Hopes 'Heated Rivalry effect' will boost LGBTQ numbers in sport

Ice hockey fans and players have said they hope the success of hit TV show Heated Rivalry will lead to more LGBTQ+ representation in the sport.

The series, which follows the secret relationship between rival superstar hockey players Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, has sparked conversations about sport and sexuality.

Welsh teams have reported an increase in people coming to games for the first time since the show's UK release in January.

Professional side Cardiff Devils said the team had seen a surge in online interest, with its managing director describing "more of a buzz" in the sport. Meanwhile, some lower league teams said attendance had doubled.

Devils season ticket holder Emily Garside was one of the people who eagerly awaited the show's release, having read the books they were based on.

The 40-year-old researcher of LGBTQ+ culture described it as an "amazing piece of TV that depicts queer relationships".

But she said it was complicated by the fact that real-life hockey "maybe isn't quite what it is on the show yet in terms of welcoming people, particularly... players".

However, Garside said she hoped the show set a positive example, particularly to those in the men's game.

"You can't be what you can't see and just by showing people in the sport who are gay and their experiences, even if that's not what it's really like right now, that can be the start of it becoming what it's really like one day."

The six-part drama has already inspired one former amateur player to come out.

Manchester Storm's Zach Sullivan, one of the only openly bisexual players in the male professional sport, said he hoped the series would have a positive impact.

But, he added, he felt deeply "conflicted" about the gulf between the "traumatic" reality of being a closeted player in the sport and its depiction on screen.

The Cardiff Devils claims it became one of the first teams in the world to start holding Pride nights in 2017 to further inclusion in the sport for players, managers and fans.

Garside, who has lived in Cardiff and Montreal, said hockey was a "really welcoming" sport for LGBTQ+ people and women.

But she added: "I can't pretend that I've never heard casual homophobia, for example at a game. But equally, the support from the community and the fellow LGBTQ+ friends that I found in the sport far outweighs that."

She added the strength of support for Pride nights could drive a change for the better.

Todd Kelman, managing director of the Devils, said there had been "definitely more of a buzz" around the sport in recent weeks.

"I think what this show has really done is it's opened up the sport to a lot of people that never looked at ice hockey, particularly like social media influencers that are trying it out for the first time," he said.

"I think most teams are reporting record crowds especially this year, which is great for the league."

One of the sides already benefiting is lower league team Cardiff Fire.

Alongside his day job as the Devils' team photographer, James Assinder, 40, from Newport, manages the team.

As a gay man, he has played a big role in reaching out to organisations and clubs to promote Pride events.

He said Fire's first match after Heated Rivalry's release, which was also a Pride night, saw attendance "double" on the previous year.

"I did see comments from people where they had seen [the show], they didn't know much about hockey and then they had this invite to go to our Pride night and they came down for their first time."

Amateur side Cardiff Canucks also recorded record attendance at a recent home game.

Assinder hopes the show will tackle taboos about same-sex relationships in hockey and sport more widely, and encourage other players to come out.

"I think it could be seen as a tipping point to try and push things in the right direction."

While none of the Devils have yet watched the series, players said the topic had come up in the locker room.

Forward Joey Martin said if fans get into hockey because of the show, "I think that's great".

He added: "Many organisations are trying to show that hockey is for everybody, we're very inclusive and we want everybody to have a good time and feel safe when they're here."

Goaltender Ben Bowns agreed there had "always" been a taboo around sexuality and sports, but in the UK and at the Devils there had been an effort to make everyone feel welcome.

"It doesn't matter what you identify as, it doesn't matter what your sexuality is, just be you," he said.

"That's all that really matters in our sport and that's all that matters in our dressing room."