Yes. Crave announced the renewal before Season 1 even finished its original run. The network cited strong viewership and streaming performance. The deal also expanded HBO Max’s international distribution rights for the new season. Season 1 became Crave’s most-watched original series. HBO Max also called it one of the platform’s strongest acquired non-animated debuts.
When Will Heated Rivalry Season 2 Premiere?
Nobody has announced an exact date yet. Creator Jacob Tierney told Variety that Season 2 wouldn’t arrive at the same time of year as Season 1. He pointed to slower progress on the scripts. Reporting since then consistently points to spring 2027. Most outlets cite April 2027 as the likely target. Treat that as a strong expectation, not a confirmed date, until Crave or HBO Max sets one officially.
What Book Is Heated Rivalry Season 2 Based On?
Season 2 draws its main plot from The Long Game, published in 2022. The novel is the direct sequel to the Heated Rivalry book. It’s the sixth book in Rachel Reid’s Game Changers series, following Game Changer, Heated Rivalry, Tough Guy, Common Goal, and Role Model. You may see it described elsewhere as the “fifth” book — that’s a mix-up. Independent book-order listings agree Role Model is fifth and The Long Game is sixth.
The season isn’t a one-book adaptation, though. New Season 2 characters come from two other novels in the series: Role Model (book five) and Tough Guy (book three). That matches how the show has worked from the start. The main couple’s story anchors each season, while supporting characters bring in threads from across the wider book series.
How Season 1’s Ending Sets Up Season 2
Light spoilers for the Season 1 finale follow. By the end of Season 1, Shane and Ilya had confessed their feelings. They made a plan together: turn their on-ice rivalry into a public friendship storyline, launch a charity, and have Ilya request a trade so the two can play closer to each other. The Long Game picks up from roughly that point. It follows the couple as they navigate a more serious, publicly visible relationship while still guarding how much stays private.
Heated Rivalry Season 2 Cast: Who’s Returning
The core cast is back. Hudson Williams returns as Shane Hollander, and Connor Storrie returns as Ilya Rozanov. François Arnaud reprises Scott Hunter, and Robbie G.K. reprises Kip Grady. Christina Chang and Dylan Walsh also return as Shane’s parents, Yuna and David Hollander. Sophie Nélisse comes back as Rose Landry, and Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova returns as Svetlana Vetrova. Callan Potter, Benjamin Roy, and Kamilla Kowal all reprise their Season 1 roles too.
Heated Rivalry Season 2 Cast: Every New Addition
Casting rolled out in four separate waves between early August and early September 2026.
The Role Model Storyline: Troy and Harris
Deadline reported the first wave on August 7, 2026. Charlie Gillespie and Justice Smith joined the show as Troy Barrett and Harris Drover, the central couple of the novel Role Model.
The Tough Guy Storyline: Ryan, Fabian, and Friends
A second wave of casting followed on August 13. The show added Edvin Ryding as Luca Haas, Emily Hampshire as Vanessa, Robert Naylor as Wyatt Hayes, Sabrina Jalees as Farah Jalali, and Priyanka as Tarek. Then, on August 25, the show confirmed Daniel Diemer and Shaheen Jafargholi as Ryan Price and Fabian Salah, the lead couple of the novel Tough Guy.
Coach Wiebe, Commissioner Crowell, and Dr. Molchalina
The final and most attention-grabbing round of casting landed on September 3, 2026. Kevin Zegers joined as Coach Wiebe, the head coach of Ottawa’s professional team and the man who will train Ilya after his move. Paul Gross joined as Commissioner Roger Crowell, the head of the fictional Major League Hockey and one of the book series’ recurring antagonists. Milla Jovovich rounds out the trio as Dr. Galina Molchalina, a therapist Ilya sees during the events of The Long Game. Coverage has also spelled these names “Wieb,” “Weibe,” and “Molchalin” — spelling has varied across outlets since the announcement.
When Will Heated Rivalry Season 2 Premiere?
Is Heated Rivalry Season 2 Filming Right Now?
Yes. Tierney announced that filming started on August 10, 2026, in and around Toronto. That’s the same general production base the show used for Season 1. Nobody has announced a wrap date yet, and nobody has confirmed an episode count either.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a Heated Rivalry Season 2 trailer yet?
Not as of this writing. Season 1’s first trailer arrived about seven weeks before its premiere. A Season 2 trailer likely won’t surface until closer to the spring 2027 release window.
Where will Heated Rivalry Season 2 stream?
The same places as Season 1. Crave will carry it in Canada, and HBO Max will carry it in the U.S. and other international markets where HBO Max operates.
How many episodes will Season 2 have?
Nobody has announced that yet. Season 1 ran six episodes, but no confirmed episode count exists for Season 2.
Who plays Coach Wiebe in Heated Rivalry?
Kevin Zegers plays Coach Wiebe. You may know him from the Air Bud films, Transamerica, and The Madison. The show cast him in September 2026.
Is Heated Rivalry based on a true story?
No — it follows a fictional couple in a fictional hockey league. Author Rachel Reid has cited real players as inspiration for the central dynamic, including the real-life rivalry between Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin.
Will Season 1 characters like Kip and Scott return?
Yes. François Arnaud (Scott Hunter) and Robbie G.K. (Kip Grady) both return for Season 2.
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