Heated Rivalry: What does its success mean for ice hockey?

Heated Rivalry is TV's most talked-about show. Based on a series of novels by author Rachel Reid, it tells the story of a secret romance between two male ice hockey players, the Canadian Shane Hollander and the Russian Ilya Rozanov. Since launching on the Canadian streaming service Crave in November 2025, it has acquired a huge and passionate fanbase around the world; the show’s two lead actors, Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, have gone from unknowns to superstars in the space of a couple of months.

The NHL has been keen to capitalise on the popularity of the show, with commissioner Gary Bettman claiming he binge-watched all six episodes in one night – but it’s also put the NHL’s own attitudes under the spotlight. It is the only one of North America’s traditional ‘big four’ sports leagues – alongside the NFL, NBA and Major League Baseball – to have never had a player publicly come out as gay or bisexual either during or after their professional career. The league has also faced criticism for its treatment of Pride celebrations in recent years.

So could Heated Rivalry open the door to a new era in ice hockey – and is the sport ready?

TV critic Scott Bryan is one of the hosts of the BBC podcast Must Watch, and reports on the TV industry in his newsletter Worth Watching. He explains how the show has come from seemingly nowhere to connect with fans all over the world, and why he believes it marks a new progression in the portrayal of LGBTQ+ relationships on screen.

Karissa Donkin is a journalist who covers ice hockey and winter sports for Canadian broadcaster CBC, and is also the author of Breakaway, the behind-the-scenes story of the founding of the PWHL - North America's Professional Women's Hockey League. She discusses how attitudes towards sexuality and individuality differ in the men's and women's game, and how accurately Heated Rivalry reflects the realities of the sport. Will its popularity open up new audiences for ice hockey, and is the game ready to welcome them?

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