The hockey romance series is reshaping LGBTQ+ representation in sports and mainstream television.
Since its premiere in November, the hockey-themed series Heated Rivalry has gained attention for its portrayal of LGBTQ rights, romance and masculinity. Set and filmed in Canada, the series stars newcomers Hudson Williams as Shane Hollander, a closeted gay Japanese Canadian hockey player who plays for the fictional Montreal Metros, and Connor Storrie as Ilya Grigoryevich Rozanov, a bisexual Russian hockey player for the Boston Raiders who later enters a secret relationship with Hollander. Other notable cast members include François Arnaud as Scott Hunter, a closeted player for the fictional New York Admirals; Robbie G.K. as Christopher “Kip” Grady, a barista who enters a relationship with Hunter; Christina Chang as Yuna Hollander, Shane’s mother; and Dylan Wash as David Hollander, Shane’s father.
Heated Rivalry has since been renewed for a second season, set to air in 2027, as the series received a 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and broke viewership records on both HBO Max and Canadian streamer Crave.
LGBTQ Representation in Sports
Based on the Game Changers novels by Rachel Reid, the series became notable for its depictions of queer relationships in the sports world, breaking stereotypes surrounding masculinity.
“It’s like I opened a door, and there was on the other side a million people screaming about Ilya and Shane,” Reid told The Washington Post, reflecting on the series’ sudden popularity.
“Oh my God. It’s been really cool, but also it doesn’t feel real at all.”
Showrunner Jacob Tierney, who adapted the series for television, referred to Heated Rivalry’s popularity as “completely insane.”
“We had a lot of people telling us why this wouldn’t work. And they were titillated and interested in the idea, but they were like, ‘Well no, you have to do this, you have to do that.’ And it’s like, ‘No, you’re wrong,’” he said.
“What you fundamentally don’t understand is that the people that love this love it the way it is. … What is the point of IP if you’re not respecting the people that made the IP valuable, which is the fans?”
The series’ popularity also gained attention in the sports world—a traditionally masculine and straight sector—with NHL podcast Empty Netters, hosted by brothers and former hockey players Dan and Chris Powers, gaining recognition for reviewing the show.
“I cannot believe I thought I enjoyed television before I saw this episode,” Chris said at the beginning of their Episode 5 review, which went viral for Scott Hunter coming out at the end of the episode by kissing Kip after he won the MLH Cup.
At another point in the review, Dan gets emotional talking about a sex scene between Hollander and Rozanov, calling it “nice” and referring to it as “so fucking innocent and beautiful and such a first step” for Shane. After Scott came out in the episode, Dan later said, “We get one shot of the crowd, and they’re going fucking nuts. That pumped me up so much.”
The series also gained recognition from the NHL itself, with ESPN NHL writer Greg Wyshynski acknowledging the show in an X post.
“Going to spend the weekend meditating on how the hockey media would have handled Scott Hunter’s post-Cup celebration if we were all on the ice when it happened,” he wrote.
“This show was already insanely watchable and now it’s emotionally pummeling, too.”
The series has also gone viral on TikTok, with many women posting their husbands’ reactions to Episode 5.
“And he said he wasn’t into my shows but Heated Rivalry got him kicking his feet fr,” wrote user @isabellazarate2.
Another viral reaction to Heated Rivalry featured a watch party at GYM Bar WeHo, a gay sports bar in Los Angeles.
“THE WAY THE CROWD REACTS TO HEATED RIVALRY EPISODE 5 IS INSANE!!!!!” wrote user @francisdominiic.
“THIS IS HOW THIS SHOW SHOULD’VE BEEN VIEWED!!! WHAT A SPECIAL EXPERIENCE!!”
Interest in hockey by the LGBTQ+ community increased following Heated Rivalry’s premiere, with many fans of the series buying tickets after Episode 5 aired.
“I’ve never been to an NHL game,” said Scott Thurston, who bought tickets for Pride Night at a Philadelphia Flyers game, to Outsports.
“It’s Pride Night here in Philly on January 12, so that definitely gave me more gumption to go, and all the buzz about the show,” he added.
“I don’t really know how hockey is played, except you have to get the puck in the net. I don’t know a lot about the rules. But I’m definitely turned on by the show.”
However, the NHL’s support of the series has faced criticism, as the league previously banned players from showing support for LGBTQ people, despite reversing its decision in 2023.
“Wait until they find out the NHL is pretty homophobic with their own anti-gay rules like no pride jerseys or pride tape on sticks,” wrote user @Different_Prior_517 on Reddit.
“The commissioner even told fans they had to basically respect the players’ homophobia when some of them were refusing to wear pride jerseys during Pride Night,” the user continued.
“It’d be nice if the show and new conversations changed the narrative surrounding the NHL’s aversion to supporting LGBTQ+ rights and showing more support, but I doubt it.”
Viewership Records and Reaction
After Episode 5 aired in December, it briefly tied with Breaking Bad’s series finale, which aired in 2013, as the only television episodes to receive a 10 out of 10 rating on IMDb.
“This episode delivers what might be one of the best episodes of television this year,” read a review on the platform by user @ilyarozanov81, praising the performances of the cast as well as the crew.
“The cinematography really enhances the emotions they’re trying to convey, and the color grading is absolutely chef’s kiss. Other shows and films should be embarrassed.”
The series was listed among the best shows of 2025 by The New York Post and Refinery29, with Harper’s Bazaar listing it among the best queer TV series of all time shortly after its premiere.
“Heated Rivalry may have only just come out, but there’s a reason that it’s got everyone talking—and blushing,” wrote Todd Plummer and Joel Calfee.
As the series became the No. 1 show on HBO Max following the season finale on Dec. 26, it also saw success in its native Canada, with Crave reporting viewership increasing by 400% following its November debut.
“Heated Rivalry represents the very best of what Canadian creators can deliver: rich characters, compelling drama and a world audiences want to live in,” said Justin Stockman, vice president of content and programming at Bell Media, which owns Crave, to Deadline Hollywood.
“The response has been extraordinary, and seeing the series now traveling internationally is an incredible milestone.”
The Introspective 
Leave a comment