The world of hockey romance is abuzz once more with exciting updates. Crave’s popular series, “Heated Rivalry,” will welcome five new members to its cast.
Emily Hampshire, a renowned Canadian actress, will portray Vanessa, a character working in a sex shop. Sabrina Jalees, a Canadian comedian and actress, takes on the role of sports agent Farah Jalali, while Priyanka, a drag queen, will play Tarek, an office assistant. Hampshire is celebrated for her performances in “Schitt’s Creek” and “12 Monkeys,” Jalees previously hosted the radio and web show “Laugh Out Loud” and wrote for “Canada’s Got Talent,” and Priyanka emerged victorious in the inaugural season of “Canada’s Drag Race.”
Joining the lineup are Robert Naylor, a Canadian actor and musician, as goaltender Wyatt Hayes, and Edvin Ryding, a Swedish actor, as rookie hockey player Luca Haas. Naylor is recognized for voicing D.W. Read in the animated series “Arthur,” while Ryding starred as Prince Wilhelm in Netflix’s “Young Royals.”
The casting announcement was shared on Instagram by Crave, revealing that season two of “Heated Rivalry” will continue the love story of hockey rivals-turned-lovers Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov from Rachel Reid’s “The Long Game,” the sixth novel in the Game Changer series, known for its interconnected character narratives.
Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie will reprise their lead roles in the show’s TV adaptation, embodying the characters of Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander, respectively.
The first season of the series adapted the initial two books in Reid’s series, “Game Changer” and “Heated Rivalry.” With this fresh casting development, it is anticipated that the third novel, “Tough Guy,” will also be brought to the screen, with characters Vanessa and Tarek linked to the storyline.
Additionally, the upcoming season will incorporate narratives from the fifth novel, “Role Model,” introducing the stories of hockey player Troy Barrett and social media manager Harris Dover. Justice Smith has been cast as Harris, and Charlie Gillespie, known for his role in “Julie and the Phantoms,” will play Troy.
Fans can expect the premiere of season two of “Heated Rivalry” in the spring of 2027.
