The breakout hit Heated Rivalry, a Canadian drama about rival hockey players in a secret romance, became a top show for HBO Max just days after its CEO saw it for the first time. HBO and Max content chief Casey Bloys says his decision to acquire the U.S. rights was immediate after a recommendation from a colleague.
The series, which has become a major success for the streaming service, tells the story of two professional hockey stars. Shane Hollander, played by Hudson Williams, is a Canadian captain for the Montreal Metros. His rival is Ilya Rozanov, a Russian captain for the Boston Raiders played by Connor Storrie. Their fierce competition on the ice hides a growing secret relationship that spans years.
How a Last-Minute Deal Brought the Show to a Global Audience
The journey of Heated Rivalry to HBO Max was both fast and unconventional. The show was originally produced for Crave, Bell Media’s Canadian streaming service. In early November, HBO executive Jason Butler, who handles global content planning, acquired the show for HBO Max’s service in Australia. He then asked Bloys if he wanted to consider it for the United States.
“He sent the episodes to me on a Friday, and then on Monday we started negotiating,” Bloys recalled. “It was an easy and very quick ‘yes.’”
Bloys watched all available episodes over a single weekend. He noted that, as a gay man, he had a feeling the show “might make some waves” but was surprised it was still available for acquisition so close to its planned premiere. The deal was finalized just weeks before the show’s debut on November 28, 2025.
The show’s release schedule was also accelerated. Canadian producers originally planned a 2026 premiere but kept moving the date up as confidence in the finished product grew. Justin Stockman, Bell Media’s Vice President of Content, explained the strategy was to capitalize on the high viewing period during the holidays.
The “Lightning in a Bottle” Success No One Fully Predicted
Since its launch, Heated Rivalry has far exceeded expectations. It quickly became the most-watched original series ever on Canada’s Crave platform. In the United States, it ranks as HBO Max’s top-rated acquired, non-animated series since the service launched and has held a spot in its Top 10 since premiering.
The show’s performance is comparable to major HBO Max original series debuts from 2025. It has also been a significant driver of first-time viewers to the platform. The surge in popularity led to an early Season 2 renewal announcement on December 12, 2025, with HBO Max expanding its distribution to new international markets.
A key part of the show’s success is its dedicated pre-existing fanbase from the “Game Changers” romance novel series by author Rachel Reid. Show creator Jacob Tierney, known for Canadian hits like Letterkenny, discovered the books during the pandemic and secured the rights by messaging Reid directly on social media.
“I slid into the author’s DMs,” Tierney said. “She was Canadian, which I didn’t know, and she was a ‘Letterkenny’ fan. I was like, ‘May I have your books for a reasonable amount of time and money?’ And that was the beginning of it.”
Tierney initially doubted the books could be adapted because of their explicit content, but changed his mind after seeing them gain mainstream attention.
Finding the Perfect Stars
Casting the lead roles of Shane and Ilya was the most critical task for the series. Creator Jacob Tierney knew the entire show depended on the connection between the two actors. The casting team worked to find the pair together, auditioning several actors in different combinations.
The moment Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie read together, it was clear they had found the right match. Williams later described an “inexplicable X-factor” that felt more real than any other pairing. He was so struck by the intensity of their chemistry test that he made a memorable comment to Tierney.
“Hudson told me, ‘The other guy was good, but Connor felt like he was going to pin me down and f*** me,’” Tierney revealed.
Both actors were relative unknowns before landing these roles. Williams, 24, was working as a server at The Old Spaghetti Factory in British Columbia. Storrie, 25, had a small role in Joker: Folie à Deux and was waiting tables in Los Angeles. They have both been thrust into a new level of fame, with fans recognizing them at industry parties and gay bars in West Hollywood.
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Hands-Off Approach from HBO
A significant reason for the show’s creative success is that its producers maintained full control. Bell Media in Canada financed the first season independently after potential co-financing partners wanted to make creative changes to the source material. This allowed the team to stay faithful to the novels, which they knew the existing fanbase demanded.
This model continues with Season 2. HBO Max remains strictly a licensing partner and will not be involved in the creative process. Casey Bloys is supportive of this arrangement, believing the show has already found its winning formula.
“We’re not going to be involved,” Bloys stated. “I think the last thing the show needs is people meddling in what works. Clearly, they’ve got a good sense of the show and what works.”
The show’s explicit sex scenes, which are a major talking point, were always part of the plan to honestly portray the characters’ relationship. Bell Media executives were not afraid of the content, noting that the series starts with sex but hooks viewers with a deeper love story. The show has been described as “premium smut” by its own creator, a label the team embraces.
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