Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov are finally getting their long-awaited romantic getaway, but their time alone is about to be challenged by the real world. The first season of the hit sports romance series Heated Rivalry comes to an end this week with its sixth and final episode, titled “The Cottage.” After five episodes of secret meetings and emotional breakthroughs, the story reaches a turning point that will define the future for its two hockey star leads.
The finale arrives after a pivotal fifth episode where both characters faced major personal revelations. Shane came to terms with his sexuality, ending his public relationship with actress Rose Landry. At the same time, Ilya grappled with grief following his father’s death and, in a moment of raw honesty during a phone call with Shane, confessed his love in Russian—words Shane could not understand. The episode’s conclusion was catalyzed by fellow player Scott Hunter, who publicly kissed his partner Kip on the ice after a championship win. Witnessing this act of courage inspired Ilya to finally accept Shane’s invitation to his family’s remote cottage.
Where and When to Watch the Season Finale
Episode 6 of Heated Rivalry will be available to stream starting at midnight Eastern Time on Friday, December 26. For viewers on the West Coast of the United States and Canada, it will be available at 9:00 PM Pacific Time on Thursday, December 25.
The season finale, like the rest of the series, will be released on HBO Max in the United States and on Crave in Canada. The episode is expected to have a runtime of approximately 51 minutes.
For international audiences, release details have been limited, though the series has recently been acquired for the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is scheduled to premiere on Sky and the NOW streaming service on Saturday, January 10, 2026.
- East Coast US & Canada: 12:00 AM ET, Friday, December 26
- West Coast US & Canada: 9:00 PM PT, Thursday, December 25
- Central US: 11:00 PM CT, Thursday, December 25
- Mountain US: 10:00 PM MT, Thursday, December 25
- United Kingdom & Ireland: Available on Sky/NOW from January 10, 2026
What “The Cottage” Means for Shane and Ilya’s Future
The official synopsis for the finale sets the stage for both intimacy and conflict: “Shane and Ilya get away from the spotlight for a rare moment of freedom. But when the outside world intrudes, they have to face some tough decisions that could change everything about their future and what it means to build a life together”.
This getaway to Shane’s family cottage is a direct result of the courage Ilya found after seeing Scott Hunter’s public kiss. For the first time, the two rivals are choosing to be together not for a hidden hookup, but for an extended period of undisturbed time. Actor Connor Storrie, who plays Ilya, has hinted at the significance of these scenes.
“As the story progresses, everything that takes place in the cottage was really satisfying from an actor’s perspective. Just because we get to a different level of their intimacy, their relationship. I think that’s the most exciting to me, and I also think some of the coolest revelations happen to the characters when they are there,” Storrie said.
Show creator Jacob Tierney also shared that filming at the cottage location was a sentimental experience, as it was where they completed production on the entire season.
Major Plot Points and Theories Based on the Book
For fans of Rachel Reid‘s original novel, the cottage visit is one of the story’s most crucial sections. The series has followed the book’s plot relatively closely, and star Connor Storrie has indicated the finale will be “very, very true to the book,” with only one minor difference.
Key events from the book that will likely shape the finale include:
- A Plan for the Future: During their private retreat, Shane and Ilya are expected to make a concrete plan to be together, likely deciding to keep their relationship a secret until after they retire from professional hockey.
- An Unexpected Interruption: Their romantic seclusion is interrupted when Shane’s parents arrive unannounced, reportedly walking in on their son and Ilya together. This forces a private relationship into the open with family.
- A Career Sacrifice: In a major gesture, Ilya decides to leave the Boston Raiders to join the Ottawa team, a less successful club, in order to be geographically closer to Shane. This represents a significant professional sacrifice made for their private life.
The episode may also touch on events from the book’s epilogue, which jumps forward about a year. There, Shane and Ilya announce the creation of a joint charity at a press conference, giving them a public excuse to be seen together frequently.
Also Read:
How Episode 5 Set the Stage for the Finale
To understand where the story is heading, it’s important to see how the characters arrived at this point. Episode 5, “I’ll Believe in Anything,” was a turning point focused on emotional honesty rather than physical passion.
Shane had a direct and calm conversation with Rose, where he admitted that being with men felt more authentic to him. This personal admission gave him the confidence to be more open with Ilya during the All-Star weekend, telling him directly that he is gay. Ilya, however, explained that his need for secrecy was not about shame but about real fear for his safety and career, especially concerning his ability to return to Russia.
The dynamic shifted further when Shane was injured during a game. Ilya’s visible concern and subsequent visit to the hospital broke the walls of their “just rivals” public facade. Shane’s invitation to the cottage was an offer of safety and honesty, which Ilya initially hesitated to accept. It was only after witnessing Scott Hunter’s fearless public kiss that Ilya found the inspiration to take the risk, calling Shane to simply say, “I’m coming to da cottage”.
With the series already renewed for a second season, the finale of “Heated Rivalry” is not an end, but a new beginning for Shane and Ilya. “The Cottage” promises to transform their secret, decade-long connection into a committed relationship, while introducing the new challenges that come with trying to build a shared life from the shadows.
Also Read: Speed and Love Finale: Jiang Mu and Jin Zhao’s Wedding on Two Wheels
