Jacob Tierney and Brendan Brady preview season two of “Heated Rivalry.” The producers say the new episodes will lean on feeling rather than plot twists, giving fans many answers already. The queer hockey drama streams on HBO Max and Crave, and the duo attended its premiere at TIFF Lightbox on November 24, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario.
The series is adapted from Rachel Reid’s Game Changers novels. Season one drew primarily from Reid’s second novel, introducing Shane Hollander (played by Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie), two on‑ice rivals whose secret, long‑term romance drives the story. Tierney also folded in characters from the first book, centering on Scott Hunter (François Arnaud) and Kip Grady (Robbie G.K.).
For season two, Tierney says the show will continue Shane and Ilya’s arc, pulling mainly from Reid’s sixth book, *The Long Game*, which finds the pair in a committed relationship while still hiding their feelings from the public. The storyline will also weave in elements from the fifth book, *Role Model*, which runs concurrently with *The Long Game*’s timeline. *Role Model* focuses on Troy, a professional hockey player traded to the Ottawa Centaurs, and Harris, the team’s social‑media manager. Earlier this month it was announced that Charlie Gillespie has been cast as Troy, with Justice Smith playing Harris.
“What’s so funny about the level of secrecy is like there’s a book — you can just look at it. It’ll tell you honestly, 90 percent of what you’d like to know is in that book.”
— Jacob Tierney, Creator, Writer and Director
Tierney added that the series is not built on hidden villains. “This show is not built on secrets. It’s built on feelings and sensation. It’s a very visceral show. It’s very sensual in that way, and it’s all in the execution of it,” he explained. He also noted that he is sharing writing duties on season two with Mike Goldbach, whose credits include *Mayfair Witches* and *On Becoming a God in Central Florida*. “Mike is such a good writer, and he’s been so amazingly helpful to me,” Tierney said, “We’re very happy with where we’re at with the scripts. We’re really happy with this cast.”
