A new wave of excitement is brewing in the realm of hockey-themed romance as Crave’s series, “Heated Rivalry,” welcomes five fresh talents to its ensemble. Emily Hampshire, a renowned Canadian actress known 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, will take on the role of sports agent Farah Jalali, while drag queen Priyanka will play Tarek, an office assistant.
Joining the cast are Canadian actor and musician Robert Naylor as goaltender Wyatt Hayes and Swedish actor Edvin Ryding as rookie hockey player Lucas Haas. Naylor, recognized for voicing D.W. Read in the animated series “Arthur,” and Ryding, who starred as Prince Wilhelm in Netflix’s “Young Royals,” bring their talents to this exciting project.
The casting announcement was shared on Instagram by Crave, with season two of “Heated Rivalry” set to continue the love story between hockey rivals-turned-lovers Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, characters from Rachel Reid’s Game Changer series. The series, set in the same universe where character stories intertwine, has garnered significant anticipation for its upcoming season.
Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie will reprise their leading roles in the TV adaptation, maintaining the essence of the storyline from the novels “Game Changer” and “Heated Rivalry.” With the new cast additions, speculations arise that the adaptation may extend to the third novel, “Tough Guy,” from Reid’s series, introducing connections to characters like Fabian Salah and Ryan Price.
Moreover, the upcoming season is expected to delve into the narratives of Troy Barrett, a hockey player traded to Ilya’s team, and Harris Dover, a social media manager, from the novel “Role Model.” Justice Smith and Charlie Gillespie have been revealed as the actors cast for these roles, with the premiere of season two scheduled for spring 2027.