Crave’s popular hockey drama series, Heated Rivalry, has unveiled two new additions for its upcoming Season 2.
Daniel Diemer, a well-known Canadian actor recognized for his role as Tyson in the TV series Percy Jackson and the Olympians, has been cast as hockey player Ryan Price. Meanwhile, Welsh actor Shaheen Jafargholi, set to appear in the HBO show War, will portray musician Fabian Salah, who is Ryan’s love interest in the storyline.
The characters Ryan and Fabian are the central figures in the third book of Rachel Reid’s popular Game Changers hockey romance series, titled Tough Guy. The novel narrates the journey of pro hockey enforcer Ryan as he navigates his trade to a Toronto team, encountering Fabian, an aspiring musician he shared a moment with in high school. Despite the years that have passed, their undeniable chemistry resurfaces, presenting a dilemma that might require Ryan to make a life-altering decision regarding his hockey career.
Writer Jacob Tierney and producer Brendan Brady expressed their excitement about the casting choices, emphasizing the unique energy that Daniel and Shaheen bring to the characters created by Rachel Reid. They praised the actors’ ability to portray the complex and captivating sides of Ryan and Fabian and eagerly anticipate the audience’s response to their performances.
The first season of the series adapted the initial two books from Reid’s series, namely Game Changer and Heated Rivalry. Season 2 of Heated Rivalry will continue exploring the relationship between Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, former hockey rivals turned lovers as depicted in Reid’s novel The Long Game, with Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie reprising their lead roles.
In addition to the core storyline, the second season will integrate the narratives of Troy Barrett, a hockey player traded to Ilya’s new team, and Harris Dover, a social media manager, from the fifth book of the book series, Role Model. Justice Smith and Charlie Gillespie have been cast for these new roles, with other notable additions to the cast including Emily Hampshire from Schitt’s Creek and drag queen Priyanka.
Season 2 of Heated Rivalry is scheduled for a spring 2027 premiere.
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