The television adaptation of Heated Rivalry, the popular gay hockey romance novel, has finalized its release schedule. The series about two rival hockey players in a secret relationship will premiere in November 2025 with new episodes releasing weekly.
The show follows professional hockey stars Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov. Their on-ice rivalry hides a passionate, secret romance that develops over eight years. The story is based on the second book in Rachel Reid’s Game Changers series.
Official Release Schedule
Heated Rivalry will premiere on Friday, November 28, 2025. The season will have six episodes in total.
The release schedule is as follows:
- Episode 1: “Rookies” – November 28, 2025
- Episode 2: “Olympians” – November 28, 2025
- Episode 3 – December 5, 2025
- Episode 4: “Rose” – December 12, 2025
- Episode 5: “I’ll Believe in Anything” – December 19, 2025
- Episode 6: “The Cottage” – December 26, 2025
The series begins with a special two-episode premiere. After that, one new episode will be released each Friday. The season finale airs on December 26, 2025.
Where to Watch the Series
The show was originally produced for Canadian streaming service Crave. However, international distribution has been secured for viewers in other countries.
- United States and Australia: The series will stream on HBO Max.
- Canada: The series is available on Crave.
- Other Regions: The show will also be available on platforms like Sky in New Zealand and Movistar Plus+ in Spain.
Episodes will be released on the same day across all platforms. This means viewers in the U.S. and Australia can watch new episodes on HBO Max each Friday at the same time as the Canadian premiere on Crave.
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The Story and Cast
Heated Rivalry centers on Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, two of the biggest stars in professional hockey. What begins as a secret fling between two competitive rivals evolves into a years-long journey of love and self-discovery. They must navigate their careers and their growing feelings for each other.
The series stars Hudson Williams as Shane Hollander and Connor Storrie as Ilya Rozanov. The supporting cast includes François Arnaud, Robbie G.K., Christina Chang, and Dylan Walsh.
The show’s creator, Jacob Tierney, aimed to take the story seriously and respect its source material. He described the series as a story where sex is the language of the characters’ love, showing how their relationship changes over time.
“The thing that we really don’t get as queer people is a happy fucking ending, where we’re allowed to exist, fuck and smile at the same time,” Tierney said. “You get to have it all in this one.”
The show has generated significant excitement on social media platforms like TikTok, building a strong fanbase even before its release.
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