When was the last time your heart melted while watching ice hockey?
The new Canadian series Heated Rivalry, about star-crossed male hockey players who fall for each other but whose feelings are challenged by a season's worth of drama, has been steaming up screens across North America since its Nov. 28 premiere.
The first period, er, episode gets underway with Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) introducing himself to fellow up-and-coming star Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie) before a major international tournament, Ilya's cockiness toward the earnest but buttoned-up Shane no match for the obvious spark between them.
"This is a gay love story set in the world of hockey, so its very existence is an act of rebellion," show creator Jacob Tierney, who adapted the story from #Booktok fave Rachel Reid's queer hockey romance series Game Changers, told Toronto Life. "But the show itself is happily ever after. I didn't want to subvert too many romance tropes."
But if your algorithm hasn't passed Heated Rivalry your way yet and you're wondering who, what, where did this come from, how can I watch, and just how hot is this show, then skate no further because we've got you covered.
What is Heated Rivalry about?
Set in Montreal amid the all-consuming world of professional ice hockey—Canada's national winter sport, with lacrosse taking over in the summer)—Heated Rivalry centers on Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, rival players who can't deny that they admire more than each other's slap shot.
While the stereotypically toxic bro jokes from unwitting teammates fly around them, the athletes keep their budding romance secret. But their connection endures over the course of eight years as they chase their respective dreams.
And while on the surface this could be mistaken for your average melodrama, Heated Rivalry creator Jacob Tierney knows a thing or two about combining genres in unexpected ways. He co-developed the ribald but tender buddy comedy Letterkenny—on which he also played theatrical pastor-of-many-trades Glen—and directed the first two seasons of the long-running series' even more heartfelt, hockey-centric spin-off Shoresy.
Who are the stars of Heated Rivalry?
Hudson Williams, 24, and Connor Storrie, 25, play secret lovers Shane and Ilya.
Williams has so far acted mainly in his native Canada, where he played basketball and practiced MMA, while Storrie—a trained gymnast—is from Texas and had a pivotal role in 2024's Joker: Folie à Deux.
Having never met before, it was the chemistry between the two actors during the audition process that secured their spots in the starting lineup.
"They read together and we were all like, 'Oh my god, this is f--king done. Flush the rest of it down the toilet,'" Tierney told Xtra in November. "Their chemistry was just insane."
Shane is "sort of a square," Williams told the publication, "which allows Ilya to be the more charismatic, fun one. The juxtaposition is sort of what drives the story."
As for Storrie, he said it "felt very obvious" from the moment he read with Williams that they were on the same page.
And whether Shane and Ilya are long-distance texting, locking eyes across a crowded room or hooking up in one of the series' many NSFW scenes—"Everything was choreographed much like a dance," Tierney explained—the screen can barely contain the steam.
When the actors were asked if they felt it was necessary to talk about their own personal lives as they may or may not pertain to the same-sex love story that unfolds in Heated Rivalry, Tierney interjected, insisting it didn't matter.
"You can’t ask questions like that when you’re casting, right? It’s actually against the law," he said of inquiring about an actor's sexuality. "So what you have to gauge is somebody’s enthusiasm and willingness to do the work. And that’s what’s so impressive about both of these guys is they came into this being like, 'Yeah, we’re here to do this, and we are here to make this story feel authentic and to be as real as possible.' And they f--king hit it out of the park."
Was Heated Rivalry a book first?
Heated Rivalry is the second book in Canadian author Rachel Reid's Game Changers series, and according to avid #BookTok fans, viewers can expect future episodes to only ramp up the intensity.
"I discovered Rachel’s books during the pandemic," Tierney told Toronto Life. "A friend suggested that I get into smutty gay romances. When I found Game Changers, I was hooked right away. And not ironically; it wasn’t a guilty pleasure. I appreciated the storytelling: extremely sexy, funny and sweet."
He followed Reid on Instagram and it turned out she was a Letterkenny fan, as well as receptive to his "extremely joyful" vision for a show.
"I couldn't have dreamed of a better adaptation of it," Reid told CP24 ahead of the series' premiere. "Fan expectations are sky-high and I think they're going to be exceeded."
Is Heated Rivalry based on a true story?
The books are fiction, but Reid—an avowed hockey fan—said there were definitely "flashy European players" who, taken as an "amalgam," inspired the character of Ilya, while guys who "were the more stoic, good-boy captains" informed Shane.
Asked what sort of research she did to write such convincing sexy material for two men, Reid said with a laugh, "I don't know if you have to do research if you're just thinking about it all the time!"
Where can I watch Heated Rivalry?
Created for Canadian streaming service Crave, Heated Rivalry can also be found on HBO Max, where new episodes have dropped on Fridays leading up to season one's Dec. 26 finale.
And get more recommendations for bingeable shows adapted from books right here:
Lessons in Chemistry
Miniseries Lessons in Chemistry—based on Bonnie Gramus' 2022 debut novel of the same name—received a total of 10 Emmy noms in 2024, including ones for stars Brie Larson, Lewis Pullman, Aja Naomi King and Millicent Shelton. Both the Apple TV+ series—which earned a nomination for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series—and the book follow chemist Elizabeth Zott (Larson) as she navigates heartache, misogyny and ultimately stardom as a cooking show host in 1960s Southern California.
Shōgun
After Shōgun premiered in 2024, it became the first Japanese-language series to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series—garnering 25 nominations in total at the 2024 Emmys. The FX show is based on James Clavell's 1975 novel of the same name, which focused on events and important figures from Japan in the 1600s, just as the Edo period was beginning. In addition to the 2024 series, the book was previously adapted into a 1980 miniseries and also into a stage musical, board game and video games.
The Morning Show
Since its 2019 debut, The Morning Show has remained a powerhouse in the streaming world, thanks to stellar performances from its stars including Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon and Billy Crudup, who have all earned Emmy nominations during the Apple TV+ show's run. Based on Brian Stelter's 2013 non-fiction book Top of the Morning: Inside the Cutthroat World of Morning TV, The Morning Show has given viewers a behind-the-scenes look at morning television and nabbed 27 nominations in the process—plus a 2020 win for Crudup for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.
Ripley
An adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's 1955 psychological thriller The Talented Mr. Ripley, Ripley stars Andrew Scott as the titular Tom Ripley, a grifter in 1960s New York who is hired by a wealthy shipping magnate to persuade his son Dickie (Johnny Flynn) to leave his European escapades and return to the U.S. The Netflix miniseries—which also costars Dakota Fanning—premiered in 2024 and received 13 Emmy nominations in 2024, including Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Scott and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for Fanning.
Red, White & Royal Blue
A 2019 bestselling novel by Casey McQuiston, Red, White & Royal Blue became a hit Amazon Prime movie in 2023, depicting the love story between the fictional son of the president of the United States (Taylor Zakhar Perez) and the Prince of England (Nicholas Galitzine). The film earned a 2024 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Television Movie.
Feud: Capote vs. The Swans
The second entry in Ryan Murphy's anthology series, 2024's Feud: Capote vs. The Swans tells the story of how celebrated writer Truman Capote (Tom Hollander) ruined his friendships with his "Swans"—a group of New York City socialites—after writing about thinly veiled versions of them in a 1975 Esquire article. Based on Laurence Leamer's 2021 book Capote's Women: A True Story of Love, Betrayal, and a Swan Song for an Era, the FX show boasted a bevy of stars including Naomi Watts, Diane Lane, Chloë Sevigny, Calista Flockhart, Demi Moore, Molly Ringwald and the late Treat Williams. The second season earned 10 Emmy nominations in 2024, including acting nods for Hollander, Watts, Williams and Lane.
Fellow Travelers
Based on the 2008 novel of the same name by Thomas Mallon, 2023's Fellow Travelers tells the story of Hawkins Fuller (Matt Bomer) and Timothy Laughlin (Jonathan Bailey) as they navigate a volatile relationship that spans from the 1950s to the 1980s. Both Bomer and Bailey received 2024 Emmy acting nominations for the Showtime miniseries: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for Bomer and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for Bailey.
Bridgerton
Netflix's adaptation of Julia Quinn's romance book series Bridgerton was a cultural phenomenon at the end of 2020. Why? Well, thanks to a diverse cast, an incredible score and some steamy sex scenes, subscribers to the streaming service couldn't get enough of the series. Bridgerton also received critical acclaim, earning an Outstanding Drama Series nomination at the 2021 Emmys.
Game of Thrones
This drama full of epic battles and star-crossed romance is based on the popular book series by George R.R Martin. While the novels are best-sellers in their own right, the TV show has garnered fans from all over the world, including many who wouldn't even call themselves fans of the source material. Over the course of eight seasons, the HBO series received 58 Emmy Awards, more than any other drama in history. And while viewers remain divided on the controversial conclusion, which saw the series surpass Martin's plotting to reveal an ending all its own, the show will go down as one of the most celebrated of all time.
Big Little Lies
HBO's adaptation of Liane Moriarty's best-selling novel of the same name lured some A-list talent to the small screen, with Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, Zoe Kravitz and Laura Dern occupying the very enviable real estate owned by the five women who find themselves caught up in a murder investigation. Every bit as enthralling as the book, the first season earned eight Primetime Emmy Awards and enticed none other than Meryl Streep herself to sign on for a pivotal role in the second season, which Moriarty helped shape despite there being no source material left to mine. Though not as universally beloved as the first, season two still earned Streep and Dern Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series nominations.
3 Body Problem
3 Body Problem garnered six 2024 Emmy nominations after its debut, including a coveted Outstanding Drama Series nomination. The Netflix series—set in the U.K. and China—follows a group of scientists dealing with an extraterrestrial mystery and planetary threat. It's based on Liu Cixin's book series Remembrance of Earth's Past, which debuted in 2006 with The Three-Body Problem. Cixin followed that up with The Dark Forest in 2008 and Death's End in 2010.
Slow Horses
British spy thriller Slow Horses first premiered on Apple TV+ in 2022, but it was the show's third season that resonated with 2024 Emmy voters, nabbing nine nominations including Outstanding Drama Series, as well as Lead Actor and Supporting Actor nominations for stars Gary Oldman and Jack Lowden, respectively. The series is based on Mick Herron's spy novel series, Slough House, with the first book Slow Horses debuting in 2010. There are currently eight books in the series, with the most recent entry Bad Actors dropping in 2023.
Palm Royale
Palm Royale earned three 2024 Emmy nominations after its debut: Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for Kristen Wiig and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for Carol Burnett. Although based on the 2018 book Mr. & Mrs. American Pie by Juliet McDaniel, the Apple TV+ show wildly diverges from its source material. Set in the late ‘60s, the series follows Wiig's former beauty pageant queen Maxine Simmons as she attempts to break into Florida's Palm Beach high society. However, in the novel, Maxine finds herself exiled to Scottsdale, Ariz., from Palm Springs when she causes a drunken scene at Thanksgiving after her husband reveals he's leaving her to be with his secretary.
Under the Bridge
Lily Gladstone earned an Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie 2024 Emmy nomination for Hulu's 2024 miniseries Under The Bridge, based on Rebecca Godfrey's 2005 true crime book of the same name. The show traces the events of the 1997 murder of 14 year old Reena Virk by eight of her peers in Saanich, British Columbia, Canada.
The Sympathizer
The 2024 miniseries The Sympathizer is a historical black comedy based on Viet Thanh Nguyen's Pulitzer Prize-winning 2015 novel of the same name. The HBO series takes place near the end of the Vietnam War, centering on a Vietnamese spy who makes his way to a refugee camp in the U.S., and finds his loyalties tested as he continues to report back to the Viet Cong. The show earned an Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie at the 2024 Emmys for Robert Downey Jr., who took on five different roles in the series.
The Handmaid's Tale
Premiering on Hulu in 2017, this adaptation of Margaret Atwood's dystopian 1985 novel centered in the totalitarian state of Gilead following a Second American Civil War. And while the series has long since left its source material behind as it continues the tale of June Osborne (Elisabeth Moss), the titular subjugated handmaid, and her quest for freedom. It's won several Emmys, including Outstanding Drama Series in its first season.
Roots
This groundbreaking mini-series was originally adapted from Pulitzer Prize-winning author Alex Haley's 1976 novel Roots: The Saga of an American Family. Just one year later, Roots, starring LeVar Burton, premiered on ABC and became a cultural phenomenon, winning nine Emmys as well as a coveted Peabody Award. The ratings were also sky high, and the finale still holds a record as the second-most-watched-overall series finale in U.S. TV history. In 2016, a remake of the same name premiered, starring Malachi Kirby and Anika Noni Rose.
True Blood
A waitress who can read minds and vampires with southern accents are only a few of the intriguing characters on this immortal drama. The series, starring now-real-life couple Anna Pacquin and Stephen Moyer, is based on The Southern Vampire Mysteries books by Charlaine Harris and focuses on a small town in Louisiana. After seven seasons, the show came to an end in 2014, but we will forever be grateful for giving all of us the gift of naked Alexander Skarsgård and Joe Manganiello.
Sherlock
A modern take on the iconic detective series by British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, this U.K. series starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman was not only a success in its homeland, but the drama won fans all over the world, including the U.S., where it won the trophy for Best Television Film at the 2016 Emmys.
Outlander
Time travel, rebellion, and a love triangle are just the beginning of this exciting series based on historical fiction books by author Diana Gabaldon. Caitriona Balfe plays a nurse who travels to a different century and eventually falls in love with a rogue Scottish highlander (Sam Heughan) despite already being married in her time.
The Undoing
Based on the 2014 novel You Should Have Known by Jean Hanff Korelitz, The Undoing once again put Nicole Kidman in a leading role at the heart of a murder mystery. Specifically, therapist Grace Fraser (Kidman)'s life is turned upside down when her husband Jonathan (Hugh Grant) becomes a suspect in the murder of Elena Alves (Matilda De Angelis).
While the finale left viewers feeling conflicted, everyone could agree that Kidman's wardrobe was A+ in the series.
Dexter
This crime drama following Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall), a blood spatter expert by day and serial killer by night, was originally based on books by author Jeff Lindsay. Over the course of eight seasons on Showtime, the series garnered a cult following, as well as 23 Emmy nominations. That series finale, though? Let's just say it's never easy to stick a landing.
The creative team took a second shot at wrapping up Dexter's story as a limited event series, titled Dexter: New Blood in 2021.
Orange Is the New Black
The award-winning Netflix original series is based on author Piper Kerman's memoir Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison and was an instant hit. Fans loved the show's mix of sarcastic humor and heart-wrenching storylines, as well as the strong female characters, including Crazy Eyes Suzanne (Uzo Aduba), Sophia (Laverne Cox), Pennsatucky (Taryn Manning) and the beloved Poussey Washington (Samira Wiley). After seven seasons, viewers left Litchfield behind for good in 2019.
Friday Night Lights
Before Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler) entered the TV screens and hearts of viewers, this sports drama was initially adapted into a film starring Billy Bob Thornton in the same role. But in 2006, author H.G. Bissinger's non-fiction book Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream, hit the small screen and made non-football fans into believers. In addition to Chandler, the series also starred Connie Britton, Minka Kelly, Scott Porter, Michael B. Jordan, and everyone's favorite bad boy, Taylor Kitsch as Tim Riggins. Everyone say it with us now, "Clear Eyes, Full Hearts..."
Nine Perfect Strangers
Another Liane Moriarty adaptation! In 2021, Nicole Kidman and David E. Kelley collaborated once more to bring Moriarty's 2018 novel Nine Perfect Strangers to life. Debuting on Hulu, the series followed Masha Dmitrichenko (Kidman), a wellness retreat guru ready to transform the lives of nine, wait for it, strangers, including Frances (Melissa McCarthy), Lars (Luke Evans), Tony (Bobby Cannavale), Carmel (Regina Hall), Napoleon (Michael Shannon), Jessica (Samara Weaving), Ben (Melvin Gregg), Heather (Asher Keddie) and Zoe (Grace Van Patten).
Gossip Girl
This series, based on books by Upper East Side native Cecily von Ziegesar, became an iconic representation of the secret lives of young NYC elite. Whether you're a Blair (Leighton Meester) or a Serena (Blake Lively) you can't deny that the high-fashion cast made you just a little bit jealous during its six seasons on The CW.
Pretty Little Liars
The successful book series by author Sara Shepard was a favorite guilty pleasure show for binge watchers everywhere. The stylish squad featured Lucy Hale, Shay Mitchell, Ashley Benson and Troian Bellisario, who always kept fans on the edge of their seats. After seven seasons on Freeform, PLL tried to answer all the questions its legion of fans had as the end neared. Whether they were satisfied with those answers, well, that's another story.
The Magicians
SyFy drama The Magicians gives fans of Lev Grossman's popular book series a glimpse into the magical world of students at Brakebills University. The characters must navigate the typical challenges of college students (like fraught relationships and drug addictions) with the added twist of learning how to control their magical powers - as if life wasn't already complicated enough. Over the course of five seasons, the missions grew more dire, usually tasking the heroes with saving the multiverse or magic itself. (No big deal, right?) But one thing stayed the same: You could always count on an incredible musical episode.
The Vampire Diaries
The cast of hotties, including Nina Dobrev, Paul Wesley, Kat Graham and Ian Somerhalder, in this supernatural series was definitely a major contributor to this CW hit's popularity. Fans of the book series by L. J. Smith got to see their favorite heroes come to life in the drama, which ended in 2017 after eight seasons.
(Originally published Dec. 5, 2025, at 3 a.m. PT)