On Christmas Eve, as many gleefully awaited the arrival of Santa Claus, others prepared for their long-awaited trip to “the cottage.”
As the clock struck midnight on Dec. 25, the final episode of “Heated Rivalry” dropped. During its five-week debut, the television show followed a pair of closeted gay hockey players. In that short span, it grew from being a relatively underground book adaptation to making national headlines.
Despite limited promotional efforts, a reportedly modest budget of about $3.6 million per episode, and lesser-known actors, the Canada-based production has managed to capture the attention of viewers worldwide. Stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie have become pop culture’s newest heartthrobs, and the show has introduced hockey to an entirely new audience in the process. Pre-existing fans, coupled with a new wave of viewers, are now regarding the sport with a fresh perspective.
Before becoming a hit TV series, “Heated Rivalry” was a novel written by author Rachel Reid as part of her “Game Changers” series. While the book received some notoriety, everything changed when Jacob Tierney adapted it in 2025 into a six-episode series for Canadian streaming service Crave and later on HBO Max.
For those unfamiliar with the plot, “Heated Rivalry” follows two major league hockey players in a fictional equivalent of the National Hockey League (NHL). The series traces both their long-winded athletic rivalry and their simultaneous love affair. The pair first meet during the International Prospect Cup at age 17 and are soon drafted to their respective teams. Shane Hollander becomes the star center for the Montreal Metros, while Ilya Rozanov plays as star center for their rival team, the Boston Raiders—of the Voyagers and Bears for those who read the book.
The pair then begin a tension-filled secret romance that spans the following decade as their hockey careers progress. On the ice, they are fierce competitors, while in the privacy of hotel rooms, they struggle to fully commit to their relationship and sexuality. In the season finale, they finally admit their love (not just lust) for each other and start discussing how to navigate their future as a high-profile couple.
The television series’ immense popularity is striking, not only because of its explicit content, given that it started with such low viewership. In its pilot week, the series amassed just 30 million streaming minutes. By the finale, that number had climbed to as many as 324 million. This jump in attention can be attributed in part to the impact of social media and word-of-mouth. Clips from the show on platforms such as TikTok and X have sparked curiosity and virality, leading to more viewers tuning in each week.
Regarding demographics, the show’s viewers were predominantly women, accounting for about 53% of viewers before the finale and 68% after. The combination of an incredible love story with the sport appears to have created a tangible shift in real-life hockey viewership. StubHub reported that interest in hockey tickets increased by 40% during the show’s run, and SeatGeek reported an increase in first-time attendees and single tickets purchased.
To put the global reach of the show into perspective, after recently presenting the award for Best Supporting Actress at the Golden Globes, the lead actors of the show, Williams and Storrie, were asked to be the torchbearers for the 2026 Olympics.
While numerous explicit scenes and a killer soundtrack are popular topics of commentary, it feels most important to discuss the powerful message behind the series. Despite the actors themselves embracing a motto of “sex sells,” the show is providing more than just steamy entertainment. In fact, its messaging is contributing to a positive narrative regarding LGBTQIA+ athletes.
One of the titular moments of the show involves the public coming out of Scott Hunter, captain of the New York Admirals, who kisses his boyfriend on the ice after a monumental championship win. The public’s reaction is resoundingly supportive and gives crucial hope to Hollander and Rozanov for the future of their own relationship.
“Heated Rivalry” imagines a world where men can be successful professional athletes and be accepted by their peers regardless of their sexuality. It increases queer visibility in sports media and gives young athletes watching hope that they too can be accepted.
This inclusive reflection of the professional sports industry is somewhat at odds with reality.
The NHL has had a tumultuous relationship with the LGBTQIA+ community over the years. In 2017, the organization announced the “Hockey is for Everyone” initiative to attract new fans to the sport, which traditionally had a staunchly straight male demographic. They preached a message of diversity and acceptance towards every person and every identity. However, in 2023, Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov refused to wear a pride-themed jersey while warming up, citing religious beliefs. More players took a similar stance. When faced with this issue, the NHL simply removed the jerseys entirely.
At the end of the same year, the NHL banned specialty hockey-stick tape that players would wrap on the ends of their sticks, including rainbow-colored tape for gay pride. Hockey tape is used by players to protect the blade of the stick from wear and tear. It also helps adjust stick-to-puck control. Different colored tape can be used to signal support for different social causes, such as pink for breast cancer. The NHL faced backlash from both players and fans, prompting them to reverse their decision a month later.
But since the premiere of “Heated Rivalry,” there seems to be a shift in perspective both within NHL leadership and the larger professional sports culture.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman claimed to have binged the series in “one night” and said it was well done. This vocal support follows other impactful events, such as several athletes messaging the series’ actors about the impact of the show in their private lives. Moreover, former hockey athlete Jesse Kortuem recently credited “Heated Rivalry” with giving him the confidence to finally publicly reveal his sexuality.
For the die-hard followers and those interested in seeing more, “Heated Rivalry” has been renewed for a second season. During the whirlwind press tour, Storrie estimated that filming of the new season will begin by summer. While further date and cast information has yet to be announced, it will reportedly focus on the content from Reid’s sixth book in the series, “The Long Game.”
With the show’s popularity transcending pop culture and entering professional sports, the NHL now has an opportunity to engage with new members of the fan base. More importantly, it has the chance to truly embrace diversity within the sport. Not simply for monetary gain, but to acknowledge that the culture of athletics, even those that are male-dominated, can positively change for the next generation. “Heated Rivalry” conveys a message of hope and empowerment with a momentum that is yet to be stopped.
Taylor Thorne ’28 (taylorthorne@college.harvard.edu) is currently booking tickets for a hockey game.