Heated Rivalry Season 2 is officially confirmed and in production, with a targeted premiere in April/spring 2027.
Heated Rivalry Season 2: Release Date Rumors and Timeline
On November 28, 2025, Season 1 (6 episodes) premiered on Crave (Canada) and simultaneously on HBO Max (now Max) (US), making it a major success and the highest-viewed original series on Crave.
Filming/production of Season 2 is set to begin in August/summer 2026. Expected to release in April 2027 (or Spring 2027) as confirmed by the creator Jacob Tierney on CBS Mornings, as well as in interviews with Media Outlets such as Variety and Hollywood Reporter. Most recent reports state that April or Spring 2027 will be the most likely release date due to writing and production timelines. Previous reports stated that late 2026 would be possible.
The extended time for writing allows additional time for the writers to complete their writing, and Tierney noted that writing for Season 2 is taking longer than it did to write for Season 1; however, “still, the timeline is working out.” There could possibly be fewer episodes than originally planned for Season 2, or Season 2 will consist of more content than originally expected for Season 2.
Season 2 will stream on Crave and Max as well as through international distribution partners (Sky, in the UK/Ireland).
Heated Rivalry Season 2: Cast Updates
Returning leads (the “heartbeat” of the show, per Tierney):
- Hudson Williams as Shane Hollander (Montreal Metros captain).
- Connor Storrie as Ilya Rozanov (formerly Boston Raiders; moves teams in the books).
Likely returning supporting cast:
- François Arnaud as Scott Hunter.
- Robbie G.K. as Kip Grady.
- Others like Christina Chang, Dylan Walsh, Sophie Nélisse, and Callan Potter (as Hayden Pike) are expected to intersect occasionally.
New characters/casting:
- Casting calls are underway for at least eight new roles, including Ryan Price, Fabian Salah, Eric Bennett, Harris Drover, Wyatt Hayes, Luca Haas, Dallas Kent, and Dr. Galina Molchalina. Some involve a homophobic villain archetype.
- Rumors swirl around Jack Innanen (with hockey experience), potentially for roles like Wyatt Hayes or Troy Barrett; conversations have happened, but nothing has been confirmed.
The focus remains squarely on Shane and Ilya, with new characters expanding the world.
Heated Rivalry Season 2: What to Expect Next (Plot and Storylines)
Season 2 adapts Rachel Reid’s The Long Game (2022, the sequel in the Game Changers series), picking up a few years after Season 1’s finale (the “cottage” bliss where they solidify their relationship). Key elements from book recaps and creator teases (mild spoilers for direction):
- Shane and Ilya are in an exclusive but still-secret relationship. Ilya moves to Ottawa to be closer to Shane (about 2 hours away), impacting his career.
- They start a charity and a hockey camp together to shift narratives around them.
- Major themes: Ilya’s mental health struggles (linked to his mother’s suicide), team dynamics, and coming-out pressures. Tierney plans to show Shane coming out to his team on-screen (off-page in the book).
- Later arcs may include a near-death plane incident, proposal/engagement, a viral kiss leading to league frenzy, public coming-out, wedding elements, and plans (e.g., family).
- Expect continued steamy romance, on-ice hockey action/rivalry, emotional depth, and ensemble stories (e.g., double dates, locker room reactions). The show blends romance, sports drama, and queer storytelling.
Tierney has said the show will always center Shane and Ilya, but may not adapt every book detail verbatim—there’s talk of stretching material across seasons (possibly into Season 3). Author Rachel Reid’s next book, Unrivaled, continues their story and is delayed to June 2027