Heated Rivalry is a six-episode Crave Original about rival hockey players Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov whose secret relationship develops over years. Its intimate scenes are part of the story, but the series is also about ambition, secrecy, rivalry and the cost of hiding love while pursuing success in professional hockey.
What is Heated Rivalry about?
Created by Canadian writer-director-producer Jacob Tierney and adapted from Rachel Reid’s Game Changers books, the one-hour romantic drama follows Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, hockey rivals whose connection begins as a secret fling when they are rookies. As their careers advance, attraction grows into a relationship they must navigate alongside competition, public expectations and their own uncertainty about what they can acknowledge.
The years-long arc gives the romance room to change. The central tension is not simply whether the two players are attracted to each other, but how they balance professional ambition with attachment in a sport where their rivalry is visible and their relationship remains private. The Associated Press describes the series as tracing a decade-long secret relationship and reports that Tierney was drawn to the project for its “pure queer joy.” Associated Press, December 26, 2025.
Why the intimate scenes are part of the storytelling
The series’ sexual explicitness is one part of how it depicts intimacy; the relationship’s changing emotional stakes are another. The Atlantic’s January 2026 feature argues that the intimate scenes function as relationship storytelling, showing shifts between the characters rather than serving only as provocation. That is an interpretation of the show, but it helps explain why the romance has more to work with than heat alone: each private encounter takes place within the larger pressures of secrecy, rivalry and self-discovery. The Atlantic, January 2026.
#1 Best Overall
How the series relates to Rachel Reid’s books
Heated Rivalry adapts Reid’s novels in the Game Changers series, with Shane and Ilya at its center. The television version is an adaptation, not the novels themselves; readers interested in the source material can start with Reid’s Heated Rivalry novel and explore the wider series from there. The Associated Press reported that the show renewed attention to the books. Associated Press, December 26, 2025.
Where to watch Heated Rivalry
Heated Rivalry is a Crave Original. Bell Media announced international sales that include HBO Max in the United States and Australia, but streaming rights vary by territory, so the service carrying the series depends on where you live. Check your local listings for current availability. Bell Media’s series page and international sales announcement, November 19, 2025.
Rank #2
Season 2: what has been confirmed
Bell Media confirmed a second season in December 2025. Its August 25, 2026 announcement gives Season 2 a spring 2027 premiere window. No specific premiere date or episode count is established in that announcement. HBO Max has committed to streaming the second season in the United States and Australia; availability elsewhere depends on territory. Season 2 renewal announcement; August 25, 2026 casting announcement.
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Best Value
Rank #3
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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