Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney (wearing the viral Heated Rivalry fleece) and Hudson Williams playfully pose in Ottawa. (Photo by Andrej Ivanov/Getty Images)
(Andrej Ivanov via Getty Images)
Mark Carney is officially a Heated Rivalry fan. On Thursday, the Canadian prime minister attended an event hosted by the Canadian Producers Association in Ottawa, where he met one of the show’s breakout stars, Hudson Williams. The pair’s meeting resulted in a charming red carpet moment that’s delighting fans online.
The 60-year-old Liberal Party of Canada leader hugged the 24-year-old Kelowna, B.C. native who stars as Shane Hollander in the hit Crave series, and dubbed him “the pride of Kelowna” in front of photographers.
“I’ve seen a couple of episodes. Don’t tell me what happens at the cottage,” Carney said in reference to the season finale. “I’ve got to see episode five.”
Williams then presented Carney with the infamous Team Canada fleece jacket his character sports in a flashback scene at the 2016 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. The cozy, white, zip-up jacket became an instant hit online, prompting many fans to create their own versions.
“Is this like knighting?” Williams joked as Carney put on the jacket.
“I’ve made it. Finally!” Carney said, happily wrapping himself in the same fleece that Williams wore during filming. The prime minister joked, “I was a 10 out of 10 before, we’ve turned it to 11!”
During the exchange, Carney called the jacket “true soft power.” The pair then smiled for photos with Carney, encouraging Williams to recreate the playful “prom pose” with the show’s creator, Jacob. Tierney, earlier that night.
The exchange immediately went viral online, delighting Heated Rivalry fans.
“Mark Carney, I wasn’t familiar with your game,” one fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
“This makes me feel so patriotic,” another said.
“When does he sleep?” another said in reference to Carney’s busy schedule.
“This is simply totally adorable!” one fan wrote on Instagram. Congratulations, Mr. Prime Minister. We’re all very jealous! Go Canada, Go! And elbows up!”
“Canadian pride is at an all-time high right now,” someone said.
“I absolutely love this! Bravo to Mark Carney for supporting Canadian content, especially one that represents diversity in an incredible way!” one comment read. “So proud to be Canadian!”
Inside the event, Carney spoke to a sold-out crowd and praised Heated Rivalry’s cast and creators. The show, which is based on a series of books by Nova Scotian author Rachel Reid, follows the romantic relationship between two young, male hockey players who have kept their sexual identity private. Since the show’s premiere in November 2025, it has become a cultural phenomenon and quickly earned a second season.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke about Heated Rivalry at a gala for Canadian media industry professionals. (Photo by Andrej Ivanov/Getty Images)
(Andrej Ivanov via Getty Images)
“Congratulations on creating a story that has struck a chord with so many across this country, around the world. Because of you, cottage season will have a whole new meaning this summer, Carney said.
Earlier this week, Canadian brand Province of Canada announced that a version of the viral fleece jacket was in production.
“We’re releasing the fleece,” a joint release with Accent Aigu Entertainment — led by the Crave show’s creator Jacob Tierney and executive producer Brendan Brady — said.
“What started as an Instagram post and a message to Hanna [Puley], Heated Rivalry’s costume designer, quickly turned into a creative conversation with the show’s producers about bringing The Fleece to life,” Province of Canada added.
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