• Heated Rivalry is a steamy romantic drama following LGBT hockey players – and how they navigate romance on and off the ice.
• The series is based on the Game Changers novel series by Rachel Reid.
• Season one, which launched in 2025, followed the rivals-to-lovers story of Ilya Rosanov (Connor Storrie) and Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams).
• Becoming an international smash hit in late 2025, Sky has become Heated Rivalry’s exclusive home in the UK.
• Season 2 – which will expand Ilya and Shane’s story and introduce new characters from the book series – is set to air in Spring 2027.

A bitter ice hockey rivalry proves a sticking point for a growing romance in the steamy drama, Heated Rivalry.

Based on the book series Game Changers by Rachel Reid, Heated Rivalry tracks the lives and loves of driven hockey players as they navigate their careers, as well as their sexuality in a masculine sport where being gay is often hidden.

Season one follows Asian-Canadian player Shane Hollander and Russian player Ilya Rozanov – two rising stars in Major League Hockey playing on teams with a long-standing rivalry.

But their ambition to succeed in their careers and the hatred on the ice hides a secret romance between the pair that started while they were rookies – and they are desperate to keep it under wraps.

Heated Rivalry tracks Ilya and Rosanov from December 2008 and the eight years that follow their first meeting, as the pair find themselves on their own personal journeys and become torn between their love of hockey and each other.

With outside forces working against them – including the conservative Russian government, overbearing parental figures and the ultra-masculine world of ice hockey itself – can love prevail between them?

First launching on Canadian streaming service Crave in November 2025, Heated Rivalry quickly became an internet smash-hit as people fell in love with Shane and Ilya’s story.

Critics and viewers alike praised the show, with the series earning 95% critics score on RottenTomatoes.

RogerEbert.com noted in their review: “Heated Rivalry stands out in a wasteland of recent queer television that plays it too safe. ... But, beyond its importance and its inevitable legacy, the show is also one of this year’s most enjoyable.”

Season 2 has been confirmed, and will be arriving in Spring 2027.

The central cast members of Heated Rivalry are:

• Hudson Williams (Allegiance, Tracker) as Shane Hollander

• Connor Storrie (Joker: Folie á Deux, April X) as Ilya Rozanov

• François Arnaud (The Borgias, Yellowjackets) as Scott Hunter

• Callan Potter (The Other Kingdom, Working Moms) as Hayden Pike

• Nadine Bhabha (Letterkenny, One More Time) as Elena

• Robbie G.K. (Overcompensating, Utopia Falls) as Kip Grady

• Franco Lo Presti (Bad Blood, Chucky) as Cliff Marleau

• Christina Chang (The Good Doctor, Unstable) as Yuna Hollander

• Dylan Walsh (Nip/Tuck, Superman & Lois) as David Hollander

• Sophie Nélisse (Yellowjackets, The Rest of Us) as Rose Landry

• Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova (Downsizing, Robyn Hood) as Svetlana Vetrova
  

New additions for Season 2 are:

• Justice Smith (I Saw The TV Glow, Detective Pikachu) as Harris Drover

• Charlie Gillespie (Julie and the Phantoms, Totally Killer) as Troy Barrett

Episodes of Heated Rivalry have been certified 15 or 18 by Sky – meaning the series is considered unsuitable for younger audiences and, in some cases, suitable for adults only.

Reasons for this rating is due to the show containing:

• Graphic scenes of a sexual nature

• Frequent discussions and depictions of sexual acts

• Visuals of male and female nudity

• Use of profanity

• Emotionally intense scenes some may find upsetting

• Discussions of underage alcohol and drug use

• Discussions around suicide

• Minor scenes of violence – mostly in an ice hockey game setting.
  

In season one, episodes three, five and six are rated 15, while episodes one, two and four are rated 18 for their content.

At the time of writing (August 2026), there is one season of Heated Rivalry available totalling six, hour-long episodes.

Season two has already been confirmed and is expected to be released in Spring 2027.

Find out more about each season here:

Season 1 Guide

Season 2 Guide

Further seasons are yet to be announced.

Heated Rivalry is available to watch on Sky Atlantic and NOW.

It is also available to stream on service, NOW.