Call it the crossover no one had on their bingo card: Heated Rivalry leads Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie have officially entered their Olympic era.
The breakout stars of HBO Max’s hockey romance series served as torchbearers Sunday during the Olympic torch relay in Feltre, Italy, ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games. The appearance marked a high-profile moment for the actors, whose rise has been swift since the Jacob Tierney-created series premiered.
HBO Max announced earlier in the week that the duo would participate in the relay, though details about when and where they would appear were kept under wraps. Their reveal drew immediate attention, not least because the streamer holds broadcast rights for the Games across Europe.
A Torch Pass Heard Around the Internet
Williams and Storrie emerged in coordinated white outfits accented with pink and yellow, quickly becoming one of the relay’s most shared moments on social media. In footage posted by official Olympics accounts, Williams is seen handing the flame to Storrie, punctuating the handoff with a shouted, “Go papi, go papi,” as his co-star lit his torch.
Another clip captured Williams holding the flame himself, visibly stunned as he addressed spectators. “This is crazy,” he told the crowd, summing up the mood of fans watching the moment unfold online.
The exchange felt less like a scripted beat and more like a spontaneous victory lap for two actors still adjusting to their sudden visibility.
From Cult Series to Global Stages
Sunday’s relay added to an already busy stretch for both performers. Williams recently made his runway debut at Milan Fashion Week, walking in Dsquared2’s show, a fashion crossover that further expanded his profile beyond television.
Storrie, meanwhile, has been making the late-night rounds, appearing on Late Night With Seth Meyers and Today in the same week. Together, the pair became unlikely standouts at the Golden Globes earlier this year, despite attending solely to present an award. Their presence, and the buzz around it, extended into the surrounding parties, where they were widely photographed and discussed.
What’s Next for Heated Rivalry
The momentum shows no signs of slowing. Canadian streamer Crave has renewed Heated Rivalry for a second season, with HBO Max confirming it will continue airing the series in the U.S.
Author Rachel Reid, whose Game Changers novels inspired the show, has also announced a new installment. Unrivaled, her seventh book in the series, will continue the story of Shane and Ilya following Heated Rivalry and The Long Game.
The fandom’s enthusiasm has reached unexpected places. During a recent snowstorm, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani encouraged residents to stay home and read Reid’s books instead, noting the city’s library system was offering free digital downloads during the weather advisory.
A Hockey Romance With Staying Power
Heated Rivalry, produced by Crave and streaming on HBO Max in the U.S., is set in a fictional professional hockey world adapted from Reid’s novels. The series follows longtime rivals Shane Hollander (Williams) of the Montreal Metros and Ilya Rozanov (Storrie) of the Boston Raiders as their competitive tension evolves into a complicated relationship spanning nearly a decade.
Now, with an Olympic torch added to their résumé, Williams and Storrie are proving that their off-screen trajectory is every bit as compelling as the story that made them fan favorites.
