Heated Rivalry Renewed for Season 2: Canada’s Steamy Hockey Drama Scores Big

If you thought the sparks on the ice in Heated Rivalry were only figurative, think again. The LGBTQ+ ice hockey drama has officially been renewed for Season 2, and fans across North America, Europe, and beyond are already buzzing. The show, which debuted on Crave to massive critical and social media acclaim, follows rival hockey stars Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie) as they navigate a secret romance in the cutthroat world of professional hockey. With its unique blend of sports, romance, and scandal, it’s no wonder the series has quickly become a cultural lightning rod and Crave’s biggest original hit yet.

From its premiere on November 28, Heated Rivalry made a splash with nearly 400% growth in first-week streaming views, according to internal data from mParticle and Amazon Channels. Social media exploded with fan edits, reaction threads, and behind-the-scenes clips, cementing its status as a must-watch series. Its finale is set to drop on December 26, but thankfully, Season 2 is already locked in, so fans won’t have to wait long to see more of Shane and Ilya’s fiery and complicated relationship.

The international reach of Heated Rivalry is just as impressive. HBO Max continues to hold U.S. and Australian rights and has expanded into Asia, covering Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Philippines, Macau, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. Sphere Abacus is distributing the series across Europe (excluding the UK, Spain, and Turkey), Latin America, and beyond, while Neon/Sky New Zealand returns for the second season. Deals in the UK are reportedly imminent, promising even more fans a chance to dive into the drama.

Created by Canadian writer-director Jacob Tierney (Letterkenny, Shoresy) and based on Rachel Reid’s best-selling Game Changers series, the six-episode drama delivers more than just steamy locker-room tension. It’s a slow-burn romance, a tale of rivalry, ambition, and self-discovery that unfolds over eight years of heartbreak, triumph, and scandalous secret trysts.

With Season 2 on the horizon, Heated Rivalry proves it’s more than just a guilty pleasure, it’s a cultural phenomenon. For viewers hungry for romance, sports drama, and a bit of messy, delicious chaos, this series is scoring top marks. Keep your skates on, because this rivalry is far from over.