The Ice Isn’t The Only Thing Getting Smashed In The New “Heated Rivalry” Series
UPDATE: Heated Rivalry premiered on November 28, 2025, releasing two episodes initially, followed by weekly releases on Fridays, with the season finale scheduled for December 26. It streamed on Crave in Canada and HBO Max (Max) in the US and Australia. The series was also renewed for Season 2 in December.
After weeks of teasing, the first official trailer for the Canadian gay ice hockey romance series Heated Rivalry arrived, and it earned a spot on a lot of watch lists fast.
The stars of the new gay hockey romance Heated Rivalry have a chemistry that seems too real to be just for the cameras. So, is it? Read more here (link in comments) 👇 pic.twitter.com/8kVDHJP7mI
— DNA (@DNAmagazine) September 22, 2025
This is more than just a pucking rivalry…
Set in the world of professional hockey, the story centred on the secret affair between two star players from opposing teams. On one side is Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams), the serious captain of the Montreal Meteors. On the other is Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storie), the Russian-born playboy for the Boston Raiders. The six-episode series follows their relationship over eight years, from a teenage hookup to a complex romance played out in the shadows of their public careers. The official synopsis says the two are, “Torn between the sport they live for and the love they can’t ignore.”
Fans of the enemies-to-lovers trope, like in Red, White, and Royal Blue, will find familiar ground here. Heated Rivalry was adapted from the bestselling Game Changers book series by Rachel Reid. Creator Jacob Tierney explained his vision for the show in a statement, highlighting his commitment to the story and its audience.
I AM SEATED FOR THEM #HeatedRivalry pic.twitter.com/vhPQKmk5xb
— robin 🏒 heated rivalry era (@rileyauras) October 9, 2025
“When I first spoke to Rachel Reid, I told her I wanted to approach this book with the care and seriousness it deserves,” Tierney said. “Shane and Ilya deserve that. And so does the queer community, a love story complete with the kind of happy ending gay people almost never get in media.“
So, who’s in the cast?
Alongside leads Hudson Williams and Connor Storie, the series features a solid supporting cast. Sophie Nélisse (Yellowjackets) appears as Shane’s friend, Rose Landry. His parents are played by Dylan Walsh (Nip/Tuck) and Christina Chang (24). Perhaps most interestingly for fans of queer television, François Arnaud (The Borgias) is also set to appear as a character named Scott Hunter.
oh this is gonna be so good #heatedrivalry pic.twitter.com/fzUMPaiqqc
— fael (@feelsrios) October 9, 2025
Here’s how you can watch it.
Now for the important details. Heated Rivalry is scheduled to premiere on November 28th on Crave in Canada. However, there is currently no information on when or where it will be available to stream internationally. At DNA, we’ll be sure to keep you updated as soon as more details are announced. For now, you can check out the trailer for yourself.
