Hockey fans and romance enthusiasts alike have found a new obsession in Heated Rivalry, the Canadian series that has taken the world by storm. The show, which charts the passionate and complicated relationship between rival hockey players Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie), is set to debut on HBO Max in Latin America starting February 2026, though an exact date is still under wraps. For viewers across the region, this means the long-awaited chance to watch the series with Spanish and Portuguese subtitles, a detail that has only fueled the anticipation, according to Remezcla.
The announcement, made on the official HBO Max Latinoamérica X account, came with a tantalizing video clip from the first episode. The chemistry between Shane and Ilya is palpable from their very first encounter, and, as fans have noted, the sexual tension is just the beginning of their story. The news quickly set social media ablaze, with viewers expressing excitement about finally being able to join in on the phenomenon that has dominated streaming charts elsewhere.
Heated Rivalry is an adaptation of the second book in the Game Changers series by Canadian author Rachel Reid. The story follows Shane and Ilya as they navigate the treacherous waters of professional hockey, public rivalry, and a secret relationship that evolves from friends with benefits into something much deeper. The show’s blend of high-stakes sports drama and queer romance has struck a chord with audiences far beyond its native Canada.
Originally produced for Canadian streaming service Crave, Heated Rivalry became a surprise sensation almost overnight. HBO Max snapped up the international distribution rights just a week before the series premiere, a move that paid off handsomely. By late 2025, the show had climbed to the number one spot on HBO Max’s charts and was crowned the top-rated non-animated acquired series on the platform since its 2020 launch, as reported by Remezcla.
But the show’s meteoric rise wasn’t limited to viewership numbers. Since its late November 2025 debut, Heated Rivalry has become a cultural touchstone, dominating not just streaming platforms but also social media feeds and even making its way into mainstream pop culture moments. As Time Magazine noted, the show was discussed on Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper’s New Year’s Eve broadcast, with performer Brandi Carlisle admitting, "It’s all I can think about." The series also landed among the top five scripted debuts on HBO Max in 2025, a testament to its broad appeal and the fervor of its growing fanbase.
The show’s success has propelled its stars, Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, into the spotlight. Both actors have become overnight sensations, with fans and critics alike praising their performances and on-screen chemistry. Their sudden fame has been marked by appearances on major late-night talk shows—Williams made his debut on The Tonight Show on January 8, 2026, while Storrie is set to appear on Late Night With Seth Meyers on January 12, 2026. Beyond television, the duo has embraced their roles on the awards circuit, with Storrie reading nominees at the Actor Awards and both actors presenting at the Golden Globes on January 11, 2026, as detailed by Time Magazine.
The show’s creative team, led by creator Jacob Tierney and executive producer Brendan Brady, has expressed both gratitude and excitement over the series’ runaway success. In a statement released by Bell Media, Tierney and Brady said, "Watching our show become an international phenomenon has been extraordinary. We’re profoundly grateful to everyone that has been on this journey with us. Being renewed for a second season so early is a true honour, and we can’t wait to bring you even more of what you love."
And more is indeed on the way. On December 12, 2025, both Crave and HBO Max confirmed that Heated Rivalry would return for a second season. The renewal came with a playful video announcement featuring Williams and Storrie, teasing, "The game’s not over." While plot details remain tightly guarded, fans hungry for clues have been pointed toward The Long Game, the sixth book in Rachel Reid’s series, which will serve as the basis for Season 2. As Storrie joked in the renewal video, "Start reading The Long Game if you want to spoil it for yourselves."
The upcoming season promises to delve even deeper into Shane and Ilya’s relationship. According to the official synopsis for The Long Game, after a decade together and years spent hiding their love from the league and the public, the couple faces a pivotal decision: is hockey or love more important? Tierney told Entertainment Weekly he’s eager to explore "the dynamic that develops in The Long Game, which is, now that we’ve established we’re together and we’re choosing this, what does that look like to consistently choose through new obstacles, new self-realizations?"
Season 1 adapted the first two books in Reid’s series—Game Changer and Heated Rivalry—and featured overlapping characters. Notably, veteran hockey star Scott Hunter (François Arnaud) and smoothie barista Kip Grady (Robbie G.K.) were fan favorites, and their popularity has not gone unnoticed by the show’s creators. Reid told Variety, "Not that we weren’t expecting it, but I think we’re all surprised at how popular Scott and Kip were. So now it’s, ‘OK, how do you get more Scott and Kip?’" She also hinted that her book Role Model, which follows Troy Barrett after a scandalous trade to Ottawa, might be woven into the upcoming season, as its plot "kind of overlaps" with The Long Game.
As for returning cast members, nothing has been officially announced beyond the leads, but Williams and Storrie are under contract for three seasons, as reported by GQ. Williams teased on The Tonight Show, "There are some meanies. There are some big baddies. If Season 1 is an internal battle, Season 2 is more of an external battle." Fans can also expect to see more of Ottawa’s team, Shane’s teammate Hayden, his wife Jackie, and Shane’s parents, Yuna and David. Tierney explained to Variety, "There’s more a sense of getting to know that team in Ottawa that Ilya is going to play for and getting to know [Shane’s teammate] Hayden and [his wife] Jackie more. And there’s more [of Shane’s parents,] Yuna and David. Hopefully what will happen, like with any good second season in general, is that we will get to enrich the stuff you already know and how those threads began, and then pull on them and really get into it."
Season 1 spanned six episodes, and Tierney has implied that Season 2 will likely follow suit. Writing for the new season had not yet begun as of December 2025, but Tierney reassured fans via Entertainment Weekly, "It will not be same time next year, but it'll be pretty soon after that. It's not gonna be two years. It's not even gonna be 18 months, I don't think. So we're gonna go as fast as we can, while ensuring that we're doing as good a job as we possibly can."
While fans eagerly await new episodes, Heated Rivalry continues to expand its reach, rolling out in new territories and keeping its stars busy with press tours, audio projects, and plenty of fan engagement. For now, the series stands as a testament to the power of authentic storytelling, dynamic characters, and the universal appeal of love—on and off the ice.
