The hit LGBTQ+ ice hockey drama “Heated Rivalry” is skating into a second season. Canadian streamer Crave has officially greenlit the follow-up to its breakout success, while HBO Max has renewed its partnership for the U.S. and Australia — and expanded its distribution rights to additional territories worldwide.
The steamy sports drama, created by Jacob Tierney (Letterkenny, Shoresy), has quickly become Crave’s most-watched original series to date. According to internal metrics from mParticle and Amazon Channels, viewership surged nearly 400% in its first seven days following its debut on November 28.
Global Expansion for a Canadian Sensation
As part of its growing international footprint, HBO Max has secured rights for Season 1 and Season 2 across Europe (excluding the UK, Ireland, Spain, and Turkey), Asia, and Latin America. The Asia deal includes streaming access in Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines, Macau, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.
Additionally, Neon/Sky New Zealand is set to return as the local distributor for Season 2. More international deals — including one in the United Kingdom — are said to be “imminent,” according to insiders at Sphere Abacus, the show’s global distributor.
“Heated Rivalry represents the very best of what Canadian creators can deliver: rich characters, compelling drama and a world audiences want to live in,” said Justin Stockman, Vice President of Content and Programming at Crave’s parent company Bell Media. “The response has been extraordinary, and seeing the series now traveling internationally is an incredible milestone.”
A Story That Melted the Ice
Based on Rachel Reid’s best-selling novel series Game Changers, the six-episode romantic drama follows two rival hockey players — Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie) — whose on-ice competition turns into a secret relationship that evolves over eight years.
As their careers soar in Major League Hockey, the pair struggle to balance ambition, rivalry, and forbidden love in a hyper-masculine world that leaves little room for vulnerability.
The ensemble cast also includes François Arnaud (as Scott Hunter), Robbie G.K. (as Kip Grady), Christina Chang, Dylan Walsh, Sophie Nélisse, and Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova.
The series has become a cultural talking point across North America and Europe, sparking viral fan edits, TikTok trends, and heated online debates. During its premiere weekend, Heated Rivalry was a top-three trending topic on X (formerly Twitter) in hockey-loving Canada.
Creative Team and Production
Season 2 will once again be helmed by Jacob Tierney, who serves as writer, director, and executive producer, alongside Brendan Brady of Accent Aigu Entertainment. The show is produced in association with Crave, with support from the Canada Media Fund and the Bell Fund.
“Watching our show become an international phenomenon has been extraordinary,” Tierney and Brady said in a joint statement. “We’re profoundly grateful to everyone that has been on this journey with us. Being renewed for a second season so early is a true honor, and we can’t wait to bring you even more of what you love.”
On the Bell Media side, key executives include Alison Korogyi (Senior Production Executive, Original Programming), Sarah Fowlie (Head of Production, Original Programming), and Rachel Goldstein-Couto (Head of Development, Original Programming).
Distribution and Future
The show’s international distribution is handled by Sphere Abacus, a division of Sphere Media, which oversees Bell Media’s global programming sales. Accent Aigu Entertainment is represented by CAA and 3 Arts, with legal representation from Jayme Alter at Dentons Canada LLP.
The Season 1 finale of Heated Rivalry is set to air on Friday, December 26, with production on Season 2 expected to begin in early 2026.
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