In the world of hockey romance, exciting developments are underway as Crave’s series, “Heated Rivalry,” welcomes five new cast members. Emily Hampshire, known for her roles in “Schitt’s Creek” and “12 Monkeys,” will portray Vanessa, a sex shop worker. Sabrina Jalees, a Canadian comedian and actress, will play sports agent Farah Jalali, while Priyanka, winner of “Canada’s Drag Race,” takes on the role of Tarek, an office assistant.
Joining the lineup are Robert Naylor, a Canadian actor and musician, as goaltender Wyatt Hayes, and Edvin Ryding, a Swedish actor, as rookie hockey player Luca Haas. Naylor, recognized for voicing D.W. Read in “Arthur,” and Ryding, known for his role in Netflix’s “Young Royals,” bring their talent to the series.
The casting announcement was shared on Instagram by Crave, revealing that the upcoming season of “Heated Rivalry” will follow the evolving relationship between hockey rivals-turned-lovers Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, based on Rachel Reid’s novel “The Long Game” from the Game Changer series. The show will continue to explore intertwining character narratives within the hockey romance universe.
Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie will reprise their lead roles as the beloved characters Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander in the TV adaptation. Season one of the series adapted the first two books, “Game Changer” and “Heated Rivalry,” with indications pointing to the adaptation of the third novel, “Tough Guy,” next. Vanessa and Tarek, characters introduced in the latest casting announcement, are linked to Fabian Salah, a central figure in “Tough Guy.”
Furthermore, the upcoming season will incorporate storylines from the fifth novel, “Role Model,” involving Troy Barrett, a hockey player traded to Ilya’s team, and Harris Dover, a social media manager. Justice Smith will portray Harris, and Charlie Gillespie from “Julie and the Phantoms” will play Troy in the new season.
“Heated Rivalry” season 2 is set to premiere in spring 2027, promising fans more drama and romance in the world of competitive hockey.