Heated Rivalry just keeps delivering. Fans who have been gorging over this erotic hockey drama might have even more to look forward to than they realized. Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams recently dropped an interesting detail in a GQ profile: their contracts for the show extend well beyond the first season. Both actors signed on for three seasons, which is a pretty solid commitment right out of the gate.
Of course, given how wildly popular the show has become, those contracts might end up being just the starting point. Crave has already greenlit a second season after the series had a record-breaking debut, so clearly the appetite is there.
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What Makes This Show Work
Storrie and Williams play Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander in Jacob Tierney’s creation, which he adapted from Rachel Reid’s “Game Changers” book series. Ilya and Shane are elite hockey players, both at the absolute peak of their careers, who realize that the intense energy crackling between them goes way beyond rivalry on the ice. What starts as a sexual relationship gradually shifts into something deeper and more romantic.
The show doesn’t shy away from exploring what that means in the hypermasculine world of professional hockey, particularly during a period when being openly queer came with serious consequences. It’s that tension between their public personas and private connection that gives the series its emotional weight.
The Wait for Season 2
So yes, Heated Rivalry is definitely coming back, and with a devoted fanbase already locked in, it’s almost guaranteed to run for at least another season. But here’s the catch: you’re going to have to be patient. Tierney told Variety that Season 2 won’t arrive until early 2027, which is admittedly a bit of a wait.
“It can’t be same [November release] time next year, because this time last year I’d written five of these, and this time this year I’ve written zero of them. So it’s going to be a little bit later, but it’s still going to be soon,” Tierney explained. He gets that nobody loves waiting two years between seasons, but he’s determined not to rush something subpar just to meet demand.
“We understand that everybody’s goal is to not do two years between seasons. And at the same time, I don’t want to put out a rushed shitty second season just because the show is very popular. But we’re very aware that our creative partners are enthusiastic and don’t want to wait too long. We’re getting back to work!” he said.
It’s a reasonable stance. The first season clearly struck a chord, and maintaining that quality matters more than speed.
Where Season 1 Ends
The Season 1 finale, titled “Cottage,” streams Friday on Crave and HBO Max. It sounds like Shane and Ilya finally get a genuine moment of peace together, away from the relentless scrutiny and pressure of their public lives. They’re in each other’s arms, experiencing something calm and quiet for once.
The big question hanging over everything: what does this mean for their future? Can they actually build something lasting, or will the realities of their world pull them apart? That’s what viewers will have to sit with until 2027 rolls around.
