After just six episodes, Heated Rivalry has the internet buzzing. The series leans into queer romance with tension-packed stares, locker-room rivalries, and stolen hotel-room moments.
The Crave show dropped November 28 on Crave in Canada and HBO Max in the U.S. and Australia to much excitement. Its presence online has been massive, with fans turning the series into a full social-media takeover.
The Story That Hooked People
The series follows rival hockey stars Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie), whose tense competition on the ice masks a long-running, secret romance.
Creator Jacob Tierney — familiar to anyone who loves Letterkenny and Shoresy — didn’t initially set out to make a gay hockey romance. But after stumbling across a Washington Post article about hockey romance novels, Tierney tracked down Heated Rivalry author Rachel Reid on Instagram. And the rest is history.
So… Season 2? A Real Possibility.
Crave hasn’t confirmed anything. Technically, the series was marketed as limited. But the language coming from Tierney suggests it might not be limited after all.
Talking with Evan Ross Katz, Tierney admitted the response caught everyone off guard:
“We did not expect this level of reaction to this show… I can tell you there’s a lot of enthusiasm to do another season and I think it looks good, but I can’t announce anything.”
We’ll take it!
The Best Part: There’s More Story Waiting
Shane and Ilya’s story didn’t end with the original book. Reid continued their relationship in The Long Game, the sixth entry in her interconnected Game Changers universe — meaning Season 2 wouldn’t need to invent new material at all.
In a blog post reflecting on the TV adaptation, Reid wrote:
“Of course I’m hoping for more seasons, but if one season is all we get, I am forever grateful…”
So the author is enthusiastic. Fans are enthusiastic. And Tierney confirmed that the enthusiasm from behind the curtain is real.
Tierney acknowledged that industry eyes are on Heated Rivalry, saying:
“It’s definitely not going unnoticed that the show is doing well.”
Which makes sense, considering the frenzy happening online.
Final Call
There’s no renewal announcement yet. But the passion from fans, the availability of a sequel, and Tierney’s very pointed hints make one thing clear: Season 2 isn’t a long shot — it’s a real contender.
