‘Heated Rivalry’ show: Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams ignite Rachel Reid’s hockey romance — full cast and what to know

The buzzy new Heated Rivalry show has burst onto screens with the kind of crackling chemistry that turns a book-to-TV gamble into a weekly appointment. Anchored by Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams as rival superstars whose on-ice animosity masks a years-long love story, the series adapts Rachel Reid’s fan-favorite novel into a brisk, grown-up sports romance. Early episodes have already sparked fervent online chatter about performances, representation, and just how convincingly the leads sell the enemies-to-lovers arc across multiple seasons of their careers.

Heated Rivalry cast: who plays whom

The Heated Rivalry cast blends rising talent and seasoned character actors, mapping the novel’s expansive world of locker rooms, front offices, and family kitchens. Here’s a quick guide to the key players and their roles:

• Hudson Williams as Shane Hollander — a Canadian phenom and team captain whose disciplined, buttoned-up public image clashes with the chaos of living a double life at the top of pro hockey.

• Connor Storrie as Ilya Rozanov — a magnetic Russian captain with swagger to spare; the league’s ultimate antagonist to Shane on the ice and the one person who knows him best off it.

• François Arnaud as Scott Hunter — a marquee forward and locker-room bellwether whose presence raises the stakes for both teams.

• Christina Chang and Dylan Walsh as Yuna and David Hollander — parents caught between pride in their son’s success and the personal fallout of his choices.

• Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova as Svetlana Vetrova — a complicated figure from Ilya’s past who forces him to confront what he wants beyond the rink.

• Sophie Nélisse as Rose Landry — an observant confidante with her own ambitions.

• Callan Potter as Hayden Pike — Shane’s best friend and teammate, the first to sense that “hate” might not be the whole story.

• Plus ensemble turns from Robbie G.K., Harrison Browne, and others who flesh out a league that feels lived-in and competitive.

Expect to see the supporting bench rotate through coaches, media, and management figures who add pressure — professional and personal — as the spotlight intensifies.

Release schedule: when new episodes of the Heated Rivalry show drop

The series launched with a two-episode premiere on November 28, 2025, followed by weekly installments through late December. Barring last-minute shifts, new episodes arrive on Fridays in North America (evenings ET) and roll out overnight to international territories; the finale is slated for December 26, 2025. Episode availability can vary by region; check local listings within your streaming app’s guide as schedules are subject to change.

At a glance (subject to change):

• Ep. 1–2: Nov 28 (premiere)

• Ep. 3: Dec 5

• Ep. 4: Dec 12

• Ep. 5: Dec 19

• Ep. 6 (finale): Dec 26

Why Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams clicked in Heated Rivalry

From the very first audition pairing, industry chatter has centered on how Storrie and Williams read as rivals who know each other’s game — physically, tactically, emotionally. On screen, that translates into sharp, athletic choreography and small, telling choices: an extra beat after a handshake line, a stray glance on the bench, the way a chirp turns into a dare. The show leans into eight years of backstory, letting the leads wear different jerseys, injuries, and reputations while the relationship bends and refines under the pressure of trades, playoffs, and public scrutiny.

Crucially, the series refuses to make sexuality a parlor game. Conversations around the actors’ private lives have bubbled up online, but the creative team has kept the focus on performance and story. That approach aligns with a broader industry shift: audiences are rewarding projects that treat queer romance with the same narrative stakes and craft attention as any prestige love story.

From Rachel Reid’s novel to the screen

Rachel Reid’s original novel is beloved for its dual-POV structure, tactile hockey details, and a timeline that charts a clandestine relationship across seasons without losing momentum. The adaptation retains that spine but streamlines roster moves and road-trip logistics to keep the television pacing snappy. You’ll still catch the book’s DNA in key moments — hotel-hallway near-misses, practice-ice banter, playoff-round mind games — while new scenes build out families, teammates, and the day-to-day calculus of being public figures with private truths.

Visually, the production favors cold arenas and warm interiors, echoing the emotional temperature swings of a rivalry that doubles as a refuge. The camera work lets checks thud and skates hiss, then quiets down for after-hours conversations where the lines between competition and connection blur.

Heated Rivalry cast spotlight: who’s breaking out

• Hudson Williams brings a carefully measured stoicism to Shane, letting the cracks show in celebrations, not speeches.

• Connor Storrie plays Ilya as a showman whose bravado conceals vulnerability; the confession scenes hit harder because the swagger has a cost.

• Sophie Nélisse and Callan Potter emerge as stealth MVPs, grounding the leads with humor and reality checks that keep the stakes human.

What’s next for the Heated Rivalry show

With momentum building, the conversation will shift to renewal prospects and how far the adaptation plans to track the source material’s larger series. For now, the immediate draw is simple: two leads at the peak of their powers, a romance that earns its heat, and a Heated Rivalry cast deep enough to make every game — and every glance — feel like sudden death. Keep an eye on Friday drops and post-episode teasers; this one is skating hard toward a buzzy holiday-season finish.