Two fresh faces are set to join the upcoming Season 2 of Crave’s popular hockey series, “Heated Rivalry.” Daniel Diemer, a well-known Canadian actor recognized for his role as Tyson in the TV series “Percy Jackson and the Olympians,” will take on the character of hockey player Ryan Price. Meanwhile, Welsh actor Shaheen Jafargholi, also known for his upcoming appearance in the HBO show “War,” will portray musician Fabian Salah, the love interest of Ryan.
The characters of Ryan and Fabian are at the center of the third installment in Rachel Reid’s acclaimed “Game Changers” hockey romance series, titled “Tough Guy.” The novel narrates the journey of Ryan, a professional hockey enforcer who, upon joining the Toronto team, encounters Fabian in the city’s gay village. Despite a near-kiss shared in high school, their undeniable chemistry resurfaces. However, a potential future together may require Ryan to bid farewell to his hockey career.
Expressing their enthusiasm for the casting choices, writer Jacob Tierney and producer Brendan Brady mentioned that both Fabian and Ryan bring distinct energies to Rachel Reid’s world. They praised the actors, Daniel and Shaheen, for their confident and emotionally honest portrayals of the multifaceted characters. Season 1 of the series adapted the first two books of Reid’s series, “Game Changer” and “Heated Rivalry.”
In the upcoming Season 2 of “Heated Rivalry,” the storyline will continue to follow the evolving relationship between Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, former hockey rivals turned lovers from Reid’s novel “The Long Game.” Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie will reprise their lead roles in the TV adaptation.
Furthermore, Season 2 will integrate the narratives of Troy Barrett, a hockey player traded to Ilya’s new team, and Harris Dover, a social media manager, from the fifth book of the book series, “Role Model.” New additions to the cast include Justice Smith as Harris and Charlie Gillespie, known for his role in “Julie and the Phantoms,” as Troy. Additional cast members comprise Emily Hampshire from “Schitt’s Creek” and drag queen Priyanka.
The highly anticipated Season 2 of “Heated Rivalry” is scheduled to premiere in spring 2027.