Heated Rivalry
Heated Rivalry
Now Showing

Heated Rivalry

"Fuel the rivalry. Embrace the passion."

8.8
Yr 2025
Status Returning Series
Drama
Your Verdict

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Series Brief

Overview

Two of the biggest stars in Major League Hockey are bound by ambition, rivalry, and a magnetic pull neither of them fully understands. What begins as a secret fling between two fresh faced rookies evolves into a years-long journey of love, denial, and self-discovery. Over the next eight years, as they chase glory on the ice, they struggle to navigate their feelings for each other. Torn between the sport they live for and the love they can’t ignore, they must decide if there’s room in their fiercely competitive world for something as fragile – and powerful – as real love.

Status

Latest

  • Heated Rivalry renewed for Season 2 — July 27, 2026 (variety.com)
Critical Reception

What critics are saying

Score 75 /100

Heated Rivalry has generated significant buzz for its steamy, unapologetic depiction of a hidden gay romance within professional ice hockey. Critics widely praise the show's willingness to showcase direct queer intimacy without playing it safe, celebrating its sharp chemistry, playful banter, and strong lead performances. Supporters highlight how well the series balances high-stakes athletic competition with a deeply personal story of self-discovery.

“stands out in a wasteland of recent queer television that plays it too safe”

“well-made, well-shot, well-acted series”

“finds a good balance between the high-stakes, hyper-competitive hockey world in which it takes place and a much more personal story about self-discovery”

“succeeds at filming sex scenes in a provocative way, but there's very little substance to the show apart from overdramatic lust”

Transmission Paths

Where to Watch

Amazon Prime Video
CA
HBO Max Amazon Channel
US
Crave Amazon Channel
CA
Show 4 more
HBO Max
US
Sky Go
UK
Crave
CA
Now TV
UK
Why fans love it

Heated Rivalry balances the high-pressure world of professional sports with a deeply personal, years-long romantic drama. What begins as a secret fling between two fresh-faced rookies in Major League Hockey grows into a complex relationship defined by ambition, secrecy, and genuine affection. The series gains its momentum from the persistent tension of maintaining a hidden bond while actively competing against each other on the ice.

Spanning eight years of career milestones and hidden feelings, the drama tackles themes of self-discovery and gay liberation within a cutthroat athletic environment. Featuring Hudson Williams, the show channels a frantic, enchanting energy into every interaction. Fans respond to the enduring push and pull between the demands of a fierce sport and a fragile connection that neither player can fully set aside.

Featured Players

Cast

Credited 64
Regulars 17
Longest run 5 eps
Hudson Williams
Hudson Williams
as Shane Hollander
Connor Storrie
Connor Storrie
as Ilya Rozanov
François Arnaud
François Arnaud
as Scott Hunter
Sophie Nélisse
Sophie Nélisse
as Rose Landry
3 episodes
Franco Lo Presti
Franco Lo Presti
as Cliff Marleau
4 episodes
Connor McKenna
Connor McKenna
as Man in the Crease Host #1
4 episodes
Shaun Starr
as Man in the Crease Host #2
4 episodes
Andrew Carter
Andrew Carter
as American Analyst #1
2 episodes
Show 56 more
Kolton Stewart as Carter Vaughn 3 episodes Pia Maria Bazzaco as Swimming Kid 1 episode Callan Potter as Hayden Pike 5 episodes Benjamin Roy as JJ Dagenais 3 episodes Slavic Rogozine as Alexei Rozanov 3 episodes Vitali Makarov as Russian Minister 2 episodes Jay Farrar as Canadian Analyst #1 3 episodes Noah Labranche as Canadian Analyst #2 3 episodes Sam Beaton as Referee 1 episode Jonathan Dubsky as Medic 1 episode Rhoslynne Bugay as Nurse 1 episode Miss Niki Nikita as Make-up Artist 1 episode Matt Gordon as George Grady 2 episodes Ivan Swan as Russian Junior Team Head Coach 1 episode Larry Day as Montreal General Manager 1 episode Yaroslav Poverlo as Grigori Rozanov 3 episodes Trevor Hayes as Boston General Manager 1 episode Jacob Tierney as Assistant Director 1 episode Caroline Brassard as Journalist 1 episode Brian Cook as Boston Assistant Coach 1 episode Kamilla Kowal as Jacki Pike 3 episodes Aidan Shaw as Koyla 1 episode Jake Raymond as Metro Team Official 1 episode Kaden Connors as Sasha 1 episode Marc Côté as American Analyst #2 2 episodes Bianca Nugara as Maria 2 episodes Eston Stiller as Dude Bro 1 episode Brandon Ash-Mohammed as Shawn 2 episodes Matthew Finlan as Kyle Swift 2 episodes Sabrina Grdevich as Woman with Scott 1 episode Jessica Greco as Art Gallery Employee 1 episode Wayne Ward as Tom 1 episode Lana Marie Taylor as Moscow Nightclub Girl 1 episode Arthur Moukhortov as Soren Miitka 2 episodes Audrey Wellington as Girl #1 1 episode Charles Altow as Waiter 1 episode Blake Foster as Bartender 1 episode Harrison Browne as Connors 1 episode Tyrone Edwards as Tyrone Edwards 1 episode Lainey Lui as Lainey Lui 1 episode Devante Senior as Miles 1 episode Elisabeth Dachko as Ciel Nightclub Woman 1 episode Nadine Bhabha as Elena Rygg 3 episodes Dylan Moscovitch as Figure Skater 1 episode Ty Johnson as Hockey Executive 1 episode Shawn Gordon Fraser as Restaurant Patron 1 episode Beatrice Trang as Restaurant Patron (uncredited) 1 episode Chris Tarpos as Art Gallery Patron & Fundraiser Attendee (uncredited) 2 episodes Krystle Ferdinand as Carter Vaughn's Wife 1 episode Billie Mary Silas as Hayden's Girl 1 episode Sam Nicole Silas as Hayden's Girl 1 episode Marnie Leberg as Hayden's Baby 1 episode Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova as Svetlana Vetrova 5 episodes Robbie G.K. as Kip Grady 3 episodes Christina Chang as Yuna Hollander 4 episodes Dylan Walsh as David Hollander 4 episodes
Production Board

Crew

Painter
Jeannette Nguyen Stephanie Medeiros
Assistant Costume Designer
Zoe Leberg
First Assistant Makeup Artist
Tamsin Smith
Digital Imaging Technician
Okrun Eray
Construction Coordinator
Dave Bracken
Hair Department Head
Pamela Hackwell
Set Dresser
Simon Feuer Nof Polinario John Bean
Key Grip
Anthony Police
Grip
Ivan Karaulov Kyle Dakota
First Assistant Art Direction
Bryon McInroy Stephen Crowhurst
Still Photographer
Sabrina Lantos
Makeup Department Head
Joan Chell
Set Decoration
James McCrindle
Dolly Grip
Nick Yakubiw
Second Assistant "B" Camera
Joey Fitzmaurice
"B" Camera Operator
Ashley Iris Gill
Assistant Property Master
Harsha Patil
Art Direction
Alder Dunlap
First Assistant "A" Camera
Jackson Yeung
Set Supervisor
Devan McHarg
Head Carpenter
Daniel Mucka
Special Effects Coordinator
Mel Ramsay
Best Boy Grip
Geoff Pope
Camera Trainee
Victor On
Set Decoration Buyer
David Boechler
Signal Match

Similarity

Where Heated Rivalry overlaps with other shows, and exactly what they have in common.

Keyword Cloud

Keywords

based on novel or book ice hockey rivalry romance lgbt gay liberation secret relationship professional athlete rival closeted homosexual gay theme homosexual athlete rivals to lovers boys' love (bl) sport gay affectation admiring adoring appreciative awestruck cheerful enchant exuberant frantic compassionate excited
Technical Sheet

Details

First Aired
November 28, 2025
Status
Returning Series
Origin
CA
TMDB Votes
579