Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams will return for a new season of the steamy hit series. Everything we know about Heated Rivalry season 2 so far (including which book it's adapting) Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams will return for a new season of the steamy hit series. By Randall Colburn :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/RandallColburnauthorphotoe7e8b48d9f8645588439077e721a5f48.jpg) Randall Colburn Randall Colburn is a writer and editor at . His work has previously appeared on The A.V. Club, The Guardian, The Ringer, and many other publications. EW's editorial guidelines February 5, 2026 9:00 a.

Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams will return for a new season of the steamy hit series.

Everything we know about *Heated Rivalry *season 2 so far (including which book it's adapting)

Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams will return for a new season of the steamy hit series.

By Randall Colburn

Randall Colburn

Randall Colburn is a writer and editor at **. His work has previously appeared on *The A.V. Club, The Guardian, The Ringer*, and many other publications.

EW's editorial guidelines

February 5, 2026 9:00 a.m. ET

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Connor Storrie as Ilya Rozanov and Hudson Williams as Shane Hollander on 'Heated Rivalry'. Credit:

Sabrina Lantos/HBO Max

- *Heated Rivalry* follows a pair of professional hockey players whose rivalry in the rink gives way to a steamy behind-the-scenes affair.

- Breakout stars Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams will return for season 2.

- A release date is yet to be announced for season 2.

*Heated Rivalry* is red hot.

After debuting with minimal fanfare in November 2025, the provocative Canadian drama about rival hockey players whose passion explodes into lust (and eventually love) became a word-of-mouth sensation.

Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie lead the series as the star-crossed, puck-smashing Shane and Ilya. The previously unknown actors soon found themselves mucking it up at the Golden Globes, being parodied on *Saturday Night Live*, and getting tapped as the official torchbearers for this year's Winter Olympics. Jimmy Fallon even told ** that Williams' guest spot on *The Tonight Show* resulted in "one of the hottest audiences we've ever had."

As the stars, like their characters, learn to find a balance between their public and private lives, fans are eager for a follow-up to the show's debut season. But will there be a season 2 of *Heated Rivalry*? If so, what novel will it adapt from Rachel Reid's ever-expanding book series?

Below is everything we know so far about *Heated Rivalry* season 2.**

Will there be a season 2 of Heated Rivalry?

Hudson Williams as Shane Hollander and Connor Storrie as Ilya Rozanov on 'Heated Rivalry'.

Courtesy Bell Media

Yes, *Heated Rivalry* was renewed for a second season in December 2025. HBO Max will once again distribute the series in the U.S.

"*Heated Rivalry* represents the very best of what Canadian creators can deliver: Rich characters, compelling drama, and a world audiences want to live in," said Justin Stockman, VP of Content and Programming at Crave's parent company Bell Media, in a statement. "The response has been extraordinary, and seeing the series now traveling internationally is an incredible milestone."

In an adorable (and cheeky) clip shared by HBO Max, Storrie and Williams opened a gift containing a puck with "season 2" scrawled on it. "Hotter, wetter, longer," deadpans Williams.**

How did Heated Rivalry season 1 end?

The season 1 finale of 'Heated Rivalry'.

Season 1 of *Heated Rivalry* ends with Shane and Ilya's frenzied lust giving way to something more tender. While enjoying solitude together at Shane's cottage, the pair confess their love for each other and begin using the word "boyfriend."

It's sweet, but it gets complicated when Shane's father catching the two of them kissing. This prompts Shane to finally come out to his parents, resulting in an apology from his mother (Yuna Hollander).**

In an interview with EW, showrunner Jacob Tierney spoke about his affection for the ending of Reid's *Heated Rivalry*, the second book in her series and the one on which season 1 is mostly based. "What I remember so clearly feeling at the end of this book was, 'I'm so happy they get to be happy,' that I just wanted to sit with them and let them be happy," he said, also noting that he wanted the season to similarly have a "quiet ending with Shane and Ilya."**

What will Heated Rivalry season 2 be about?

Hudson Williams as Shane and Connor Storrie as Ilya on 'Heated Rivalry'.

Sabrina Lantos/HBO Max

As Tierney previously told EW, season 2 will continue following Shane and Ilya. "That's not gonna be a shock," he admitted.

That said, you'd be forgiven for wondering if the show might pivot. Reid's *Game Changers* series, after all, is ensemble-driven; not every book centers on Shane and Ilya. François Arnaud's Scott Hunter and Robbie G.K.'s Kip Grady, for example, are the subject of their own book, which was partially adapted in *Heated Rivalry* season 1.

'Heated Rivalry' stars talk overnight success, butt tweets, and viral moments

The 'Heated Rivalry' sex talk with creator Jacob Tierney: 'We're making smut. Let's go!'

In the HBO Max clip announcing season 2, Storrie and Williams confirmed that season 2 will adapt 2022's *The Long Game*, the sixth book in Reid's series. *The Long Game* picks up 10 years after the events of *Heated Rivalry*, and finds Shane and Ilya still dating in secret. Ilya wants to finally go public with their relationship, but Shane worries how it will impact his career if they do.

"It's time for them to decide what's most important — hockey or love," reads a synopsis.**

In a December 2025 chat with EW, Storrie spoke about the elements of the book he hopes to see in season 2. "I'm interested to play at the dynamic that develops in *The Long Game,* which is, now that we've established we're together and we're choosing this, what does that look like to consistently choose through new obstacles, new self-realizations?" he said. "We're in the real leagues now, and it's cool to watch these people that have been in this heightened reality for so long. The other shoe drops that deepens the love, but that also tests some of their personal limits."**

Who's in the cast of Heated Rivalry season 2?

Matthew Finlan as Kyle Swift on 'Heated Rivalry'.

Storrie and Williams will continue to be at the center of *Heated Rivalry*, but it's likely that the cast will grow in season 2.

In a recent interview with the *Los Angeles Times*, Tierney said he hopes to fold in more characters from Reid's book series. "Just like you can't tell the story without Scott Hunter, you can't really tell the story without Troy Barrett," he said. (Troy, who has yet to be introduced on the show, leads Reid's 2021 novel *Role Model*.)

Another key character in the larger *Game Changers *lore is Kyle Swift, who was briefly introduced in the first season as a bartender at Kingfisher. Kyle, here played by Matthew Finlan, is the subject of Reid's 2020 novel *Common Goal, *in which he nurses a crush on Kip and gets involved with an older hockey player named Eric Bennett.

Will Kyle play a bigger role in season 2? That's yet to be seen. "I'm not being coy about that. That's the same Kyle," Tierney told the EW. "I don't know what his love life looks like. I don't know what that journey's gonna be or when, but that's the same Kyle for sure."**

How many episodes will there be of Heated Rivalry season 2?

Like season 1, *Heated Rivalry* season 2 will likely consist of six episodes, according to Tierney.

"I don't need to do 10. I would always rather tighten the belt than get loosey-goosey," the showrunner revealed to the *Times*. "I would rather be like, 'Let's see how much story we can pack into these episodes.'"**

When does Heated Rivalry season 2 come out?

Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie on 'Heated Rivalry'.

Sabrina Lantos/HBO Max

A season 2 premiere date has yet to be confirmed, but Tierney told EW that he doesn't plan for the wait to exceed 18 months.

"It will not be same time next year, but it'll be pretty soon after that," he said. "It's not gonna be two years. It's not even gonna be 18 months, I don't think. So we're gonna go as fast as we can, while ensuring that we're doing as good a job as we possibly can."

A safe bet, based on these remarks, is a spring 2027 release.**

Where can I watch Heated Rivalry?

*Heated Rivalry* is currently streaming on HBO Max in the U.S. and on Crave in Canada.

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Published: February 05, 2026 at 04:58PM on Source: MARIO MAG

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