HBO Max’s “Heated Rivalry” is the hit new show that mixes high-stakes hockey with a secret romance, and its story has a direct link to real-life NHL legends. While the relationship between fictional players Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov is pure fiction, the fiery professional rivalry that sparks their story is famously real. The series draws inspiration from one of hockey’s greatest on-ice duels: the legendary career-long battle between Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin.
Since its debut on November 28, 2025, the show has connected with audiences for its mix of intense sports drama and romantic tension. It is an adaptation of Rachel Reid’s popular Game Changers romance novels. While the show’s creators have made a fictional love story, they were determined to root the sports side of the plot in the authentic feel and history of professional hockey. This led them straight to the iconic rivalry that has defined a generation of the sport.
The Real-Life Hockey Rivalry Behind The Show
The core inspiration for “Heated Rivalry” is the professional dynamic between two of the NHL’s biggest stars: Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals. Author Rachel Reid has been clear that while her characters are original creations, the energy of their on-ice competition is pulled directly from watching Crosby and Ovechkin.
Reid explained the connection on her website, stating, “One of my inspirations for Heated Rivalry was, obviously, the extremely entertaining rivalry between [Sidney] Crosby and [Alexander] Ovechkin.”. This real-world matchup provided the perfect blueprint for the show. Both entered the NHL as first-overall draft picks—Ovechkin in 2004 and Crosby in 2005—and were instantly set up as the defining players of their era. Their contrasting styles and nationalities (Ovechkin is a flashy Russian goal-scorer, while Crosby is a disciplined Canadian playmaker) created a natural, media-fueled rivalry that captivated fans for years. This is directly mirrored in “Heated Rivalry” with the Russian Ilya Rozanov and the Canadian Shane Hollander.
It is crucial to note that the inspiration stops at the rink’s boards. The personal lives of Crosby and Ovechkin are completely separate from the show’s romantic plot. In reality, there is no secret affair; their relationship is a respectful, professional competition between two athletes who have pushed each other to greatness. Ovechkin is married with children, and Crosby maintains a private personal life. The show uses their legendary sports story as a jumping-off point to explore a completely fictional “what if” scenario of romance.
From BookTok To HBO Max: How The Show Was Made
“Heated Rivalry” began as a novel that found a massive audience online before it ever reached television. It is the second book in Rachel Reid’s Game Changers series, which became a major favorite in the #BookTok community on TikTok. The books are known for their blend of emotional romance and authentic sports settings, which created a ready-made and passionate fanbase eager for an adaptation.
The task of bringing this story to the screen fell to show creator Jacob Tierney, who is known for his work on the Canadian comedy Letterkenny and its hockey-focused spin-off Shoresy. Tierney was drawn to the project because of its unique setting. He described the series as “a gay love story set in the world of hockey, so its very existence is an act of rebellion.”. His goal was to honor the romance of the book while keeping the sports world feeling genuine.
The author, Rachel Reid, has expressed full support for the television adaptation. After seeing the show, she shared her excitement, saying, “I’m absolutely ecstatic with it. It’s amazing. … I couldn’t have dreamed a better adaptation of it. I think fan expectations are sky-high and I think they’re gonna be exceeded.”. This endorsement from the source material’s creator helped build confidence among the book’s dedicated readers.
Meet The Fictional Characters And The Actors Who Play Them
In the series, the roles inspired by the Crosby-Ovechkin dynamic are brought to life by two lead actors. Connor Storrie plays Ilya Rozanov, the charismatic and cocky Russian hockey star. His personality and flashy style of play are inspired by real-life players like Alexander Ovechkin and Ilya Kovalchuk. Across from him, Hudson Williams plays Shane Hollander, the polite, media-friendly Canadian player whose character draws from the disciplined reputations of stars like Sidney Crosby and Wayne Gretzky.
The show follows their secret relationship over eight years, balancing the pressures of their rising careers with their hidden romance. Their differences are a key source of both conflict and attraction. Shane is portrayed as mild-mannered and came from a family intensely focused on his hockey success, while Ilya has a harder public exterior and enjoys being an instigator. This “opposites attract” storyline is a classic romance setup, but it is deepened by the high-stakes world they live in, where being openly queer in professional hockey carries significant risk.
Why The Show Is Making An Impact
“Heated Rivalry” has sparked conversation not just for its romance but for its straightforward portrayal of queer intimacy in a major TV series. The show does not shy away from depicting the physical relationship between its leads, which has become a notable part of its identity online, often shared with memes and the hashtag #gayhockeyshow. This representation has been praised for feeling authentic and normalized, moving beyond stereotypes.
Critics and viewers have noted that the show successfully balances its steamy scenes with genuine emotional growth and conflict. One reviewer pointed out that the series acknowledges the “hyper-masculine world of professional hockey,” where being openly queer is still rare, and doesn’t ignore those real-world stakes for the characters. The show’s mix of passion, humor, and sports drama has been cited as a fresh take for the romance genre on television.
Author Vee Taylor commented on the show’s significance on Threads, writing, “Heated Rivalry is breaking barriers for both the romance genre and the LGBTQ+ community… It’s proving (again) that romance readers show up. We want adaptations that keep the spice, tension, heat & the emotional punch from the books… not watered down versions.”. This sentiment highlights how the show is being received as a win for faithful book adaptations and for inclusive storytelling.
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Where Are The Real Inspirations Now?
The real-life athletes who inspired the show, Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin, continue their historic careers in the NHL. While both are closer to the end of their playing days than the beginning, they remain active and elite players. Their head-to-head meetings still draw significant attention from hockey fans, serving as a living reminder of the rivalry that helped shape the sport in the 2000s and 2010s.
Their legacy is secure as two of the greatest players to ever skate in the league. More than just individual talent, their long-running competition is credited with making the NHL more exciting and helping to attract a new generation of fans. The energy and narrative of their careers provided a rich, realistic foundation for “Heated Rivalry” to build its fictional world upon. The entire first season of Heated Rivalry is available to stream on HBO Max. New episodes were released weekly on Thursday nights.
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