Heated Rivalry, the Canadian romantic drama about two professional hockey players in a secret relationship, will return for a second season. The official renewal was announced on December 12, 2025, by Crave and HBO Max, coming just over two weeks after the show’s debut and before its first season finale aired.
The quick renewal follows an immediate and powerful response from viewers. The show became Crave’s biggest original series on record, with streams growing by nearly 400% in the seven days after its launch. In the United States on HBO Max, the premiere was a strong competitor for the number one spot on the platform.
What to Expect from Season 2
While specific plot details are not fully confirmed, Connor Storrie, who plays Russian hockey star Ilya Rozanov, hinted at the source material for the next season. In an announcement video, he told fans to “start reading The Long Game if you want to spoil it for yourself”.
The Long Game is the sixth novel in Rachel Reid’s “Game Changers” book series and directly continues the story of Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov. The book follows the characters ten years into their hidden romance as the pressure of maintaining their secret begins to challenge their relationship and careers.
Series creator Jacob Tierney provided a simple confirmation of the show’s direction: “We’re following Shane and Ilya. That’s not gonna be a shock”.
How the Season 2 Announcement Was Made
The networks revealed the renewal news through a unique video featuring the show’s lead actors, Hudson Williams (Shane Hollander) and Connor Storrie (Ilya Rozanov). In the clip, the duo jointly unboxes a gift to reveal a hockey puck engraved with “Season 2”.
The actors described what fans can expect from the new season with three fitting words. Hudson Williams called Season 2 “hotter, wetter, longer”.
“Watching our show become an international phenomenon has been extraordinary,” said series creator Jacob Tierney and executive producer Brendan Brady in a joint statement. “Being renewed for a second season so early is a true honor, and we can’t wait to bring you even more of what you love”.
The Meteoric Rise of Heated Rivalry
The show’s path to a fast renewal began with its premiere on November 28, 2025. The first season consisted of six one-hour episodes, released weekly, with the finale scheduled for December 26, 2025.
The series broke records for Canadian streaming service Crave, marking its most-watched original series debut within the first week. This surge in popularity was fueled significantly by social media, where clips from the show’s more intimate moments spread widely on platforms like TikTok, generating massive word-of-mouth buzz.
The excitement even impacted the cast. François Arnaud, who plays hockey player Scott Hunter, spoke about the overwhelming fan reaction in early December, noting, “I’m struggling to sleep, actually. It’s a lot… I have to like delete my Instagram. It’s just too much for me”.
Cast and Crew Set to Return
While full casting for the new season has not been officially listed, the core creative team and main cast are expected to return. The story will continue to follow Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, played by Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie.
Other key season one cast members include:
- François Arnaud as Scott Hunter
- Robbie G.K. as Kip Grady
- Christina Chang and Dylan Walsh as Yuna and David Hollander
- Sophie Nélisse as Rose Landry
- Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova as Svetlana
Jacob Tierney, who created, wrote, and directed the series, will continue as executive producer alongside Brendan Brady. Original book author Rachel Reid serves as a consulting producer on the series.
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Global Streaming Information for Season 1 and 2
The series is a Crave Original in Canada and is licensed internationally by distributor Sphere Abacus. HBO Max has secured the rights for the upcoming second season across a wider range of territories.
Where to watch Season 1 now and Season 2 in the future:
- Canada: Crave
- United States: HBO Max
- Australia: HBO Max
- New Zealand: Sky (Season 1) and Neon/Sky (Season 2)
- Spain: Movistar Plus+
- Parts of Asia (including Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Philippines): HBO Max
- Additional territories in Europe (excluding UK, Ireland, Spain, Turkey), Asia, and Latin America will also stream on HBO Max.
Deals for several other regions, including the United Kingdom, are currently being finalized and are expected soon.
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