Heated Rivalry broke the record for the most Canadian Screen Award wins in history, winning 16 awards in total, including Best Drama Series, and Hudson Williams took home the award for lead actor in a drama series. But producer Brendan Brady revealed to journalists that achieving a record number of award wins was something he may have spoken into existence.
“[Creator Jacob Tierney and I]went to our good pals at Bell with a pitch deck on why we could do it, why we thought we could handle it, and at the very end … I said it’ll become an international sensation, it’ll grow subscribers on Crave, and we’ll get 14 nominations,” Brady said. “So we feel like we over-delivered.”
“It’s very odd to feel like the elephant in the room when this show is so f—king weird, and the success of it is so not obvious in any way,” Jacob Tierney added. “Nobody wanted a f—king hockey show, nobody wanted a gay show, nobody wanted this much sex. … It’s very cool, we’re very grateful.”
When Williams took the stage to accept his award, he spoke about being Canadian, and thanked his “honorary Canadian” costar, Connor Storrie.
“I’m honoured to be Canadian, and this is fantastic,” Williams said. “I want to thank some people, the cast and crew of Heated Rivalry, thank you for being such a warm space. Crave, thank you for putting money into our beautiful, straightforward hockey show. HBO, thank you for getting some more eyes on it. Rachel Reid, thank you for creating this universe. My papas, Brendan Brady, Jacob Tierney. My partner Katelyn [Larson], … love you. Thank you so much for always keeping me stable, because sometimes I’m not.”
“And if I could cut this award down the middle, I would, because if these gay yearning little bottom eyes didn’t have a big sexy Russian to feast upon, my performance wouldn’t be as good. So, to the honorary Canadian, Connor Storrie, I share this award with you.”
Speaking to reporters after his award win, Williams said it’s amazing to see that there’s Canadian content coming from Canada that’s resonating with so many people.
“It shows that … we don’t have to shoot somewhere else for Canada. We can shoot Canada for Canada, and be proud of it, and it spreads and it permeates,” he said. “It can just resonate across all borders, and everyone can appreciate it and love it.”
TORONTO, ONTARIO – MAY 31: Sophie Nélisse, recipient of the Radius Award, presented by MADE | NOUS, celebrates during the 2026 Canadian Screen Awards at CBC Broadcast Centre on May 31, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Jeremychanphotography/Getty Images)
(Jeremychanphotography via Getty Images)‘I’m deeply proud to be Canadian’
Earlier in the night, Heated Rivalry star Sophie Nélisse accepted the Radius Award, presented by MADE | NOUS. Williams presented the awards to her, saying that he was “nervous” to work with her, because of her extensive experience.
“I imagined that she would carry herself with a great poise and regality, and one of our first scenes was the breakup scene where Rose realizes the reason for Shane’s lacklustre bedroom performance went deeper than nerves. I knew I had to approach my day on set differently than my usual routine of cracking off-colour jokes to Jacob until, wincing and groaning, he would shoo me away to set. I was now working with a veteran actor, an award-winning actor,” Williams said.
“She was dialled in, I had never seen anything like it. She stood in front of Jacob, hitting him with raunchy story after raunchy story, punctuating moments with crass one-liners. … I had found another dance partner. And from the moment I heard action, she was the best scene partner I could ask for. … I had a lot I was working on with Shane, and she was there letting me completely disarm in front of her with her beautifully created character.”
Nélisse thanked every director, producer, casting director, cast mate, and crew member who worked with her, in addition to her agents and manager, and her “best friend,” her mom, and talked about how proud she is to be Canadian.
“I’m deeply proud to be Canadian, and deeply grateful that the industry I call home is filled with artists who care so much about making art that matters,” Nélisse said.
Speaking to journalists after accepting her award, she identified that while she’s been in projects that found a significant audience outside of Canada as well, Heated Rivalry has “changed [her] life.”
“To really see a Canadian show … with the most minimal budget ever, tiny crew, to see it flourish, … I’ve never truly seen a show succeed [that way,] like ever,” she said. “I feel very proud to be a part of it.”
Nélisse also spoke about her friendship with Hudson, and how she knew within 24 hours of meeting him that he would be a “lifelong friend.”
“We clicked immediately. He’s the kindest, funniest, most genuine human I know,” Nélisse said. “I’m so proud to call him a best friend.”
“Receiving that award with him standing right next to me, it felt like someone was holding my hand the whole time.”
Heated Rivalry co-star Hudson Williams, centre, poses with show creator Jacob Tierney, left, and producer Brendan Brady on the red carpet at The Canadian Screen Awards in Toronto on Sunday, May 31, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
(The Canadian Press)‘Heated Rivalry’ Season 2
When asked about how “spicy” Season 2 of Heated Rivalry will be, Tierney said it will be a “similar level of spice.”
“We’re getting the smutty band back together,” he said. “It’s going to be what you want it to be in that regard.”