Gay hockey romance drama ‘Heated Rivalry’ will be returning for a second season after the show skated its way into everyone’s hearts.
Gay hockey romance drama Heated Rivalry will return for a second season after quickly becoming a fan favourite. The show confirmed its renewal on December 12, giving viewers more of Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov’s story to look forward to.
HBO Max shared the announcement on social media. Stars Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams revealed the news in a playful video.
The pair held up a puck carrying the words “Heated Rivalry Season 2”.
“Heated Rivalry. Season 2. Confirmed,” Storrie said.
Williams then added: “Hotter, wetter, longer.”
Jacob Tierney created, directed and produced the series. He also adapted the story for television.
Canadian streaming service Crave originally commissioned Heated Rivalry. HBO Max distributes the series in the United States, Australia and several European and Asian markets.
What is ‘Heated Rivalry’ about?
Heated Rivalry quickly became an online sensation after its two-episode premiere on November 28.
The series follows rival hockey players Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov. Hudson Williams plays Shane, while Connor Storrie plays Ilya.
Both players rank among the biggest stars in Major League Hockey. Their rivalry on the ice hides a secret relationship away from the rink.
The story begins with a private fling between the two young players. Over the years, their relationship develops into something much deeper.
The series explores love, ambition, identity and self-discovery. Shane and Ilya must balance their professional careers with feelings they struggle to acknowledge publicly.
The show adapts Rachel Reid’s Heated Rivalry, part of her Game Changers book series.
HBO Max describes the story as a journey involving two hockey stars who must decide whether their competitive world has room for real love.
The series also features Francois Arnaud, Robbie G.K., Christina Chang, Dylan Walsh, Sophie Nelisse and Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova.
The show has also attracted attention from the hockey world. During a Pride Night game at Montreal’s Bell Centre, the Montreal Canadiens displayed the Heated Rivalry trailer on the arena’s jumbotron.
The moment added to the growing buzz around the series.
What will be the story for season two?
The first season will conclude on December 26 after six episodes. Fans are now looking ahead to Heated Rivalry season 2 and wondering where Shane and Ilya’s relationship will go next.
Jacob Tierney previously told Entertainment Weekly that the story would continue to follow Shane and Ilya.
That direction could point toward an adaptation of The Long Game, Rachel Reid’s sixth book in the Game Changers series.
The Long Game focuses on Shane and Ilya years into their secret relationship. The story therefore provides a natural path for the television series to continue their journey.
Tierney has also suggested that a second season could give the production more resources. However, he wants to preserve the spirit of the first season.
“There’s certainly a possibility we’ll have additional resources, and we can do some things that we would want to do,” he said.
“That would be great, but otherwise I would want to keep it spiritually the same show,” Tierney added.
The Game Changers universe also gives the series plenty of other characters and stories to explore.
Heated Rivalry is actually the second book in Reid’s series. The third episode introduced Scott Hunter, played by Francois Arnaud, and Kip Grady, played by Robbie G.K.
Scott and Kip first appeared as the central couple in Game Changer, the first book in the series.
Their future in the television adaptation remains unclear. For now, however, fans can expect Shane and Ilya to remain at the centre of Heated Rivalry season 2.
The Game Changers books appear in this order: Game Changer, Heated Rivalry, Tough Guy, Common Goal, Role Model and The Long Game.
The renewal gives fans another chance to follow one of television’s most talked-about hockey romances. With Shane and Ilya’s relationship still developing, the second season has plenty of story to explore.
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