Crave greenlights LGBTQ+ ice‑hockey drama Season 2, leads global.

Crave’s decision to renew the ice‑hockey romance series *Heated Rivalry* for a second season marks the largest original‑content boost the Canadian streamer has ever announced.

The announcement, made this week, also reveals that HBO Max will carry the show across Asia and that Sphere Abacus has secured rights for additional territories, including much of Europe (excluding the UK, Ireland, Spain and Turkey), Latin America and New Zealand.

The move underscores Crave’s ambition to export its flagship series beyond North America while keeping the production firmly rooted in Canadian creative talent.

*Heated Rivalry* follows rookie NHL stars Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie) as they navigate a clandestine romance that evolves over eight years of fierce competition.

The drama, based on Rachel Reid’s bestselling *Game Changers* novels, has been described by reviewers as one of the most significant LGBTQ+ shows on television. Since its debut on November 28, the series has seen viewership surge by nearly 400 % in its first seven days, .

The new season will air its final episode on December 26, but the ripple effect is already being felt worldwide. Fans across North America and Europe are flooding social‑media platforms with reaction threads, fan edits and behind‑the‑scenes clips.

In Canada, the premiere weekend saw *Heated Rivalry* trend in the top three on X (formerly Twitter), the series’ cultural impact.

## International Rights Expansion

The distribution deal with HBO Max covers an impressive list of Asian markets: Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Philippines, Macau, Sri Lanka and Nepal.

These rights are part of a broader agreement that also grants Sphere Abacus control over the show in Europe—except for the UK, Ireland, Spain and Turkey—Latin America and New Zealand . The arrangement positions *Heated Rivalry* as a global contender while preserving its Canadian production roots.

Sphere Abacus, a subsidiary of Canadian producer Sphere Media, is the primary distributor of Bell Media programming worldwide.

Bell Media’s senior executives—including VP of Content and Programming Justin Stockman—highlighted the milestone: “The response has been extraordinary, and seeing the series now travelling internationally is an incredible milestone.” Stockman added that the show exemplifies “rich characters, compelling drama and a world audiences want to live in.”

Creator Jacob Tierney and executive producer Brendan Brady praised the international momentum. They noted, “Watching our show become an international phenomenon has been extraordinary. We’re profoundly grateful to everyone that has been on this journey with us.

Being renewed for a second season so early is a true honor, and we can’t wait to bring you even more of what you love.” Their statement underscores how the renewal and global reach are intertwined.

## Audience Impact and Cultural Buzz

Within two weeks of its debut, *Heated Rivalry* drew in enough viewers to boost its initial seven‑day streams by nearly 400 %. This surge is reflected in internal data from mParticle and Amazon Channels, which tracks streaming performance.

The dramatic increase indicates a strong resonance with audiences, especially given the show’s niche focus on LGBTQ+ themes in professional sports.

The cultural conversation surrounding the series has exploded across social‑media platforms. Fans have produced countless fan edits and reaction threads that spread across X, Instagram and TikTok, turning *Heated Rivalry* into a trending phenomenon.

The buzz began early, with the show ranking in Canada’s top three trending topics during its premiere weekend—an indicator of the national appetite for queer representation in mainstream media.

While the series is currently unavailable in several key markets, reports suggest that buyers in the UK are actively pursuing distribution rights. If a deal comes to fruition, it would mark a significant expansion into one of the world’s largest English‑speaking audiences.

Meanwhile, the final episode of Season 1 is set to drop on December 26, ensuring that viewers worldwide can experience the culmination of the first narrative arc before the new season begins.

## Creative Team and Production Details

*Heated Rivalry* was conceived by Canadian writer‑director‑producer Jacob Tierney, whose previous work includes *Letterkenny* and *Shoresy*. The series adapts Rachel Reid’s *Game Changers* novels, with Reid serving as consulting producer.

Tierney also functions as the show’s writer, director, producer and executive producer; Brendan Brady co‑produces and serves as executive producer.

The six‑episode, one‑hour drama features a robust ensemble cast: Hudson Williams as Shane Hollander, Connor Storrie as Ilya Rozanov, François Arnaud as Scott Hunter, Robbie G.K. as Kip Grady, Christina Chang and Dylan Walsh as Yuna and David Hollander, Sophie Nélisse as Rose Landry, and Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova as Svetlana.

Lead actors Williams and Storrie were recently interviewed by colleague Glenn Garner about the season‑one finale titled “Rose,” highlighting the depth of their characters.

Production is a collaboration between Accent Aigu Entertainment and Crave, with participation from the Canada Media Fund and the Bell Fund.

Key Bell Media executives involved include Senior Production Executive Alison Korogyi, Head of Production Sarah Fowlie, Development Executive Adam Feigen, Head of Development Rachel Goldstein‑Couto, and Brian Blazik who heads Bell Media Sales for Sphere Abacus.

The series is represented by Creative Artists Agency and 3 Arts; its legal affairs are handled by Jayme Alter of Dentons Canada LLP.

Crave’s role as the original broadcaster and Bell Media’s broader involvement signal a strong domestic commitment to Canadian storytelling. At the same time, the international deals ensure that *Heated Rivalry* can reach audiences across continents while maintaining its distinct cultural voice.

The expansion of *Heated Rivalry*—from a national hit to a global phenomenon—highlights how Canadian content can resonate internationally when paired with robust storytelling and strategic distribution.

With Season 2 on the horizon, the series is poised to deepen its narrative arc, further engage viewers worldwide, and continue setting a benchmark for LGBTQ+ representation in sports drama.