Heated Rivalry TV Series Captivates Hockey World at Winter Olympics
The hottest show in hockey, Heated Rivalry, is being warmly embraced by fans and players alike at the Winter Olympics, highlighting a unique blend of sports drama and social impact. Olympic hockey is renowned for its intense physicality and big hits, but this television series adds a new layer of emotional depth and inclusivity to the game.
Plot and Popularity Surge
Heated Rivalry is a hockey romance TV series that follows two gay players from rival teams, Canadian Shane Hollander and Russian Ilya Rozanov, as they navigate a secret, long-term relationship. Based on Rachel Reid's 2019 novel, the show originally aired on Canadian streaming service Crave and became the top-rated series on HBO Max in its first season, leading to a renewal for a second season.
The steamy connection between the characters has not only attracted viewers but also boosted interest in hockey itself. According to data from ticketing platform SeatGeek, weekly NHL ticket sales saw a more than 20% increase after the show premiered in late November, with no similar surge observed in the same period the previous year. SeatGeek noted in an analysis on January 16 that while it's impossible to attribute all growth to a single show, the timing is hard to ignore.
Impact on Athletes and Fans
The show's influence was evident before the Milan Cortina Olympics, with co-stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie carrying the Olympic flame. At the Games, athletes from Canada and the U.S. have acknowledged the phenomenon. Zach Werenski, a defenseman on the U.S. team who plays for the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets, mentioned that the show is a frequent topic in locker room conversations.
"Everyone is saying how great it is, I just haven't seen it yet," Werenski told The Associated Press after a 5-1 victory over Latvia. "It's definitely good for the sport of hockey. Whenever you can add more eyes to the game and have people talk about the game and talk about inclusivity, I think it's just great for the sport."
Jake Sanderson, another U.S. defenseman with the Ottawa Senators, highlighted the potential for the show to inspire confidence, citing Luke Prokop, who in 2021 became the first player signed to an NHL contract to come out as gay. "You never know if that show will instill some confidence in some people," Sanderson said, adding that any openly gay player would be fully accepted in the locker room.
Cultural Resonance and Global Reach
Among the Canadian delegation at the Olympics, Heated Rivalry has become a cultural touchstone. Athletes gifted potted plants named them Shane or Ilya, and Canadian Alpine skier Kiki Alexander shared on TikTok that the village's Canadian moose was named Shane. Adam van Koeverden, Canada's secretary of state for sport and a 2004 Olympic champion, praised the show for advancing conversations on diversity in hockey.
"We're the perfect country to be having the conversation and be putting that art out there that I think is advancing the conversation on diversity in hockey," van Koeverden told AP. "Hockey is for everyone and 'Heated Rivalry' makes it clear."
Despite Russia's anti-LGBTQ+ crackdowns, the show launched in Europe in January and is proving a surprise hit there. At the Games, only a handful of Russian athletes are competing as neutral individuals due to the war in Ukraine, but the series continues to resonate globally.
Fan Engagement and New Audiences
Fans like Kim Sweet from Calgary, Alberta, and Angie Campos from California have been drawn to hockey through the series. Sweet, a self-described huge hockey fan, expressed intrigue at how the show explores privacy and coming out in a male-dominated sport. Campos, wearing a sweatshirt featuring the main characters' jerseys, compared the surge in female hockey fans to the impact of Taylor Swift on NFL fandom.
"It just makes it a little bit more relatable and it has definitely opened eyes to a human side of competition," Campos said.
Broader Implications for Hockey
Hockey is known for its rough-and-tumble nature, with occasional fighting and hard hits, as seen in a recent Canada-France game where players were ejected. This machismo makes the rink an unlikely setting for exploring themes of forbidden love and male sexual orientation, especially since no active NHL player has come out as gay in the league's century-plus history.
However, Heated Rivalry is breaking barriers, attracting not only women but also men like Christopher Ryan York, who noted the show's role in growing the sport. His father, Kevin York, highlighted its inspirational impact, pointing to Jesse Kortuem, a Canadian hockey player who came out as gay on Instagram in January, crediting the series for sparking his decision.
As the Winter Olympics continue, Heated Rivalry stands out as a powerful force driving fandom, inclusivity, and meaningful dialogue in the world of hockey.
