Gay ice hockey TV series Heated Rivalry gets steamy first look
Heated Rivalry is an instant hit with viewers. (Crave/ Accent Aigu Entertainment)
Heated Rivalry is an instant hit with viewers. (Crave/ Accent Aigu Entertainment)
Gay ice hockey series Heated Rivalry, starring Hudson Williams and Connor Storie, has received its first official look of the television adaptation.
Based on the beloved novels of the same name from author Rachel Reid, Heated Rivalry charts the on-and-off court relationship between a pair of professional Major League Hockey players.
On the ice, Montreal Meteors star Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storie) of the Boston Raiders are sworn enemies, but off of it, they’re bashing their hockey sticks together in a different way (sorry).
Revealed 24 September, two images of Heated Rivalry, from Jacob Tierney and Brendan Brady, showcase the pair’s secret love story, with one image showing a press conference clash between the rivals, and another capturing a quieter, more romantic moment between the pair.
Tierney told Deadline: “Their connection feels so real, as Rachel allowed for this complicated dynamic that grows over seven years.”
The cast of Heated Rivalry includes François Arnaud, Robbie GK, Sophie Nélisse, Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova, Dylan Walsh and Christina Chang. Its official synopsis reads: “Two rival hockey stars at the top of their game face an unexpected challenge when they develop feelings for each other, complicating their careers.”
The series will launch on Crave in November.
Heated Rivalry is the name of the second novel in the six-book Game Changer series; each book features a different couple – but Heated Rivalry (the novel) and The Long Game, the sixth book in the series, centre on Shane and Ilya.
It’s not the only live action adaptation of a gay love story that fans have to look forward to; the Red, White & Royal Blue sequel, starring Nicholas Galitzine, Taylor Zakhar Perez and Uma Thurman, recently received a major update.
Heated Rivalry will release on Crave in November. There is not yet an international release date for the series.
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