You know that feeling when you're scrolling through the Hallmark Channel or your favorite streaming service on a rainy Tuesday and you see a familiar face gliding across the rink? That’s usually how people rediscover Love on Ice. It’s a movie that doesn't try to be anything other than what it is—a cozy, figure-skating-centric romance. But honestly, the Love on Ice cast is what makes it stick. Without the chemistry between the leads, it would just be another sports movie with too much spandex.
The film follows Emily James, a former figure skating champion who has basically settled into a quiet life of teaching kids how to stay upright on the ice. Then, a high-profile coach enters the scene, and suddenly, the Olympic dreams she buried years ago start bubbling back up. It’s classic. It’s predictable. And it’s surprisingly well-acted for a TV movie.
Julie Berman: More Than Just a Skating Double
Julie Berman plays Emily James. Most people recognize her immediately, but they can't quite place her until they realize she spent years as Lulu Spencer on General Hospital. She’s got three Daytime Emmys. That’s not a fluke. Berman brings a specific kind of "weary-but-hopeful" energy to Emily that feels grounded. You actually believe she’s a woman who gave up on her dreams and is scared to try again.
It’s interesting because, in these skating movies, the lead usually looks like they’ve never seen a pair of blades in their life. Berman isn't an Olympic skater, but she carries herself with the posture of an athlete. She’s lean, she’s focused, and her chemistry with the male lead feels less like a script and more like a genuine connection.
Andrew Walker: The King of Hallmark Romance
If you’ve watched more than two Hallmark movies, you know Andrew Walker. He’s basically the face of the network for a reason. In the Love on Ice cast, he plays Spencer Patterson, the coach who sees Emily’s potential and decides to push her back into the competitive world.
Walker has this way of playing characters who are confident without being jerks. Spencer could have easily been written as a pushy, arrogant guy, but Walker plays him with a soft touch. He’s the guy who wants her to win for her sake, not his own. Off-screen, Walker is known for being incredibly professional, which is why he’s been in dozens of these films. He knows how to sell a romantic gaze like nobody else in the business.
Supporting Players Who Actually Matter
Usually, the supporting cast in a TV movie is just background noise. Here, they actually fill out the world.
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Linda Kash plays Mayor Mary Belton. Kash is a veteran. You’ve seen her in everything from Best in Show to Cinderella Man. She brings a bit of levity to the town of Northview. Then you have Ana Golja as Nikki Lee. Golja is a Canadian actress known for Degrassi: Next Class. In Love on Ice, she’s the younger, hungrier skater who represents what Emily used to be. The dynamic between the "veteran" and the "up-and-comer" adds a layer of tension that moves the plot beyond just "will they or won't they kiss."
The Realism Factor: Did They Actually Skate?
Let’s be real. Most actors can't pull off a triple axel. The Love on Ice cast used professional doubles for the heavy lifting—or rather, the heavy spinning.
The production was filmed around North Bay, Ontario. They used local rinks and brought in actual competitive skaters to fill the background and perform the stunts. While Berman and Walker did the close-up work and the basic gliding, the technical sequences were handled by experts. This is pretty standard for the genre, but it’s done more seamlessly here than in some of the lower-budget holiday films we’ve all seen.
- Julie Berman (Emily James) - Former soap star, Emmy winner.
- Andrew Walker (Spencer Patterson) - Hallmark veteran, fitness enthusiast.
- Ana Golja (Nikki Lee) - Degrassi alum, singer, and dancer.
- Linda Kash (Mayor Mary) - Comedic legend and character actress.
Why This Specific Cast Works
What most people get wrong about these movies is thinking the script is the most important part. It’s not. It’s the casting. If you don't like looking at the people on screen for 90 minutes, the movie fails.
The producers hit the jackpot here because Berman and Walker are "seasoned." They aren't twenty-somethings playing at being adults. They look like people who have lived lives, had careers, and faced disappointments. That maturity makes the stakes feel higher. When Emily falls on the ice, you feel it because you know she’s 27 or 28, which is "ancient" in the skating world. It’s a story about a second chance, and the cast sells that desperation perfectly.
The Impact of Love on Ice Years Later
Since the movie premiered in 2017, it has become a staple. It’s often paired with other skating movies like Frozen in Love during the winter programming blocks. Andrew Walker has gone on to star in movies like Three Wise Men and a Baby, which became a massive hit. Julie Berman has continued her work in both TV movies and guest spots on major network dramas.
Interestingly, the movie helped solidify the "sports romance" sub-genre for Hallmark. It proved that audiences wanted more than just a bakery setting or a corporate executive moving back to a small town. They wanted to see people doing things—specifically, people with a talent or a craft.
Actionable Takeaway: How to Spot These Stars Next
If you enjoyed the Love on Ice cast, you don't have to stop there. Andrew Walker is essentially the "final boss" of Hallmark movies; you can find him in The 27-Hour Day or A Safari Romance if you want that same leading-man energy.
For those interested in the actual skating, it’s worth checking out the credits to see the Canadian skating consultants who worked on the film. Many of them are involved in the National skating scene in Canada. If you're a fan of Julie Berman, her run on General Hospital (specifically from 2005 to 2013) is where she really displayed her acting range before transitioning into these lighter, more wholesome roles.
The best way to enjoy this film today is to catch it during the "New Year New Movies" block on Hallmark or find it on the Hallmark Movies Now streaming service. It remains one of the more technically competent and emotionally resonant entries in their winter catalog. Keep an eye out for the small details in the background—many of the "fans" in the stands were local residents of North Bay who showed up just to see how a movie gets made in a hockey rink.