The hit queer hockey romance series “Heated Rivalry” is expanding its roster. Crave announced on August 7, 2026, that Justice Smith and Charlie Gillespie have joined the Season 2 cast as Harris Drover and Troy Barrett. The actors will play the couple at the center of “Role Model,” the fifth book in Rachel Reid’s “Game Changers” series.
Production on the new season started this week in Canada. The show is scheduled to premiere in Spring 2027 on Crave in Canada and HBO Max in the United States. The series is also available in more than 130 countries through international distributor Sphere Abacus.
Who Are Harris Drover and Troy Barrett?
Justice Smith will play Harris Drover, the Ottawa Centaurs’ social media manager. Charlie Gillespie takes on the role of Troy Barrett, a professional hockey player who joins the Ottawa Centaurs after being traded.
In Rachel Reid’s books, Troy arrives in Ottawa after cutting ties with a former teammate on the Toronto team who faces accusations of sexual assault. Harris is described as the team’s cheerful social media manager who becomes determined to help Troy come out of his shell.
Their relationship becomes a major new storyline in Season 2. The show will continue following the main couple from Season 1—Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie)—while introducing this new pair.
Returning Cast and Season 2 Storyline
Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie will reprise their breakout roles as Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov. Season 1 followed their secret relationship, which began as a fling between two rookies and grew into a years-long journey of love and self-discovery.
Season 2 will draw from two books in Reid’s series. The main storyline continues Shane and Ilya’s story through “The Long Game” (Book 6). The new couple Harris and Troy comes from “Role Model” (Book 5).
Showrunner Jacob Tierney has said Season 2 deals with “much more serious territory”. The season picks up after Ilya moves to the Ottawa Centaurs to be closer to Shane. Both characters must navigate their relationship while keeping it hidden from the public.
Statement from the Showrunner
“Rachel Reid has given us two beautifully layered characters in Harris and Troy who you can’t help but root for,” showrunner Jacob Tierney and executive producer Brendan Brady said in a joint statement.
“From the start of the casting process, we knew we were looking for actors who could create something truly special together and bring that same depth and heart to the screen. Justice and Charlie do exactly that. They immediately connected with the vulnerability and resilience at the core of these characters, bringing an instinctive understanding of who Harris and Troy are.”
The producers noted that both actors connected quickly during the casting process and captured the emotional depth of their characters.
About the Actors
Justice Smith brings a strong resume to the role. The 30-year-old actor has appeared in “I Saw the TV Glow,” “Now You See Me: Now You Don’t,” “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves,” “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom,” and “Pokémon: Detective Pikachu”. He also starred in the series “Generation”.
Charlie Gillespie, 27, is known for his role as a lead singer in a teen boy band on Netflix’s “Julie and the Phantoms”. His credits include “One Night Only,” “Splitsville,” “Suze,” “Totally Killer,” and episodes of “Degrassi: Next Class” and the “Charmed” reboot.
Both actors were already the subject of fan speculation before the official announcement. Rumors began circulating when Tierney followed Gillespie on Instagram. Gossip brand Deuxmoi later reported Smith for the role of Harris.
Filming and Production Details
Season 2 is currently in production in Canada. The show’s official Instagram account posted a statement on August 4 asking fans not to intrude on filming locations.
“If you happen to come across one of our filming locations, please give our cast and crew the space they need to do what they do best,” the statement read.
The series is produced by Accent Aigu Entertainment in association with Bell Media’s Crave. Jacob Tierney serves as creator, writer, director, and executive producer. Brendan Brady and Jayme Alter Wilson are executive producers. Lori Fischburg and Liane Cunje are producers, with Rachel Reid as consulting producer. Mike Goldbach is a co-writer on Season 2.
The series is commissioned by Bell Media’s Crave with participation from the Canada Media Fund.
Season 1 Success and Awards
The first season premiered on Crave on November 28, 2025, with a simultaneous release on HBO Max in the United States. It had a preview screening at the Image+Nation LGBTQ+ Film Festival in Montreal on November 23, 2025.
The show became a major breakout success. At the 14th Canadian Screen Awards, it swept all its categories, including Best Drama Series and Best Lead Performance in a Drama Series for Hudson Williams. The series also won a Peabody Award and a GLAAD Award.
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What to Expect in Spring 2027
Season 2 will premiere in Spring 2027, with April emerging as the likely window. The season will stream on Crave in Canada and HBO Max in the United States. UK viewers can watch on Sky and NOW.
The show continues to grow alongside Reid’s book series. Reid is currently working on a seventh “Game Changers” novel called “Unrivaled,” set for release in June 2027.
Fans now have two couples to follow in Season 2—the returning Shane and Ilya, and the new Harris and Troy. With production underway and a Spring 2027 premiere date set, the wait for more hockey romance continues.
Also Read: Heated Rivalry Star François Arnaud Joins Hulu’s Count My Lies in Recurring Role
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