Heated Rivalry Showrunner Teases 'Much More Serious Territory' in Season 2

New character Troy Barrett will be 'quite damaged,' says Jacob Tierney, as he adapts Rachel Reid's book 'The Long Game' for the hit series.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 7:35pm

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An abstract close-up photograph of a cracked, glittering hockey puck under dramatic studio lighting, conveying the intense emotional stakes of the characters' relationship in the Heated Rivalry series.The gritty, high-contrast glamour of Heated Rivalry's second season will capture the emotional weight of Shane and Ilya's decade-long secret romance.Boston Today

Heated Rivalry showrunner Jacob Tierney teased that season 2 of the hit series will delve into 'much more serious territory' as he adapts Rachel Reid's book The Long Game. Tierney also confirmed the arrival of a new character, Troy Barrett, who he says is 'quite damaged' and the show will be 'digging into that even harder.' The new season will see the return of Shane (Hudson Williams) and Ilya (Connor Storrie) as their relationship faces new challenges a decade into their secret romance.

Why it matters

Heated Rivalry has built a passionate fanbase with its steamy romance between hockey players Shane and Ilya. As the showrunner adapts the sequel novel The Long Game, which takes the couple's story in a more serious direction, it signals a shift in tone that will likely resonate with viewers who have followed the characters' journey. The introduction of the new 'damaged' character Troy also presents an opportunity to explore themes of mental health and trauma within the sports world.

The details

In the second season of Heated Rivalry, showrunner Jacob Tierney will be adapting Rachel Reid's 2022 novel The Long Game, which picks up 10 years into Shane and Ilya's relationship. The pair have launched a charity organization, but the strain of keeping their love affair a secret weighs heavily. Ilya has also left his Boston team to play for the Ottawa Centaurs so he can be closer to Shane. The arrival of new character Troy Barrett, a forward traded to the Centaurs, will also play a significant role, with Tierney saying the show will be 'digging into' Troy's damaged backstory 'even harder.'

  • Heated Rivalry season 2 is slated to begin filming this summer, with a projected spring 2027 premiere.
  • The Long Game, the novel that season 2 is adapting, was published in 2022.

The players

Jacob Tierney

The showrunner of Heated Rivalry, who is adapting Rachel Reid's novel The Long Game for the show's second season.

Rachel Reid

The author of the Heated Rivalry book series, including the novel The Long Game, which is being adapted for the show's second season.

Hudson Williams

The actor who plays Shane Hollander, one of the lead characters, in the Heated Rivalry series.

Connor Storrie

The actor who plays Ilya Rozanov, the other lead character, in the Heated Rivalry series.

Troy Barrett

A new character introduced in the second season, described by showrunner Jacob Tierney as 'quite damaged' and a focus of the show's deeper exploration of mental health and trauma.

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What they’re saying

“You're in much more serious territory. There's still lots of flirting and there's lots of sex, but it's this kind of danger. This kind of hotel room, adolescent sex stuff is largely gone, and so it presents really new challenges.”

— Jacob Tierney, Showrunner, Heated Rivalry

“What do you do after the rush of danger is gone and yet now you have to live in a relationship where you still aren't communicating properly, much as you would like to? You can say you love each other, but as adults know, there's so much more than that to make a relationship successful. And that is what they're learning.”

— Jacob Tierney, Showrunner, Heated Rivalry

“There is an easy, facile way of looking at Role Model. It's very 'grumpy-sunshine,' it's very 'apple orchard,' it can drift into things that you want, but Troy is a really damaged guy. And Troy is quite damaged on the show. I would say we're digging into that even harder.”

— Jacob Tierney, Showrunner, Heated Rivalry

What’s next

Heated Rivalry season 2 is expected to begin filming this summer, with a projected spring 2027 premiere on Crave in Canada and HBO Max in the U.S. and other international territories.

The takeaway

As Heated Rivalry transitions from the initial rush of Shane and Ilya's secret romance to the more serious challenges of their long-term relationship, the show will explore deeper themes of communication, mental health, and the personal sacrifices required to maintain a high-profile partnership. The introduction of the 'damaged' character Troy also signals a willingness to tackle complex issues within the sports world.