‘Heated Rivalry’ Season 2 Tease Hints a Silver-Fox Goalie May Join TV’s Hottest Hockey Romance

When "Heated Rivalry" premiered earlier this year, the Canadian sports romance quickly became a breakout success for Crave and HBO Max, centering an intense, years-long relationship between rival pro hockey stars Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov. Now, new hints from reporting about season 2 have fans looking closely at a potential new addition: a veteran goaltender whose storyline could introduce an age-gap queer romance to the series’ expanding universe.

"Heated Rivalry" is created, written, and directed by Jacob Tierney for Crave, adapted from Rachel Reid’s "Game Changers" series of LGBTQ+ hockey novels. The show follows Canadian star Shane Hollander of the Montreal Metros and Russian captain Ilya Rozanov of the Boston Raiders, whose highly public on-ice rivalry conceals a secret, passionate relationship that unfolds over nearly a decade. The series is led by actors Hudson Williams as Shane and Connor Storrie as Ilya, with supporting performances from François Arnaud as New York Admirals captain Scott Hunter and Robbie G.K. as Scott’s boyfriend Kip Grady.

Coverage in entertainment outlets has emphasized that the show’s success is rooted not only in its romantic tension but also in its detailed portrayal of queer life in elite men’s hockey, including closeted relationships, media scrutiny, and the pressures of league culture. The first season has also been noted for casting real-life transgender hockey player Harrison Browne in a supporting role as Connors, bringing lived experience of a transgender athlete into the production.

In a promotional video shared by HBO Max featuring leads Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, the streaming service confirmed that "Heated Rivalry" has been renewed for a second season, with production timed to continue the story of Shane and Ilya’s relationship after a decade of secrecy. The renewal aligns with the trajectory of Reid’s novels: reporting from Cosmopolitan states that the new season is expected to adapt "The Long Game", which follows Shane and Ilya as they weigh coming out publicly against the risks to their careers.

However, Cosmopolitan also notes that the television adaptation has already woven in characters from across the book series, including Scott Hunter and Kip Grady from "Game Changer", effectively turning "Heated Rivalry" into a larger “Game Changers universe” on screen. This ensemble approach has opened the door for additional couples from the novels to appear earlier than their book order would suggest.

In a piece examining the future of the series, Queerty points to "Common Goal"—the fourth book in the "Game Changers" series—as a likely source for one of season 2’s most intriguing new faces. Cosmopolitan outlines the "Common Goal" storyline: veteran goaltender Eric Bennett, a retired professional hockey player, begins dating men for the first time later in life, and becomes involved with younger graduate student Kyle Swift, who initially intends their connection to remain a casual, friends-with-benefits arrangement before deeper feelings emerge.

The Cosmopolitan report argues that, because the show has already introduced characters tied to other books out of chronological order, "Common Goal" is a “strong candidate” for integration into season 2, positioning its silver-fox goalie as a potential breakout addition to the ensemble. Queerty builds on that reading, suggesting that casting and narrative hints could be pointing toward Eric Bennett stepping onto the ice in the next chapter of the television series. However, neither HBO Max nor Crave has formally announced the inclusion of Eric Bennett or Kyle Swift as of this writing.

LGBTQ+ media outlets have framed "Heated Rivalry" as part of a broader shift toward more complex queer representation in sports-centered storytelling, including narratives that address closeting, homophobia, and the personal costs of visibility in professional leagues. The possible addition of a character like Eric Bennett—an older man exploring his sexuality later in life—would broaden that lens to include storylines about coming out in midlife, intergenerational queer relationships, and navigating desire and identity after retirement from elite sport.

By continuing to center gay, bisexual, and queer men in a hyper-masculine sports setting, and by involving transgender talent such as Harrison Browne in front of the camera, "Heated Rivalry"has been cited by commentators as a notable example of contemporary, inclusive LGBTQ+ television. If season 2 does indeed introduce a storyline inspired by "Common Goal", the series may further solidify its reputation as an expansive, character-driven exploration of queer love, friendship, and community around the rink.