympics was one of the greatest moments of his life, the men's win at the same Olympics was the greatest. Shoresy in his ongoing attempt to win over Laura sings Alanis Morissette at a karaoke night, with Nat and the Bulldogs cheering him on after they discover it.
213"The Itch"Dan SkeneJared KeesoJanuary 31, 2025 (2025-01-31)
The Bulldogs discuss what toxic masculinity is with the junior players they're mentoring, after they got in trouble for wearing a shirt making fun of a teammate who claimed mental health concerns to get out of a team skate. Dolo, Goody and Hitch have been sleeping with the mothers of the players, and The Jims, upset at being left out of some of the cup celebrations, tell the Bulldogs casual partner's this. Shoresy takes Jory Jordan to BroDude, after he ambushes him with questions. Needing a third host, Jory jumps at the opportunity. Although he spends the segment sexistly insulting Anik, who attempts to do a segment on hockey players clothes. Shoresy frustrated at the show goes to Nat for advice, who again tells him to coach. He refuses and goes to Laura's where she rebuffs his attempts, but invites him in to fix his eyebrow that he had tried to cut himself.
224"Good and Weird"Sean SkeneJared KeesoFebruary 7, 2025 (2025-02-07)
The Bulldogs attempt a radio ad for the local blueberry festival. After many failed attempts, Nat reminds them that the blueberry festival is the financial reason the team has got where they are, and they deliver a perfect recitement in return. In response to The Jim's telling their casual partners about them sleeping with the junior players mothers. Dolo, Hitch and Goody bring The Jim's to a kangaroo court, with Micheals presiding and Shoresy defending The Jim's. The Jim's say that they did it because they felt they were "big timed" by the rest of the team and left out. As punishment, they are told to tell the casual partners that they had lied, which they accept. Shoresy continues to try and win over Laura, doing her gardening and cleaning her windows while she is at work. The Bulldogs minus Michaels are invited to a pre-party for Weird Sudbudy, due to their connection being an ex of Michaels. While on the way to the party, Shoresy pulls out, going to keep Micheals company.
235"Reset the Tone"Dan SkeneJared KeesoFebruary 14, 2025 (2025-02-14)
Another kangaroo court is called, after The Jim's sleep with Dolo, Hitch and Goody's casual partners, after they met with them to tell them they had lied previously. The team put aside their differences, realising that they have grown apart and have a skate session together. Shoresy, still torn about what to do post hockey, is told by Nat that after he mother passed, she was told to put her love into something else, choosing the hockey team. His attempts to win over Laura continue, with her telling him, he has to be sure. After he knocks back an advance from another woman, he returns to Laura, telling her that he will earn her respect. One of the junior players Jack is infatuated with a women Maria, and the Bulldogs decided to help him win her over, by telling him to do something she enjoys like singing or dancing. They settle on karaoke against his protests, telling him that embarrassing himself is part of it. With the Bulldogs support, he sings for Maria, leading to her noticing him, but she slips away after.
246"Go Where You're Needed"Sean SkeneJared KeesoFebruary 21, 2025 (2025-02-21)
Jack and another junior player drive to Lauras house and read a message from Shoresy professing his love for her, he soon arrives having run a marathon, because she had previously told him too. Something she has forgotten, which his message then eludes to. After realising that they are both sure about each other, she invites him in. Buoyed by Shoresy's success, Jack decides to dance for Maria at the Blueberry festival dance. The Bulldogs help him learn the dance and decide to perform it with him. Nat informs the Bulldogs that they have been invited to Weird Sudbudy, but it is the same night of the dance. Shoresy attempts to get Dolo, Hitch and Goody to miss the dance with an inspirational speech, but while they think he should coach, they will not miss Weird Sudbury. The Bulldogs then take the junior players for their final practise session, Shoresy giving them a rousing speech, which fires them up before they tell him he should coach. Shoresy eventually decides to tell Nat that he will take the coaching role. Dolo, Goody and Hitch realise on the way to Weird Sudbury, that they should be at the dance and instead go there. Leading to the Bulldogs and the junior players dancing, with Jack talking to Maria afterwards.

Critical response

In advance of the series premiere, John Doyle of The Globe and Mail praised the show, writing that "In the spirit of Letterkenny, the humour is funny, mad, droll, childish and spiky. Full of salty Canadian vernacular, it soars. There are more visual jokes than you might find in the average episode of Letterkenny, but the flavour is the familiar tone of boldly irreverent, and it is sometimes slashing satire with more puns than you can count. In an expected but delightful way, Shoresy is Letterkenny refreshed. Who knew that a series that opened some years ago with the line, 'A coupla hockey players came up the lane way the other day,' could eventually unleash this great spinoff?"[26]

Daniel Fienberg of The Hollywood Reporter described the series as essentially an updated version of the 1977 film Slap Shot, praising it both for humanizing the character of Shoresy, and for placing women and First Nations characters in positions of strength.[16] Michael Hollett of NEXT Magazine wrote that Shoresy is "a fast-paced show with a more linear narrative and explicit plot than Letterkenny", and praised it for lacking the stiffness and awkwardness that often plagues television series about hockey.[27]

References

  1. ^ David, Greg (April 19, 2022). "The puck drops on Crave original series Shoresy, May 13". TV, eh?. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Ahearn, Victoria (June 10, 2021). "'The Amazing Race Canada,' 'Letterkenny' spinoff join upcoming Bell Media lineup". Toronto Star. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  3. ^ David, Greg (November 19, 2021). "Game faces on. Production underway on Letterkenny spin-off series Shoresy". TV, eh?. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  4. ^ Ahearn, Victoria (February 14, 2022). "Hulu picks up Crave's upcoming Letterkenny spinoff Shoresy". Playback. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  5. ^ MacGary, Julia (January 17, 2023). "Hulu's 'Letterkenny' Spinoff 'Shoresy' Renewed for Season 2". Variety. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  6. ^ "Ready for a Sudbury Saturday Night? SHORESY Returns for Season 2 on Crave, September 29" (Press release). Bell Media. August 17, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  7. ^ "It's a Hat Trick for SHORESY! Crave Confirms its Hit Original Comedy Series is Returning for a Third Season" (Press release). Bell Media. October 25, 2023. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  8. ^ "Crave Confirms Season 3 of SHORESY is Going, May 24" (Press release). Bell Media. April 23, 2024. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  9. ^ "Crave Original Series SHORESY Scores Fifth Season Renewal Ahead of Season 4 Premiere" (Press release). Bell Media. January 3, 2025. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  10. ^ "SHORESY's Back, Beauties…Season 5 Drops on Christmas Day" (Press release). Bell Media. November 25, 2025. Retrieved December 6, 2025.
  11. ^ McCauley, Tara (June 15, 2021). "'Letterkenny' Announces Spin-Off Series 'Shoresy' as Production Begins on Seasons Ten and Eleven". mxdwn Television. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  12. ^ "Letterkenny spinoff Shoresy to begin shooting in Sudbury shortly". The Sudbury Star. October 31, 2021. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  13. ^ Katherine Keown, Mary (November 17, 2021). "City council throws support behind shot-in-Sudbury TV shows". The Sudbury Star. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  14. ^ Rawden, Jessica (February 14, 2022). "The Letterkenny Spinoff Shoresy Dropped Its First Footage And We Finally Got To See His Face". Cinema Blend. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  15. ^ Boutsalis, Kelly (May 13, 2022). "'Shoresy' puts Indigenous characters at centre ice". Waterloo Region Record. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  16. ^ a b Fienberg, Daniel (May 26, 2022). "Hulu's 'Shoresy': TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  17. ^ Jensen, Mia (May 12, 2022). "'Letterkenny spinoff 'Shoresy' makes Sudbury one of its characters". The Sudbury Star. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  18. ^ Aelick, Lyndsay (May 12, 2022). "Letterkenny spinoff Shoresy embraces everything about Sudbury". CTV Northern Ontario. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  19. ^ "Wolves unveil new Shoresy jersey ahead of home game vs. Knights". The Sudbury Star. November 23, 2023. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  20. ^ "ShoresyClassic". Letterkenny | Shoresy Official Store. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  21. ^ White, Max (October 23, 2024). "'Shoresy' star Ryan McDonell on game against Red Wings alumni: 'It's an absolute honor.'". WXYZ Detroit. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
  22. ^ "'Shoresy Fall Classic' adds new cities by popular demand: Hockey games announced in Detroit, Buffalo, Chicago". Niagara Frontier Publications. September 27, 2024. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
  23. ^ Nestruck, J. Kelly (June 21, 2024). "Shoresy's next stop after season-three shocker should be 24 Sussex Drive". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  24. ^ Sokic, Nicholas (December 12, 2024). "New Metric developing Shoresy video game with Treewood Games". Playback. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
  25. ^ "Shoresy: Legends of the North". Steam. Retrieved December 5, 2025.
  26. ^ Doyle, John (May 10, 2022). "Shoresy: At last, a real hockey show about real hockey". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  27. ^ Hollet, Michael (June 2022). "It's Game On for Excellent Letterkenny Spinoff, Shoresy". NEXT Magazine. Retrieved June 8, 2022.