The breakout hockey romance Heated Rivalry has quickly become a global phenomenon on HBO Max, leaving fans obsessed with the intense chemistry between Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov. Because the series covers a significant portion of the characters’ lives, many viewers are curious about the exact years the story spans. Unlike many sports dramas that stay within a single season, this show follows a sprawling timeline that begins in 2008 and stretches across nearly a decade of professional hockey.
The Story Begins in December 2008
The timeline for Heated Rivalry officially kicks off in December 2008. This is the pivotal moment when the two main characters first cross paths as teenagers. Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams), a friendly and talented player from Canada, meets the stoic and intimidating Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie) from Russia just before the International Prospect Cup final.
This initial meeting sets the stage for a lifelong competitive tension. In June 2009, the timeline moves to the professional draft, where Ilya is selected as the first overall pick by the Boston Raiders, while Shane is taken second by the Montreal Metros. These specific years are crucial because they mirror real-world hockey history, grounding the fictional rivalry in a realistic era of the sport.
When Does the Romance Start?
While the on-ice rivalry begins in their teen years, the secret relationship between Shane and Ilya takes a turn in 2010. After filming a commercial together during the summer, the two share a clandestine encounter at their hotel. The show then jumps to February 2011, focusing on their rookie season in the league and their meeting at the All-Star Game.
The first season of the show is structured to show how their lives remain intertwined even when they are apart. Key timeline jumps include:
- 2013: After two years of limited contact, the pair reconnects in Shane’s apartment, deepening their physical and emotional bond.
- 2014: A difficult year for both, involving the pressure of the Winter Olympics and a rough patch where Ilya begins to distance himself due to family and professional stress in Russia.
- 2016: The timeline moves into a period where Shane enters a public relationship with actress Rose Landry (Sophie Nélisse), adding a new layer of conflict to his secret feelings for Ilya.
Is the Show Based on Real Events?
While the show is set in a specific historical window (2008–2016 and beyond), author Rachel Reid has clarified that the characters are not based on any specific real-life athletes. However, the timeline and the “first vs. second pick” dynamic were inspired by the famous real-world rivalry between Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin.
By using this 2000s and 2010s setting, the series highlights the culture of professional sports during that time, particularly the challenges faced by queer athletes in a highly traditional environment. The show successfully uses this decade-long journey to transition the characters from “fresh-faced rookies” to seasoned veterans struggling with their public personas and private hearts.
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Where to Watch and What’s Next
For fans in the USA and Australia, all six episodes of the first season are currently available to stream on HBO Max. In Canada, the series is available on Crave, where it originally debuted on November 28, 2025. Viewers in the UK and Ireland can watch the series starting January 10, 2026, on Sky and the NOW streaming service.
The story is far from over. Crave and HBO Max have already confirmed that Heated Rivalry will return for Season 2. Given that the book series, Game Changers, includes a sequel titled The Long Game, the next season is expected to jump even further ahead in the timeline to explore the characters’ lives as they reach the later stages of their hockey careers.
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