The lead actors from the well-known Canadian ice hockey series, “Heated Rivalry,” have been selected as torchbearers for the upcoming Milan Cortina Olympics. Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, who portray Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov in the popular Crave-produced show, will have the honor of carrying the Olympic flame for the event in February. Williams hails from Kelowna, British Columbia, while Storrie is of American descent.
In the series, Hollander and Rozanov are depicted as top-tier hockey competitors who share a heated rivalry on the rink while navigating complex emotions for each other off the ice. “Heated Rivalry” is scheduled to debut in Italy on February 1 on HBO Max, an official broadcasting partner for the Milan Cortina Games. Canadian fans can continue enjoying the show on Crave.
With just 16 days remaining until the Olympic opening ceremony on February 6, the torch’s journey is nearing its conclusion. Due to its immense success on streaming platforms in both Canada and the United States, “Heated Rivalry” has already been greenlit for a second season.
The series, consisting of six episodes, is an adaptation of the gay ice hockey romance book series “Game Changers” by Canadian author Rachel Reid. The screen version was penned by Canadian writer Jacob Tierney for Crave. Tierney, known for his work on the sitcom “Letterkenny” and his involvement in the hockey comedy “Shoresy,” serves as the co-writer, director, and executive producer of “Heated Rivalry.”
CBC’s Emma Weller recently explored the impact of “Heated Rivalry” on Ottawa Pride Hockey and the local 2SLGBTQ+ hockey community, delving into the series’ unexpected popularity and reception among viewers.
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