Heated Rivalry

Heated Rivalry is a Canadian sports romance television series created, written, and directed by Jacob Tierney for Crave. It is based on the Game Changers novel series by Rachel Reid, named after the 2019 second book. The series 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, with Hamilton serving as a primary filming hub to stand in for locations such as New York and Moscow. Notable 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, Quebec, Canada, on November 23, 2025. The first season then premiered on Crave on November 28; it aired concurrently on HBO Max on the United States, who had acquired the series for an international release in select countries nine days prior to the Canadian premiere.

Heated Rivalry received critical acclaim, with praise for the directing, writing, and the lead actors' performances and chemistry. 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 been described by media outlets as a global sensation and a break-out critical hit. Following the conclusion of the first season, Crave announced that a second season was in development, intended to adapt Reid's 2022 sequel novel, The Long Game. The second season is slated to premiere in spring 2027.