"Heated Rivalry": The Steamy New Romance That Has The Internet In a Chokehold!

We have seen the classic enemies-to-lovers trope play out on-screen time and time again, but make it a queer love story between two hockey players and suddenly you’ve got the whole internet hooked. Audiences are collectively fangirling over the new show “Heated Rivalry”, which follows the steamy romance between two hockey rivals, Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilay Rozanov (Connor Storrie). 

On November 28, the first 2 episodes of the Crave original series premiered on HBO Max, and the show became an instant hit with fans. Based on the Game Changers book series from Canadian author Rachel Reid, "Heated Rivalry" follows the love story of two young NHL players as they navigate the challenges of gay romance and confronting their sexualities. The show was highly-anticipated by book fans, and once it premiered, it didn’t take long for it to win over broader audiences too, sparking a wave of posts on social media celebrating the characters.

What really has audiences giggling and kicking their feet is the on-screen chemistry shared between Storrie and Williams. The two actors perfectly embody their respective book characters. Their magnetism feels so raw that viewers are left begging for more at the end of every episode. What enhances their on-screen chemistry is likely their off-screen connection, as the two seem to have developed an earnest friendship.

Not only is the show an exciting watch, but it also marks a significant step forward for queer representation, bringing a story centered on two queer characters into the mainstream. The show’s openly queer creator and director, Jacob Tierney, played a key role in bringing the beloved book series to life.

The show has prompted many watchers to read the original book series, which includes a sequel to Shane and Ilya’s story titled The Long Game. Fans were hopeful that the show would be renewed for a second season that centers on the events of The Long Game — after all, we can’t get enough of Shane and Ilya. And lucky for us, on December 12, Crave announced that "Heated Rivalry" will indeed be getting a second season, and to say the least, fans are ecstatic about the news. Until then, audiences are eager to see Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov’s love story unfold on-screen with the Season 1 finale coming out on December 26!