The Heated Rivalry Squad Expands: New Cast Members Join the Fray

As the world of professional hockey continues to captivate audiences, a new wave of excitement is brewing around the queer hockey series Heated Rivalry. The show, which has already made a significant impact with its award-winning first season, has just announced the addition of five new cast members for its upcoming second season.

The latest batch of actors to join the series includes Emily Hampshire, Edvin Ryding, Robert Naylor, Sabrina Jalees, and Priyanka. Hampshire will be playing the role of Vanessa, a character from Rachel Reid's third novel in the Game Changers series, while Ryding takes on the part of Luca Haas, a rookie player for the Ottawa Centaurs. Naylor will be portraying Wyatt Hayes, the team's goalie, and Jalees joins as Farah Jalali, the agent to Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov in the book series.

Hampshire has been cast as Vanessa, a character in Reid’s third novel in the Game Changers series, Tough Guy. The pair are best friends of Fabian Salah, an aspiring musician who makes up one half of the main couple in that novel alongside hockey player Ryan Price. The addition of the characters Vanessa and Tarek suggests that Fabian and Ryan’s love story will be featured to some extent in season two, but casting for those characters has yet to be announced.

Season one of Heated Rivalry was adapted from the second novel in the Game Changers series, Heated Rivalry, which focuses on the ever-complicated situationship between Shane and Ilya, who are generational talents in the world of professional hockey and sworn on-ice rivals. The first novel of Reid’s book series, Game Changers, centered on François Arnaud’s character Scott Hunter and Robbie G.K.’s character Kip Grady and served as secondary material for the first season.

Season two of Heated Rivalry will be adapted from Reid’s sixth novel in the series, The Long Game, which continues Shane and Ilya’s story. The novel finds the hockey players now in a committed relationship with one another and learning how to build a life together while hiding their true feelings for one another in public.

The show's creator, Jacob Tierney, has stated that Role Model, which takes place concurrently with The Long Game, will also be source material for the season. Tierney created, wrote and directed season one of Heated Rivalry, which premiered in November 2025 to critical acclaim.

The show's impact was evident from its early days, as it made near-instant stars out of lead actors Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie. Williams won a Canadian Screen Award for his portrayal of Shane, cementing the show's place in the hearts of fans worldwide.

Crave renewed Heated Rivalry for a second season early into the show’s first season run, with HBO Max confirming it will continue to air the series. The show begins shooting its second season this month and is aiming for a spring 2027 release.

The addition of these new cast members marks an exciting milestone in the Heated Rivalry franchise, as the show continues to expand its universe and explore the complexities of love, hockey, and identity. With its talented ensemble and captivating storylines, it's clear that this series is here to stay.

Learn more about Heated Rivalry on Crave

1. Queer hockey series Heated Rivalry expands its cast with new additions Emily Hampshire, Edvin Ryding, Robert Naylor, Sabrina Jalees, and Priyanka.
2. The show's second season will be adapted from Rachel Reid’s sixth novel in the Game Changers series, The Long Game.
3. The addition of these new characters suggests that Fabian and Ryan’s love story will be featured to some extent in season two.

"We're thrilled to welcome these talented actors to our show," said Jacob Tierney, creator, writer, and director of Heated Rivalry. "We can't wait to see how they bring their characters to life."

The new season promises to be just as captivating as the first, with its talented ensemble and captivating storylines. With the addition of these new cast members, Heated Rivalry is poised to continue its reign as a fan favorite.

Stay tuned for more updates on Heated Rivalry season two, coming soon to Crave and HBO Max.

Watch the latest episodes of Heated Rivalry now

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