HBO Max just added a major dose of heat to the winter TV season with the arrival of Heated Rivalry, a romantic sports drama that has quickly become one of Canada’s biggest 2025 releases. The series was originally created for Crave by writer and director Jacob Tierney, but it has now secured international distribution and debuted on HBO Max on November 28 for viewers in the U.S. and Australia.
The first season consists of 6 episodes and will roll out weekly, building fan anticipation with every new chapter.
What is Heated Rivalry about?
At the centre of the story are two superstar hockey players, Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie). They are fierce rivals on the ice, but beneath all the competition is a connection they can’t ignore.
The show starts with Shane and Ilya as rookies sneaking around, trying to balance their growing feelings with their rising careers. What begins as a private affair slowly becomes an 8-year emotional journey. They chase championships, face pressure from fans and family, and try to figure out whether there’s room for love in a world that expects them to stay silent.
The series explores ambition, identity and the sacrifices required to protect someone you truly care about.
Heated Rivalry season 1 release schedule
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Nov 28: Episode 1 “Rookies” & Episode 2 “Olympians”
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Dec 5: Episode 3
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Dec 12: Episode 4 “Rose”
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Dec 19: Episode 5 “I’ll Believe in Anything”
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Dec 26: Episode 6 “The Cottage” – Season finale
Heated Rivalry episode 3 release date and times
Episode 3 of Heated Rivalry is set to arrive on Friday, December 5, 2025. It will follow the show’s regular weekly release pattern on Crave. For viewers outside of Canada, the episode will be available on HBO Max, making it easy to catch internationally.
The episode officially drops at 12:01 AM Eastern Time; for those on the West Coast, that translates to 9 PM Pacific Time on December 4. Central Time viewers can watch it at 11 PM on December 4, and Mountain Time viewers at 10 PM on December 4. In New South Wales, Australia, it will be available at 4 PM AEDT on December 5. Other regions follow similar time offsets depending on local time zones.
Fans can expect the usual weekly excitement as the story continues. Whether you catch it late at night in North America or in the afternoon in Australia, the timing ensures that everyone around the world can watch at the same moment. With the series building momentum each week, Episode 3 promises new twists, deeper rivalries, and more drama for viewers to enjoy.
Heated Rivalry season 1 cast and characters
Heated Rivalry features a strong cast, including:
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Hudson Williams as Shane Hollander
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Connor Storrie as Ilya Rozanov
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François Arnaud as Scott Hunter
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Christina Chang as Yuna Hollander
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Dylan Walsh as David Hollander
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Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova as Svetlana Vetrova
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Sophie Nélisse as Rose Landry
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Callan Potter as Hayden Pike
The series is produced by Accent Aigu Entertainment with Crave and Bell Media. Sphere Abacus handles international distribution.
How Heated Rivalry became a global release
The show wasn’t guaranteed a worldwide rollout when production began. LGBTQ+ sports dramas are often treated as niche, and early fans outside Canada worried the series would stay locked behind Crave’s regional access.
But momentum changed after the series was showcased at MIPCOM 2025, leading to major global distribution deals.
Confirmed releases include:
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HBO Max – U.S. & Australia (Nov 28)
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Sky – New Zealand (Nov 30)
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Movistar Plus+ – Spain
These partnerships turned Heated Rivalry into one of Crave’s biggest global originals, giving fans across multiple continents access simultaneously.
Early reactions to Heated Rivalry: fans are “obsessed” already
Only two episodes are out, but the response online has exploded. Social media users on X and Reddit can’t stop talking about the emotional storytelling, the tension between the leads, and the intimate scenes that took viewers by surprise.
Viewers are praising the cast of Heated Rivalry
One fan wrote:
“Both actors are killing it. They didn’t just look like Shane and Ilya, they feel like them. The emotional weight is perfect.”
Another viewer pointed out Connor Storrie’s portrayal of Ilya:
“When his hair is slicked back in the shower scene, he’s exactly how I pictured book-Ilya.”
Faithful to the book series by Rachel Reid
Rachel Reid’s Game Changers has already built a strong and enthusiastic fan base. Many viewers say the series stays true to the heart of the novels. They especially praise the chemistry and dynamic between Shane and Ilya, which brings the story to life on screen.
Fans are already asking for a Season 2. They believe that the show’s positive reception gives it a good chance of being renewed. The strong response from viewers shows that the adaptation has successfully connected with both longtime readers and new audiences.
The enthusiasm online suggests that people are not just enjoying the story but are deeply invested in the characters. Many are sharing their favorite scenes and moments, highlighting how well the series captures the spirit of the books. With this level of fan support, the future of Game Changers looks promising, and a second season seems highly anticipated.
Compared to Challengers, Shoresy and Heartstopper
A viewer summed up the show’s style in one sentence:
“It feels like Challengers mixed with Shoresy and the heart of Heartstopper. Beautiful visuals and surprisingly bold chemistry.”
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