Abhiroop Das
Created by Jacob Tierney, HBO Max’s ‘Heated Rivalry’ follows two star hockey players, Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, whose competitive dynamic gives way to a secret sexual relationship. While the duo swears that their flings are nothing serious and hardly detracts from their archrivalry, their growing passion proves otherwise. As years mapped in gaming seasons come and go, both find themselves at a crossroad, forced to choose between each other and the sport they have devoted their life to. Season 1 of this sports romance series concludes with Shane and Ilya realizing that they are in love, leading to shared, but muted, dreams of living together. When Shane’s father accidentally bumps into them during a moment of intimacy, Shane realizes that he must tell his parents the truth about his sexuality.
Given the show’s overwhelming popularity, it is no surprise that fans are curious to know what the story looks like beyond season 1. Luckily, HBO Max greenlit season 2 on December 12, 2025. When asked about the expected timeframe of release, Tierney told Variety that a November 2026 release is unlikely, as he has yet to write the script. Thus, fans of the show might have to wait a little while longer, as the Heated Rivalry Season 2 is most likely to be released sometime around mid to late 2027.
Season 2 of Heated Rivalry Will Adapt Another Rachel Reid Novel About Shane and Ilya
Given that season 1 of the show adapts the eponymous second novel in the ‘Game Changers’ series by Rachel Reid, it makes sense that the show’s second season will take on the sequel to that book, titled ‘The Long Game.’ Actor Connor Storrie, who plays the role of Ilya Rozanov, confirmed the same on social media by saying, “Start reading The Long Game if you want to spoil it for yourself. ” Notably, the events from the book take place ten years after the events of ‘Heated Rivalry,’ and just about everything about Shane and Ilya’s relationship is now transformed beyond recognition. The bulk of the story, as such, is about both of them struggling with their respective secrets and collective burdens. Given that Storrie and his co-star, Hudson Williams, have captured hearts worldwide with their performances as Ilya and Shane, adhering to the book’s timeskip might be a challenge for the crew.
It is entirely possible that, instead of adapting ‘The Long Game’ beat by beat, the writing team might add their own creative flair, as they have done with the inaugural season. The finale by itself opens enough doors to warrant a continuation of the immediate plot beats, particularly those surrounding Ilya’s decision to quit the Boston Raiders. While he hasn’t given it much thought yet, bidding goodbye to a formative team might have its own effects on his psyche, and it would be interesting to see how that affects his relationship with Shane. Additionally, the show might introduce characters and plot beats from other Rachel Reid stories, as they are all set in the same world. We have seen this happen in episode 3, with Scott Hunter and Kip Grady’s love story from the original ‘Game Changers’ novel being put to screen, and there are several books, and even Shane-Ilya short stories, that can easily fit into season 2’s larger narrative.
Season 2 of Heated Rivalry Might Bring an as-of-yet Minor Character into the Spotlight
As ‘Heated Rivalry’ is a part of the larger saga about fictional hockey teams, the story has endless potential for new and interesting characters sharing the screen with familiar faces. As the next season is strongly indicated to be a direct sequel to the existing story, actors Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams are most likely to return as Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander, respectively. However, whether or not actors François Arnaud and Robbie G.K. will return as Scott Hunter and Kip Grady, AKA the other big couple of the story, remains to be seen. Christina Chang and Dylan Walsh have a good chance of donning the garb of Yuna and David Hollander, respectively, and the same holds true for Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova, who essays Svetlana Sergeevna Vetrova, Ilya’s friend.
Notably, Ilya breaks ties with his brother in episode 5 of the first season, which means that actor Slavic Rogozine likely has a very slim chance of returning as Alexei Rozanov. Shane’s girlfriend turned best friend, Rose Landry, is even mentioned in the final episode, which means that actor Sophie Nélisse is most likely going to step into the role once again. Interestingly, the character of Kyle Swift, played by Matthew Finlan, makes an appearance in season 1 as a bartender. What most don’t know, however, is that he is a main character in book 4 of the ‘Game Changers’ series, ‘Common Goal,’ and thus might be featured more prominently in the upcoming stretch of episodes. In the same vein, fans can expect many new actors to join the series as key players, both on the ice rink and in the larger web of relationships.
Season 2 of Heated Rivalry Will Likely Dig Deeper Into Shane, Ilya, and the Others
While the first season leaves most plot developments on an ambiguous note, it makes some major strides in etching out how Shane and Ilya feel about each other. With the duo confessing their love and coming out to Shane’s parents, two big story arcs are now concluded. From here, the sequel season presents opportunities to flesh out the duo’s romantic dynamic, especially in how it interacts with their evergreen sports rivalry. For Shane in particular, opening up to his parents is merely the first step, as the family now has to figure out ways to provide him with a positive environment. Ilya’s complex relationship with the memory of his mother makes for another interesting plot beat, one that can pave the way for numerous moments of emotional catharsis.
Alongside Shane and Ilya’s relationship, the story also charts the ups and downs in Scott Hunter’s life. While he may be the star of the hockey world right now, the season begins by acknowledging that Scott’s prime is coming to a close. As such, how his newly developing love story interacts with his professional ambitions remains to be seen. Scott is now also a hope for queer individuals in the sports world, and his inspirational story of publicly coming out can open the gates to numerous other subplots in the world of ‘Game Changers.’ Ilya’s arc, on the other hand, is likely to expand on his complicated dynamic with Alexei and how that might affect his plans to settle in Canada, right alongside the love of his life. Thus, season 2 of the show is brimming with potential plot threads that are waiting to be explored in depth.
Read More: Is Heated Rivalry a True Story? Are Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov Based on Real Hockey Players?
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