In the realm of hockey-themed romance, excitement is on the rise once more with the addition of five fresh talents to the lineup of Crave’s popular series, “Heated Rivalry.”
Emily Hampshire, a renowned Canadian actress recognized for her roles in “Schitt’s Creek” and “12 Monkeys,” will portray Vanessa, a character working in a sex shop. Sabrina Jalees, a Canadian comedian and actress who previously hosted “Laugh Out Loud” and wrote for “Canada’s Got Talent,” will play the role of sports agent Farah Jalali. Additionally, drag queen Priyanka, winner of the inaugural season of “Canada’s Drag Race,” takes on the character of Tarek, an office assistant.
Joining the ensemble are Robert Naylor, a Canadian actor and musician known for voicing D.W. Read in “Arthur,” as goaltender Wyatt Hayes, and Edvin Ryding, a Swedish actor who starred as Prince Wilhelm in Netflix’s “Young Royals,” as rookie hockey player Luca Haas.
The casting update was shared on Instagram by Crave, confirming that the upcoming season two of “Heated Rivalry” will continue the love story of Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, former hockey rivals turned partners, based on Rachel Reid’s “The Long Game” from the Game Changer series. Notably, Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie will reprise their lead roles in the television adaptation.
The first season of the show encompassed the first two novels of Reid’s series, “Game Changer” and “Heated Rivalry.” With the latest casting announcement, there are strong indications that the third book, “Tough Guy,” will also be adapted. Vanessa and Tarek are set to play pivotal roles as friends of Fabian Salah, the love interest of hockey player Ryan Price in “Tough Guy.”
Moreover, the upcoming season will incorporate storylines from the fifth novel, “Role Model,” introducing characters like Troy Barrett, a hockey player traded to Ilya’s new team, and Harris Dover, a social media manager. Justice Smith has been cast as Harris, alongside Charlie Gillespie from “Julie and the Phantoms” as Troy, as per Crave’s announcement in August.
Fans can anticipate the premiere of season two of “Heated Rivalry” in the spring of 2027, promising further drama and romance in the world of hockey rivalries and relationships.