Three things make up the hit show Heated Rivalry: Hockey, high-stakes, and a generational love story—isn’t that what being Canadian is all about? With its recent virality as Crave’s most-watched original series to date, it’s clear many across the country share the same sentiment. Originally a queer romance novel by Nova Scotian author Rachel Reid, the show follows the secret relationship between two star hockey players on rival teams over the course of their professional careers: the Canadian Shane Hollander, and the Russian Ilya Rozanov.
My roommate convinced me to watch the series when it was airing in November. Going into it, I was skeptical. I had read the book beforehand and was not blown away by its writing, nor did I feel especially attached to either character. Although fan edits made from the one-minute trailer were suggested to me on social media, I otherwise went in with fairly neutral expectations. Now, we talk about the show at least once in our daily conversations.
After watching the series, my opinion flipped. In the television format, the storyline becomes much more dynamic. The physical intensity of hockey as a game perfectly complemented the emotional weight of the romance—the setting constantly demands a performance of toughness and adherence to a rigid culture. I was more intrigued when I could see the characters visibly grappling with emotional turmoil and pressures from the outside world, whether it was complicated family dynamics, media scrutiny, or the need to conceal their relationship. Before long, I was looking forward to each Friday for a new episode, with my roommate and I dutifully staying up until midnight to watch them live.
The physical intensity of hockey as a game perfectly complemented the emotional weight of the romance—the setting constantly demands a performance of toughness and adherence to a rigid culture.
Much of what drew me to the show comes down to the acting performances of the two romantic leads, who have incredible chemistry on and off screen. Hudson Williams, who plays Shane Hollander, brought a beautiful portrayal of anxiety and stoicism to his character, but also a sense of sensitivity and depth. His facial expression alone evoked a remarkable amount of emotion from the viewer. Meanwhile, Connor Storrie practically embodies the cocky yet kind-hearted role of Ilya Rozanov, all the way down to the Russian accent that was impressively developed in just one month.
Heated Rivalry is a perfect example that a show doesn’t need a big-name studio to be successful or compelling. From the start, it was clear that the series had a production team who truly cared about paying homage to and elevating the source material. Every technical aspect is precise—from the soundtrack, which highlights Canadian artists, to the thoughtful cinematography and shot composition that make the most of its limited budget. Although I may be slightly biased as much of the show was filmed in my home province of Ontario, the attention to detail is hard to miss.
“proud of the Canadian talent bringing this story to life and helping our society reflect who we are through representation and visibility.”
I share the same sentiment as former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau—”proud of the Canadian talent bringing this story to life and helping our society reflect who we are through representation and visibility.” So the next time you’re searching for your next hockey fix, consider Heated Rivalry—preferably paired with a cold glass of ginger ale. If you stick around until the last episode, you’ll even catch the McGill cameo.
