Heated Rivalry Review: Come For the Heat, Stay For The Heart In This Show Ft. Hudson Williams, Connor Storrie
Heated Rivalry, directed by Jacob Tierney, stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie as the leads. Read our review of the Canadian hockey sensation below!
4 / 5
Reviewing a series like Heated Rivalry in the age of social media is near impossible. Everyone (including me) has already seen pivotal scenes on short-form video (Instagram reels, YouTube shorts, etc.) before attempting to watch it in entireity. Then why should you spend hours of your life getting consumed by the six-episode Canadian queer hockey show on Lionsgate Play, if at all? Read on for the answer and to see how we rate this searing hit that the internet can’t get over.
Plot
Canada’s Shane Hollander and Russia’s Ilya Rozanov are rivals on the ice, having joined Major League Hockey in different teams in the same year. Despite the world warning them to stay away, they are inexplicably attracted to each other. They start hooking up with each other, and somewhere along the way, develop passionate feelings and love. In the extremely competitive and homophobic world of ice hockey, will these two young men figure out a way to live happily?
It stars breakout stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie as Shane and Ilya, respectively. François Arnaud, Robbie G.K., Christina Chang, Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova, Sophie Nélisse, and Dylan Walsh play pivotal roles. It is based on the second novel in Rachel Reid’s The Game Changers series. Helmed by Jacob Tierney, all six episodes were released worldwide in 2025 to stellar audience and critic reviews. Does it live up to the hype?
View this post on Instagram
Electric Chemistry, Intimate Tension, And Standout Performances
I confess, I was terrified of starting Heated Rivalry. Having built it up in my head, I was sure to be disappointed. This was not the case. Equal parts sweet and hysterical, Shane and Ilya’s first meeting sets the tone for the series. Even before the actual intimate scenes, a scene at the gym builds up tension that one could cut with a knife.
Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie’s off-the-charts chemistry and raw, earnest acting chops won me over. Williams’ direct delivery contrasts with Storrie’s subtler shining moments, creating a sweet yet spicy bhelpuri.
With Jacob Tierney’s sole direction, a uniformity envelopes and complements the tight storytelling. The first two episodes seem like snapshots of their meetings, interspersed with big hockey moments. Despite this, Heated Rivalry avoids feeling rushed, slowing down during the s*x and spooning. It’s as if the athletes use intimacy as a breather from the impossible pressures they face.
Scott and Kip’s arc in the third episode is an unexpected highlight. It offers a break from Shane and Ilya’s topsy-turvy relationship. Of course, it helps that the charming and attractive François Arnaud plays Scott, ably supported by Robbie G.K.’s Kip. I’d love to see a whole series with these two.
I have to admit, I still know nothing about ice hockey. The gratuitous, borderline p*rnographic lovemaking is beautifully filmed, but the quiet yearning keeps you on your toes. Shane and Ilya start a purely physical relationship as teens. When they grow up, viewers can see the subtle shift into bouncier, more heartfelt moments with the desire intact.
Also Read: Why Women Love BL Content? A Look At Gender, Power, And Patriarchy
Verdict
Queer folk rarely get to see so many different aspects of their lives extolled on camera. Shane learns to shed compulsory heteros*xuality while Ilya learns to reckon with leaving his home to love a man openly. Scott Hunter learns that coming out of the closet isn’t hard when you have loved ones to support you. Blubbering through these triumphs, I asked myself how I would rate Heated Rivalry. As Shane Hollander says of his Ilya feelings, “It’s… not just being gay.”
When you finish an outstanding piece of media, you feel a little empty. It’s like you don’t know what to do with your life anymore. That’s how I felt after I wrapped up this mini-series. It is exactly what you expect, but nurses a gentle tenderness leaving one weak in the knees. You might come for the lustful, intimate scenes. But you’ll stay for the cottage sunsets, heartwarming coming-out scenes, and supportive found family, with little big gestures of love. And that’s what makes Heated Rivalry a great watch.
WE.CANNOT.KEEP.CALM. #HeatedRivalry drops tomorrow on Lionsgate Play!🔥 pic.twitter.com/VxCAtT2csn
— Lionsgate Play (@lionsgateplayIN) February 19, 2026
Stream all episodes of the first season of Heated Rivalry from February 20, 2026, exclusively on Lionsgate Play.
Also Read: Heated Rivalry OTT Release In India: Streaming Details And Why Fans Are Obsessed!
First Published: February 20, 2026 10:52 PM
