The next chapter of Shane and Ilya’s complicated romance is almost here. Heated Rivalry Episode 5, titled I’ll Believe in Anything, arrives this week as the penultimate episode of the show’s first season. Following the emotional turmoil of Episode 4, fans are eager to see if the two hockey stars can navigate their growing feelings for each other. This guide covers everything you need to know about the release, where to stream it, and what might happen next in this breakout series.
Episode 5 Release Date and Time
The fifth episode of Heated Rivalry will be available to stream on Friday, December 19, 2025. New episodes debut on the streaming platform at 12 a.m. Pacific Time (PT) / 3 a.m. Eastern Time (ET).
For viewers outside North America, check your local streaming service for availability. The show is a Crave original in Canada and is streaming on HBO Max in the United States and Australia.
Here is the complete release schedule for Heated Rivalry Season 1:
- Episode 1: “Rookies” – Released November 28, 2025
- Episode 2: “Olympians” – Released November 28, 2025
- Episode 3: “Hunter” – Released December 5, 2025
- Episode 4: “Rose” – Released December 12, 2025
- Episode 5: “I’ll Believe in Anything” – Releases December 19, 2025
- Episode 6: “The Cottage” – Releases December 26, 2025 (Season Finale)
Where Is Heated Rivalry Available to Stream?
Heated Rivalry has a dedicated home service in Canada and is actively expanding globally through HBO Max and other partners. Check your region against this list to find the official platform.
- Canada: Crave (the original broadcaster)
- United States: HBO Max (often bundled with Hulu and Disney+)
- Australia: HBO Max
- New Zealand: Neon / Sky
- Parts of Asia: HBO Max (Including Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Philippines, Macau, Sri Lanka, and Nepal)
- Parts of Europe and Latin America: HBO Max (excluding the UK, Ireland, Spain, and Turkey)
If you are located in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Spain, or Turkey, a streaming deal has not been finalized as of December 2025. However, industry reports from Deadline and others indicate that negotiations are in progress for these territories, and an announcement may be coming soon.
If you try to visit the HBO Max show page from a country where the series is not officially available, you will typically see a message stating, “This title currently isn’t available to watch in your country”.
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What Happened in Episode 4: “Rose”?
Episode 4, “Rose,” left Shane and Ilya in a state of tense longing. The episode showed their secret relationship from 2014 to 2016. After the Montreal Metros win a championship, a hookup at Ilya’s apartment takes a more domestic turn, which makes Shane uncomfortable. He panics and leaves when Ilya calls him by his first name, a break from their usual dynamic.
“You can read an arc, but you can’t really play one,” actor Hudson Williams (Shane) said about filming these pivotal scenes. “I remember the tuna melt scene and where that goes… I just felt gross in my stomach. I just want to cry.”
After fleeing Ilya’s place, Shane begins a public relationship with movie star Rose Landry, played by Sophie Nélisse. The episode ends with a charged moment at a Montreal nightclub. Shane is with Rose, and Ilya is with a date, but they share a look across the dance floor full of unspoken emotion, set to the song “All The Things She Said”.
What to Expect from Episode 5 and Season 2 News
As the second-to-last episode of the season, “I’ll Believe in Anything” will likely deal with the fallout from the club and the complications Rose brings to Shane and Ilya’s relationship. The characters are at a point where they must seriously consider what they mean to each other and if a future together is possible in the world of professional hockey.
The show has already been renewed for a second season, so fans can look forward to more of the story after the Season 1 finale on December 26.
The Cast and Creative Team
The series stars Hudson Williams as the principled Canadian player Shane Hollander and Connor Storrie as his rival, the intense Russian athlete Ilya Rozanov. The supporting cast includes François Arnaud as Scott Hunter, Sophie Nélisse as Rose Landry, and Christina Chang and Dylan Walsh as Shane’s parents.
Heated Rivalry is based on the popular book of the same name from Rachel Reid‘s Game Changers series. The TV adaptation was created and is directed by Jacob Tierney.
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