Crave’s Hit Gay Drama Is Back! Second Season Officially Confirmed

Fans of Heated Rivalry have reason to celebrate. Crave and HBO Max have officially renewed the hit Canadian series for a second season, promising more drama, romance, and on-ice tension between Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie).

The first season became a surprise sensation when it premiered on Nov. 28. The show follows two top hockey players, one from Canada and one from Russia, who start a secret romance despite being rivals. Over the course of the season, their relationship grows in private while they navigate fame and success.

Jacob Tierney, the creator of the series, told podcaster Evan Ross Katz, “One of the things that [the romance] genre doesn’t get is taken seriously and I think this relationship, not only do I think it can sustain six hours, I think it wants it… It’s asking for it.” The show has stayed close to Rachel Reid’s Game Changers novels, which is one reason fans have been so invested.

Crave picked up the series for Season 2 on Dec. 12. HBO Max confirmed it will air in the U.S. and other international regions including Australia, Asia, Latin America, and Europe. Both Williams and Storrie are reportedly signed on for three seasons, and Tierney has hinted that he has a set plan for the number of seasons, though he isn’t revealing it yet.

As for when the new season will appear, there’s no official release date yet. Williams told Variety that filming could start around July or August, which would likely mean a late 2026 or early 2027 premiere. Tierney added, “It can’t be same time next year because this time last year I’d written five of these [scripts], and this time this year I’ve written zero of them. So it’s going to be a little bit later, but it’s still going to be soon.”

The second season is expected to stick with six episodes, similar to the first. So far, no trailers or teasers have been released. For now, viewers can rewatch all episodes of the first season on HBO Max.

The show is based on Reid’s Game Changers book series. The TV adaptation is named after the second novel, which focuses on Shane and Ilya’s enemies-to-lovers romance. Their story continues in the sixth book, The Long Game, where they face difficult choices between love and their careers. Reid told Elle about the possibility of writing more books after the show’s success, saying, “I don’t want to ruin the series by forcing it. It would have to feel necessary. And if that happens, then yes, I’ll do it.”

Other books in the series focus on different couples in the same hockey world. Some of these characters appear in the show, giving fans familiar faces to watch throughout the episodes.

With Season 2 confirmed, fans have plenty to look forward to. The series has become a major hit for Crave and HBO Max, and the anticipation for new episodes is already high.

Heated Rivalry has done an amazing job bringing a passionate and unique story to the screen. Shane and Ilya’s relationship feels real and engaging, and I’m excited to see how the second season develops. What do you think about the show and the upcoming season? Share your thoughts in the comments.