In the realm of hockey romance, exciting developments are underway once again. Crave’s series, “Heated Rivalry,” is welcoming five fresh talents to its ensemble cast.
Emily Hampshire, a renowned Canadian actress known 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, will play the role of sports agent Farah Jalali, while Priyanka, the winner of the first season of “Canada’s Drag Race,” will take on the character of Tarek, an office assistant.
Joining the cast are Robert Naylor, a Canadian actor and musician who will portray goaltender Wyatt Hayes, and Edvin Ryding, a Swedish actor known for his role as Prince Wilhelm in Netflix’s “Young Royals,” who will play rookie hockey player Luca Haas.
The casting announcement, shared on Instagram, revealed that season two of “Heated Rivalry” will continue to follow the love story of former hockey rivals turned lovers, Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, based on Rachel Reid’s novel series, “Game Changer.”
Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie will reprise their lead roles in the TV adaptation. The first season of the show adapted the initial two books of Reid’s series, and with the new casting, it is likely that the third novel, “Tough Guy,” will also be brought to life. The characters Vanessa and Tarek are linked to Fabian Salah, the love interest of hockey player Ryan Price in “Tough Guy.”
Moreover, the upcoming season will incorporate the narratives of Troy Barrett, a hockey player traded to Ilya’s team, and Harris Dover, a social media manager, from the fifth novel, “Role Model.”
Justice Smith has been cast as Harris and Charlie Gillespie, known for his role in “Julie and the Phantoms,” will portray Troy. The eagerly awaited second season of “Heated Rivalry” is set to premiere in spring 2027.