Heated Rivalry Season 2 Cast and Characters Revealed The second season of Heated Rivalry, the acclaimed NSFW gay hockey romance series, has unveiled its new cast and characters, expanding the storylines from Rachel Reid’s Game Changer book series. The announcement includes returning actors and seven fresh faces, with the season set to debut in April 2027 on Crave and HBO Max. Returning to the screen are Hudson Williams as Shane Hollander, a closeted hockey prodigy, and Connor Storrie as Ilya Rozanov, a bisexual Russian star. François Arnaud reprises his role as Scott Hunter, a legendary hockey figure, while Robbie G.K. plays Kip Grady, the former smoothie barista turned ally. The season will draw heavily from The Long Game, the sixth book in the series, which follows Shane and Ilya as they navigate life as boyfriends while keeping their relationship secret. In this storyline, Ilya is traded to the Ottawa Centaurs to be closer to Shane, and the pair runs a charity together while balancing their clandestine romance. New cast members bring characters from other books in the Game Changer series. Charlie Gillespie portrays Troy Barrett, a deeply closeted hockey forward who becomes friends with Ilya. Troy’s arc begins in Tough Guy and Common Goal, where he confronts homophobia and a breakup, leading to his trade to the Centaurs. Justice Smith plays Harris Drover, the Centaurs’ social media manager and Troy’s love interest. Harris, who grew up on his family’s apple orchard, has a rare heart condition that prevented him from playing hockey. He also adopts a dog named Chiron, inspiring Ilya to get his own pet, Anya. Emily Hampshire joins as Vanessa, a feminist lesbian and sex shop owner who appears in Tough Guy as a confidante to characters Ryan Price and Fabian Salah.#hbo_max #heated_rivalry #rachel_reid #game_changer #crave
Critics Choice LGBTQ Awards 2026 Honor 'Heated Rivalry' and 'Stranger Things' The Critics Choice Association has unveiled the winners of its annual Celebration of LGBTQ+ Cinema & Television, with several high-profile shows and performers recognized for their contributions to the genre. The third edition of the event, set to take place on May 29 in Los Angeles, celebrates achievements across the LGBTQ+ entertainment community, highlighting the work of creators, actors, and writers behind some of the year’s most acclaimed projects. Among the standout honorees are HBO Max’s gay hockey drama Heated Rivalry and Netflix’s sci-fi series Stranger Things, both of which have been acknowledged for their cultural impact and storytelling. The ceremony will honor Jacob Tierney, the writer and director of Heated Rivalry, with the Showrunner Award. Tierney’s work on the show, which explores themes of identity and rivalry within a queer hockey team, has been praised for its nuanced portrayal of LGBTQ+ experiences. Meanwhile, Stranger Things star Noah Schnapp, known for his role as Will Byers, will receive the Breakthrough Performance Award. Schnapp’s portrayal of coming out in the 1980s as a young adult in the final season of the series has been highlighted as a pivotal moment in the show’s narrative, offering a compelling exploration of adolescence and self-discovery. Other notable winners include Hannah Einbinder, who stars in the HBO Max comedy Hacks. Einbinder will be recognized with the Performance Award for a Comedy Series for her role as Ava, a queer comedy writer navigating the challenges of the industry. The Critics Choice Association noted that her performance brings an “authentic queer perspective” to the screen, blending humor with emotional depth.#stranger_things #heated_rivalry #jacob_tierney #critics_choice_association #noah_schnapp
GLAAD Media Awards: Heated Rivalry, Stranger Things, The Traitors Lead TV Winners HBO Max’s gay hockey drama Heated Rivalry continued its winning streak at this year’s GLAAD Media Awards, which took place Thursday in Los Angeles. The show claimed the best new TV series category, while Netflix’s sci-fi series Stranger Things secured the best drama series title. Apple TV’s recently canceled comedy Palm Royale won best comedy series, and Peacock’s strategy game The Traitors triumphed in the best reality competition category. Bravo’s Southern Hospitality was named best reality program. The 37th annual ceremony, hosted by Mean Girls alum Jonathan Bennett, also recognized other achievements. Abbott Elementary star Quinta Brunson received the Vanguard Award, honoring her contributions to LGBTQ representation in media. Podcasters Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers were honored with the Stephen F. Kolzak Award for their work in comedy. Pop superstar Demi Lovato opened the event with a performance of her hit song “Kiss.” The GLAAD Media Awards celebrate fair, accurate, and inclusive LGBTQ stories, with nearly 300 nominees across more than 30 categories. This year’s ceremony will be available for streaming exclusively on Hulu starting March 21. A full list of TV winners includes Stranger Things for best drama series, Palm Royale for best comedy series, and The Traitors for best reality competition. Other notable winners include Southern Hospitality for best reality program and Firebuds for best children’s programming. The awards also highlighted diverse genres, with The Gilded Age and The Last of Us competing in the best drama series category. In the best limited or anthology series category, Nine Perfect Strangers and Wayward were among the nominees.#stranger_things #glaad_media_awards #heated_rivalry #the_traitors #palm_royle
