The buzz around Heated Rivalry, the Canadian hockey romance series that has taken both sides of the border by storm, reached a fever pitch this week as Connor Storrie, one of its breakout stars, made his highly anticipated late-night television debut. Fresh from a whirlwind night at the 2026 Golden Globes in Beverly Hills—where he presented an award alongside co-star Hudson Williams—Storrie appeared on Late Night with Seth Meyers in an episode taped on January 12 and aired at 12:35 a.m. ET on January 13, 2026. The excitement was palpable, not just in the studio but among fans across the country, many of whom found themselves shut out of the taping due to unprecedented demand.
According to NBC, the anticipation for Storrie’s appearance was so intense that the network announced, days ahead of the taping, that there would be no standby line tickets available for the January 12 show. Standby tickets, which usually offer hopeful fans a chance to snag last-minute seats by lining up early, were simply not an option this time—a testament to the Heated Rivalry-mania that has swept the nation. As NBC’s own social media channels put it, Storrie’s visit was the “hottest ticket in town.”
Storrie, just 25 years old, has seen his profile skyrocket since Heated Rivalry premiered on HBO Max in the United States and Crave in Canada. The series, created for television by Jacob Tierney and based on books by Rachel Reid, follows the secret romantic relationship between two rival professional hockey players: Canada-born Shane Hollander (played by Hudson Williams) of the fictional Montreal Metros, and Russia-born Ilya Rozanov (played by Storrie) of the Boston Raiders. The show’s unique blend of sports drama and queer romance has resonated with a wide audience, with viewership numbers reflecting its meteoric rise. According to Luminate, the show’s debut week saw 30 million minutes streamed on HBO Max, but by the week following the season finale, that figure had soared to over 324 million minutes.
Storrie’s Late Night appearance was, in many ways, a celebration of this success. He took the stage with a broad smile, soaking in the cheers from a packed audience at NBC’s 30 Rockefeller Center. During his interview with Seth Meyers, Storrie recounted the whirlwind of the previous 24 hours: after leaving the Golden Globes around 8 p.m., he made a quick stop at an after party at the Chateau Marmont—where he managed to snap a photo with Parker Posey—before dashing to the airport to catch a flight to New York for the taping. Meyers, ever the quick wit, joked about the actor’s quick turnaround and the energy it must have taken to make it to the show.
But it wasn’t all glitz and glamour. Storrie opened up about the unexpected breadth of Heated Rivalry’s appeal, noting, “You think of male romance, you think it’s for gay men but there’s been all walks of life, predominately women, who enjoy it.” The actor’s humility shone through as he talked about his pre-fame life. “If Heated Rivalry didn’t go this well, I was already planning on getting a new job in a few months,” he admitted. “To be able to act and get paid to do what I want to do and have enough money to film my own things, it’s insane for me.”
Storrie’s candor extended to the lighter side of his role as well. When Meyers asked about his hockey skills, Storrie joked, “I do the other thing. I don’t do the skating.” He recounted how a behind-the-scenes video posted by a costume designer made him realize his skating needed work: “I watched it and I was like, ‘Oh, boy. I don’t deserve any accolades for this.’” The comedic rapport between Meyers and Storrie was evident throughout the segment, with the host poking fun at the show’s tendency to cut away from the action—whether it was hockey or romance.
The Late Night episode, number 1752, also featured actress Emilia Clarke as a guest, but it was Storrie who drew the crowds. NBC released a series of photos from the taping, showing both stars in conversation with Meyers and capturing the electric atmosphere in the studio. Outside 30 Rock, fans gathered en masse hoping to catch a glimpse of Storrie as he arrived, mirroring the scenes from the previous week when Hudson Williams made his own late-night debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Williams, too, was met by a throng of adoring fans—one security guard even likened the frenzy to the kind of reception usually reserved for pop stars like Harry Styles.
For those who missed Storrie’s appearance, there are still plenty of ways to catch up. Late Night with Seth Meyers can be streamed live on NBC through services like DIRECTV, which offers a five-day free trial, or via Peacock Premium Plus, which provides a seven-day free trial. Episodes are also available next-day with any Peacock plan, making it easy for fans without cable to tune in. Storrie’s media tour is far from over—he’s scheduled to appear on TODAY on January 14, and co-star François Arnaud will be making his own rounds, including stops at CBS Mornings, The Kelly Clarkson Show, and Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen.
The Heated Rivalry phenomenon shows no signs of cooling. The show, which became a word-of-mouth sensation during its six-episode first season, has already been renewed for a second season by Crave, with HBO Max confirming it will continue to air the series in the U.S. Jacob Tierney, who wrote and directed the entire first season, is set to return as director and has hinted at possibly bringing in additional writers for the next installment. With such momentum, it’s no wonder the series and its stars are the talk of both the entertainment industry and everyday viewers alike.
As the credits rolled on Storrie’s Late Night debut, one thing was clear: Heated Rivalry’s blend of heartfelt storytelling, charismatic performances, and cultural resonance has struck a chord far beyond its original audience. For Connor Storrie, the journey from waiter to leading man has been nothing short of extraordinary—and if the scenes outside 30 Rock are any indication, fans are eager to see what comes next.
