'How to Dump a Hockey Star' Cast: From Vertical Drama Stars to Hollywood Veterans

A collapsing marriage, hockey rivalries, and long-hidden secrets drive the drama in “How to Dump a Hockey Star.” Led by Haley Lohrli and Kyle Fragnoli, the vertical series follows a woman forced to rebuild her life after discovering the sacrifices she made for love may have meant nothing at all.

“How to Dump a Hockey Star” blends sports drama, romance, betrayal, and second chances into a fast-moving vertical series led by a cast that ranges from rising vertical drama actors to internationally recognized performers. At the center of the story is Renee Carlson, a woman trying to rebuild her life after years of sacrifice for the man she loved.

The series follows Renee after she gives up her privileged life as a billionaire heiress to stand beside Levi Carlson, a hockey player chasing his NHL dreams.

Haley Lohrli as Renee Carlson in "How to Dump a Hockey Star" | Source: youtube/reelshortapp

When Levi suffers a devastating accident that leaves him in a coma, Renee becomes his primary caretaker and supports him through his recovery, never revealing that her own father owns the Falcons hockey team Levi dreams of joining.

But after Renee suffers a miscarriage and Levi begins believing manipulative lies spread by team doctor Madeline Meyer, their marriage slowly falls apart.

As Renee walks away from the relationship and returns to her family’s world, Levi is forced to confront how badly he misunderstood the woman who supported him through everything.

At the same time, old connections, hockey rivalries, family pressure, and lingering feelings continue pulling the two back into each other’s lives.

The ReelShort series stars Haley Lohrli as Renee and Kyle Fragnoli as Levi, alongside Josh Welles, Brooke Moltrum, Greg Kriek, and Tatiana Turan in supporting roles. Together, the "How to Dump a Hockey Star" cast brings a mix of vertical drama experience, traditional film and television credits, and theater backgrounds to the production.

The poster for "How to Dump a Hockey Star" | Source: youtube/reelshortapp

Haley Lohrli as Renee Carlson

Haley Lohrli plays Renee Carlson, the woman at the center of the drama whose relationship fallout sets the story in motion.

Lohrli has become a familiar face in the vertical drama world through a growing list of romance and revenge-centered projects across multiple platforms.

Her recent credits include “Found My Daddy at the Construction Site,” “My Big Sister Strikes with Her Mafia Dynasty,” “The Day the Champion Racer Lost His Bride,” “Twins Hide and Seek After One Night,” “Bring Back My Heart,” and “Operation Christmas Trap.”

Haley Lohrli behind the scenes of "How to Dump a Hockey Star" | Source: instagram/haleylohrli

Outside vertical dramas, Lohrli’s background also includes short films and independent projects such as “Here’s to You,” “An Average Poet,” and “Panic at the Theater.” Her resume describes acting as something she has loved her entire life, writing that performing is when she feels “happiest.”

Lohrli also studied psychology at California State University, Bakersfield while continuing to pursue acting professionally.

Kyle Fragnoli as Levi Carlson

Kyle Fragnoli, also known professionally as Kiki Fragnoli, plays Levi Carlson in the series. Levi begins the story as Renee’s husband and a rising hockey star whose growing success slowly blinds him to the sacrifices Renee has made for him.

Fragnoli has become one of the more recognizable actors working in vertical dramas, appearing in projects across platforms.

His credits include “Mile High on Cloud Nine,” “The Billionaire’s Accidental Bride,” “The Double Life of a Billionaire Heiress,” “My Secret Agent Husband,” and “My CEO Sugar Daddy, and "Snow White for the Basketball Team.”

Kyle Fragnoli as Levi Carlson in "How to Dump a Hockey Star" | Source: youtube/reelshortapp

In an interview, Fragnoli described the vertical drama industry as “perhaps the fastest niche industry that is growing in America right now.”

He also reflected on how much the vertical drama industry has expanded since he first entered the space, saying he has enjoyed watching both the format and the community around it continue to grow.

Josh Welles as Edward Hughes

Josh Welles appears as Edward Hughes in “How to Dump a Hockey Star.” Edward is a Falcons player who has long admired Renee and eventually becomes one of the people encouraging her to move on after her divorce from Levi.

Before moving into acting full time, Welles was a college football player, something he says continues to shape the discipline he brings to his performances. He decided to pursue acting after the COVID lockdowns and a serious injury changed the direction of his life and career.

He has since appeared in numerous vertical dramas, including “The Lost Quarterback Returns,” “Ms. Swan, Teach Me Love,” “Private School Playboys,” “The Comeback Play,” “My Duplicated Husband,” and “Assassin’s Apprentice: Falling for the Target.”

Many of Welles’ recent roles lean into romance, sports, and alpha-male archetypes that have become especially popular within vertical storytelling.

Brooke Moltrum as Madeline Meyer

Brooke Moltrum plays Madeline Meyer, the team doctor whose obsession with Levi becomes one of the biggest threats to Renee and Levi’s marriage. Throughout the story, Madeline repeatedly manipulates situations to push Renee out of Levi’s life while attempting to position herself as the person Levi truly needs.

Moltrum has worked extensively in vertical dramas since booking her first lead role in “Fated to My Forbidden Vampire.”

In an interview, Moltrum admitted she was initially hesitant about joining the vertical drama space.

“At first I thought, ‘no way, I’m staying far from these!’” she said before explaining that her perspective changed after working on her first production. She described the experience as “the real deal” and praised the fast-paced environment and experienced crews behind the projects.

Brooke Moltrum as Madeline Meyer in "How to Dump a Hockey Star" | Source: youtube/reelshortapp

Moltrum’s growing list of credits includes “Hold Me Tight, Mr. Firefighter,” “Irresistible Love with My Brother in Law,” “Deadly Vows,” “The Reunion Genius Baby,” “My Mobster Mom,” and “Obsessed with His Silent Bride.”

Her background also includes theater training at Pepperdine University and Oklahoma City University, where she studied music and theater.

Outside acting, Moltrum has spoken about her love of singing, painting, yoga, and improvisation.

Greg Kriek as Clark Molson

Greg Kriek plays Clark Molson, Renee’s protective older brother who becomes increasingly suspicious of how Levi treats her after the collapse of their marriage.

Kriek brings one of the most extensive traditional film and television resumes in the cast. The South African-born actor has worked internationally for years across film, television, streaming, and producing.

Kriek’s credits include “Black Mirror,” “Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire,” “Fly Me to the Moon,” “Maze Runner: The Death Cure,” “Rogue,” “Inside Man 2,” and “Tremors: A Cold Day in Hell.”

Greg Kriek as Clark Molson in "How to Dump a Hockey Star" | Source: youtube/reelshortapp

He was also an official contender for the 2024 Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for his work in “Die Hart 2: Die Harter.”

Kriek has also appeared opposite actors including Kevin Hart, Megan Fox, Morgan Freeman, Billy Zane, Dylan O’Brien, and Anthony Hopkins throughout his career.

Alongside acting, Kriek has worked as a producer through TH Films, where he has helped develop and produce television and film projects internationally. His personal website says he believes in using entertainment as “a catalyst for positive change.”

Tatiana Turan as Nora Carlson

Tatiana Turan appears as Nora Carlson, Levi’s mother, who disapproves of Renee and sides with Madeline throughout much of the story.

Her background combines acting with dance and live performance work, including celebrity impersonation performances inspired by Jennifer Lopez and Angelina Jolie.

Turan studied drama at the University of California, Irvine and later continued her acting studies in Los Angeles. On her personal website, she describes acting as something she has loved since childhood.

“I love to create,” she writes. “I love getting to play and bring characters to life.”

Her screen credits include appearances in “NCIS,” “Twisted Sisters,” “Married with Secrets,” and numerous vertical dramas including “Queen of the Court,” “Never Let Me Go,” “Emergency Reckoning: Brother’s Fury,” and “My Sister Is the Warlord Queen.”

Outside acting, Turan also owns a dance entertainment company that performs at corporate events, casinos, private parties, and nightclubs.

One of the more noticeable aspects of “How to Dump a Hockey Star” is the range of backgrounds represented in its cast. Some performers built their careers largely through vertical dramas, while others came from theater, commercial work, traditional television, or Hollywood productions before entering the format.

That combination reflects how vertical dramas continue attracting actors from increasingly varied corners of the entertainment industry as the format grows larger and more mainstream.