Heated Rivalry is the hot new HBO Max and Crave series that has a legion of fans already and a lot of people talking about its steamy scenes.

The series focused on the on-ice and off-ice relationship between two hockey players, played by Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie. Other stars include François Arnaud, Christina Chang, Dylan Walsh, Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova, Sophie Nélisse and Callan Potter.

Many fans may be wondering if the show is based on a true story, so let’s dive into what’s real in the drama series.

What is the plot of the ‘Heated Rivalry’ series?

The official series description from HBO Max says that the series “chronicles the story of rival hockey players Shane and Ilya. Shane Hollander (Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Storrie) are two of the biggest stars in Major League Hockey, bound by ambition, rivalry, and a magnetic pull neither of them fully understands. What begins as a secret fling between two fresh-faced rookies evolves into a years-long journey of love, denial, and self-discovery. Over the next eight years, the pair chase glory on the ice while struggling to navigate their feelings off it. Torn between the sport they live for and the love they can’t ignore, Shane and Ilya must decide if there is room in their fiercely competitive world for something as fragile and as powerful as real love.”

Is ‘Heated Rivalry a real story?

No, Heated Rivalry is not a true story. However, it does have source material that the series is based on. Canadian actor, writer and director Jacob Tierney, who was also one of the minds behind Hulu’s Letterkenny, is the creator of Heated Rivalry, and he adapted the series, which is based on the Game Changers novel series from author Rachel Reid.

Reid’s series has six books, and most books is a different story, focusing on a different gay hockey romance. However, there is continuity between the books, and some characters appear across the book series. The sixth book, The Long Game, picks back up with Shane and Ilya.

Has the ‘Game Changers’ book series ended?

In February 2025, Reid announced that the Game Changers book series would end with the sixth one, The Long Game, despite having long worked on a book on the character of Luca Haas.

She ended a lengthy blog post by stating, “I know how lucky I am, having received so much love for this series and these characters. I appreciate all of the love and support so much, and believe me when I say this decision comes from my own love of these characters. I want to do the right thing by them, and sometimes the right thing is to walk away.”

Will ‘Heated Rivalry’ have a Season 2?

Right now, it is unknown if Heated Rivalry will have a second season. It is currently billed as a drama series, and not a limited series or miniseries. If Heated Rivalry is renewed for Season 2, it has yet to be determined if it would continue Shane and Illya’s story (maybe even a The Long Game adaptation), or if their story would wrap in Season 1, and future seasons could focus on another novel in Reid’s series.

What is the release schedule for ‘Heated Rivalry’ on HBO Max

The first season of Heated Rivalry has six episodes. The first two episodes debuted on premiere day, Nov. 28, and after that, there is an episode that will debut each week on Fridays until the rest of the year.

Here’s the schedule and episode titles:

Episode 1: “Rookies” – Nov. 28

Episode 2: “Olympians” – Nov. 28

Episode 3: “******” – Dec. 5

Episode 4: “Rose” – Dec. 12

Episode 5: “I’ll Believe in Anything” – Dec. 19

Episode 6: “The Cottage” – Dec. 26

Frequently Asked Questions

What time does ‘Heated Rivalry’ come on HBO Max?

Heated Rivalry episodes can be expected to be available for the standard HBO Max premiere time, which is typically 12 a.m. PST / 3 a.m. EST, unless it happens to be a series that is given a specific, primetime episode premiere window.

Was ‘Legendary’ removed from HBO Max?

Yes, Legendary was removed from HBO Max amid a content purge when Warner Bros. merged with Discovery. Legendary is now streaming on Tubi and can also be viewed on The Roku Channel.

Can I read ‘Heated Rivalry’ as a standalone?

Although there are elements that carry through each Game Changers book, Heated Rivalry can be read on its own, and you don’t have to read any of the other books before it.