Even with the frosty weather, things sure have heated up over the winter with the release of “Heated Rivalry” on HBO Max, and it’s safe to say actors Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams are on fire.
Based on the “Game Changers” series by author Rachel Reid, Crave picked up the series to be written and directed by Jacob Tierny. The show follows Canadian hockey captain, Shane Hollander and Russian hockey captain, Ilya Rozanov as they spark an intense, decade-long secret relationship, with their animosity growing on the ice and infatuation behind closed doors.
The series premiered on Crave, Nov. 28, 2025, but after high demand, HBO Max picked it up for streaming, and it became an immediate global sensation. The show, made on an incredibly low budget, is impressive. The top notch directing, costumes, and well-trained actors on set made for an appealing, provocative and surprisingly touching show. While bringing attention to the struggle of LGBTQ+ athletes, and diving into themes of self-acceptance and vulnerability, it is renowned not just for its unique content, but for its relatability.
Because of the show’s success, it has been nominated for Outstanding New TV Series by GLAAD Media Awards, and Best TV Drama by the Queerties Awards. While the show has been a hit in the U.S., it was entirely financed and made in Canada, so it doesn’t meet the requirements for many of the traditional award events.
Despite this, the series quickly got greenlit for a second season, but something more extraordinary than the show’s success is the rapid rise to stardom by the lead actors, Storrie and Williams. In October, they both had a following of around 10k each. By the series finale in December, they were well over a million followers, now sitting close to three million.
Prior to the start of “Heated Rivalry”, Storrie and Williams were both working in the service industry waiting tables before their big breaks. In just a few short months, these men went from unrecognizable to undeniable stars with opportunities on the way. And since the finale, their faces have been everywhere.
Williams was on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” and Storrie on “Late Night With Seth Meyers.” They were both invited to the Golden Globes as presenters for Best Supporting Female Actor in a TV Series and the actors narrated an audio romance titled “Ember & Ice” on Quinn, these appearances have been giving the public exactly what they want: more. More recently, Storrie and Williams were the torchbearers for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
Unlike the copy-and-paste, closed-off, and repetitive faces of Hollywood, Corrie and Williams are fresh faces, filled with passion. It’s also so refreshing to see an off-screen friendship with Corrie and Williams. Their constant giggling, jokes, and relatability are the backbone of the show’s success, and while the show is certainly incredible by itself, it’s quickly shown to become more than that, cementing itself as a pop culture phenomenon with an everlasting impact. Not to mention their “Sex Sells” matching tattoos, got the entertainment world buzzing.
From going viral online, specifically TikTok, selling out clubs across the U.S. who are hosting “Heated Rivalry” themed parties and playing edits on the screens of the club, to reviving t.A.T.u’s song “All The Things She Said” and trending “My Moon My Man” by Feist, “Heated Rivalry” not only has impacted streaming but the global charts.
On a more sentimental level, the show, the actors’ open support for LGBTQ+ community has had such a heartwarming impact on the sports industry and LGBTQ+ athletes. Many have shared their struggles online and expressed how the show has been a source of comfort for them. The show’s encouraging portrayal of gay athletes have helped push many professional athletes, such as hockey player Jesse Korteum, to come out on social media.
Whether you’re an athlete, romance indulger, or simply in for a good time, “Heated Rivalry” is an entertaining and powerful watch, and I encourage you to claim your OG ticket and prepare for the second season, set to premiere early 2027.
