In the realm of hockey romance, the buzz is growing once more as Crave’s series, “Heated Rivalry,” welcomes five fresh talents to its cast.
Emily Hampshire, a renowned Canadian actress recognized 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 previously known for hosting “Laugh Out Loud” and writing for “Canada’s Got Talent,” will take on the role of sports agent Farah Jalali. Additionally, Priyanka, the winner of the inaugural season of “Canada’s Drag Race,” will play Tarek, an office assistant.
Joining the lineup are Robert Naylor, a Canadian actor and musician famous for voicing D.W. Read in the animated series “Arthur,” as goaltender Wyatt Hayes, and Edvin Ryding, a Swedish actor who starred as Prince Wilhelm in Netflix’s “Young Royals,” as rookie hockey player Luca Haas.
The casting announcement for the new additions was shared on Instagram by Crave. Season two of “Heated Rivalry” will continue the love story of hockey rivals turned partners, Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, from Rachel Reid’s Game Changer series, specifically from the sixth novel titled “The Long Game.” This series of hockey romance novels intertwines characters’ stories within the same universe.
Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie will reprise their leading roles in the TV adaptation as Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, respectively. Season one of the show adapted the first two books of Reid’s series, “Game Changer” and “Heated Rivalry.”
With the latest casting news, it is anticipated that the third novel in the series, “Tough Guy,” will also be brought to life on screen. Vanessa and Tarek are linked to Fabian Salah, the love interest of hockey player Ryan Price in “Tough Guy.”
The upcoming season will further incorporate the narratives of Troy Barrett, a hockey player traded to Ilya’s new team, and Harris Dover, a social media manager, from the fifth novel, “Role Model.”
Justice Smith has been cast as Harris, and Charlie Gillespie from “Julie and the Phantoms” will portray Troy. The premiere of season two of “Heated Rivalry” is scheduled for spring 2027.