The new television series Heated Rivalry has become a major talking point for its steamy story of two hockey players whose on-ice animosity hides a secret romance. For viewers curious about the source material, the show is a direct adaptation of the romance novel of the same name by Rachel Reid. The book is the second installment in her popular Game Changers series, which has captivated readers since its release.
The Original Game Changers Book Series
Rachel Reid’s Game Changers is a series of six books that primarily focus on different gay romance stories set within the world of professional hockey. Heated Rivalry is the second book in this collection, first published in 2019. While each novel often features a new main couple, characters from previous books do make appearances, creating a connected universe. The series order is:
- Book 1: Game Changer
- Book 2: Heated Rivalry
- Book 3: Tough Guy
- Book 4: Common Goal
- Book 5: Role Model
- Book 6: The Long Game
The sixth book, The Long Game, actually returns to focus on Shane and Ilya, the main couple from Heated Rivalry, continuing their story after the events of the second novel.
From Book to Screen: The TV Adaptation
The Heated Rivalry television series was adapted for screen by Canadian creator Jacob Tierney, who also serves as director and executive producer. The show is a Canadian production that premiered on Crave in Canada and on HBO Max in the United States and Australia on November 28, 2025.
The series stars Hudson Williams as the disciplined and reputation-conscious Shane Hollander and Connor Storrie as the cocky and charismatic Ilya Rozanov. Tierney has stated that his approach was to take the source material seriously, wanting to elevate the romance genre with a thoughtful adaptation. He directly contacted author Rachel Reid to secure the rights, telling her, “I wanna take these books seriously. Like, I don’t want to do this as a Hallmark romance. I want to take this seriously and I want to give it six hours.”
A Fictional Rivalry with Real Inspirations
Author Rachel Reid has clearly stated that her characters are not directly based on any real-life hockey players. However, she has drawn inspiration from the general dynamics of professional sports. On her website, she notes that one of her inspirations was “the extremely entertaining rivalry between Crosby and Ovechkin.” She also emphasized that her characters are original creations, born from her love for the enemies-to-lovers and forbidden romance tropes.
The story follows Shane and Ilya over nearly a decade, starting from their rookie year. It explores the intense pressure they face to keep their relationship a secret in a sport where being openly gay could jeopardize their careers. The novel has been widely praised for its balance of explicit, passionate scenes and a slow-building, emotional love story.
The Cast Bringing the Book to Life
The television adaptation features a cast that embodies the characters from Reid’s books. Alongside Williams and Storrie, the series includes François Arnaud as Scott Hunter—the protagonist from the first Game Changers book—and Robbie G.K. as Kip Grady. This casting confirms that the TV series is weaving in characters and storylines from beyond just the Heated Rivalry novel, potentially building out the entire Game Changers universe on screen.
The actors underwent significant physical transformations to portray professional athletes, with a focus on looking like functional hockey players rather than aesthetic bodybuilders. Storrie discussed this change, noting he went through a “bodybuilder phase” that led to his casting. The show’s intimacy coordinator, Chala Hunter, helped choreograph the series’ many raw and revealing sex scenes, which are a key element of the book’s storytelling.
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A Standalone Story for Newcomers
For those who have not read the books, the Heated Rivalry novel was written to function as a standalone story. While character Scott Hunter from Game Changer appears in the Heated Rivalry book and TV series, understanding his backstory is not essential to following Shane and Ilya’s journey. This allows new fans to enjoy the TV show without feeling they have missed critical information from the first book.
The series is currently airing, with the first two episodes released on November 28, 2025. New episodes are scheduled to debut weekly each Friday, with the season finale set for December 26, 2025.
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