Heated Rivalry

Heated Rivalry is a Canadian sports romance television series created, written, and directed by Jacob Tierney for Crave. Based on the Game Changers book series by Rachel Reid, the show takes its title from the 2019 second installment. It stars Hudson Williams as Shane Hollander and Connor Storrie as Ilya Rozanov, two professional hockey players who maintain a secret long-term romantic relationship while playing for rival teams. The ensemble cast includes François Arnaud, Robbie G.K., Christina Chang, Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova, Sophie Nélisse, and Dylan Walsh. Produced by Accent Aigu Entertainment and Bell Media, principal photography took place throughout Ontario; Hamilton served as a primary filming hub, standing in for locations such as New York and Moscow. Notable filming sites include Dundurn Castle, the FirstOntario Concert Hall, and the Sleeman Centre in Guelph for all on-ice sequences. The series had its preview screening at the Image+Nation LGBTQ+ Film Festival in Montreal on November 23, 2025. The first season premiered on Crave on November 28, with a simultaneous release on HBO Max in the United States, which had acquired the series for an international distribution rights prior to the Canadian premiere. Prior to the first season's conclusion, Crave announced that a second season was in development, currently set for an April 2027 release, and intended to adapt Reid's 2022 sequel novel, The Long Game. Heated Rivalry received critical acclaim, with particular praise for Tierney's direction, the writing, and the performances and chemistry between lead actors. It became the most-watched original series on Crave and was reported as the highest-performing acquired, non-animated debut on HBO Max. The series has received numerous accolades. At the 14th Canadian Screen Awards, the series swept all of its categories, including Best Drama Series and Best Lead Performance in a Drama Series for Williams. It has also won...