Six years in the past, Heated Rivalry was printed by writer Rachel Reid, the second novel within the well-liked hockey-rivals-turned-lovers sequence Recreation Changers. Now, Heated Rivalry is a Canadian TV sequence airing on HBO Max right here within the US, and although it’s solely been out for a couple of days, the web is about to place itself within the penalty field with how overtly sexy viewers are getting about it.
Heated Rivalry, which stars Hudson Williams as Asian-Canadian hockey participant Shane Hollander and Connor Storrie as his Russian-born rival, Ilya Rozanov, is what some might take into account a yaoi sequence. The Japanese time period is used for a hyperspecific media style targeted on male characters in sexual relationships, also referred to as Boy Love, and the sequence actually appears to be leaning into that idea. There’s a variety of loaded appears, barely there caresses, heavy respiration, and, ultimately, extremely popular intercourse.
Heated Rivalry premiered on November 28, and I’ve texted each single certainly one of my mates about it over the course of the previous few days (when describing the premise of “gay hockey men on rival teams” to my pal, she wrote again, “Did someone steal your diary?”). The present follows two gamers within the fictitious Main League Hockey league as they rise from bold rookies to superstars on the ice, all whereas navigating a searing sizzling attraction to one another. It’s at the moment sitting at an 86% on Rotten Tomatoes, and it appears to be all anybody (learn: ladies, homosexual males) can speak about.
I’ll admit that I’m an enormous hockey fan, so my algorithm could also be barely skewed, however each my TikTok and Twitter For You pages have been full of folks reacting to Heated Rivalry. Followers are posting their reactions to sure sexually specific scenes (together with one which takes place within the locker room) and others which might be demure however full of extra pressure than when two dudes have to take a seat in adjoining penalty bins after beating the piss out of one another.
the one applicable response to ilya on this second pic.twitter.com/EbH0UgQujx
— Rosie 💖 (@fangirl000777) December 1, 2025
All you sexy bitches preserve tweeting about is Heated Rivalry or is my algorithm simply very gay… the thirst is not like something I’ve ever seen earlier than pricey lord
— Lushious Massacr (@LushiousMassacr) November 30, 2025
there’s gonna be a variety of “no mom, I just love hockey” taking place throughout the US household HBO Max plans
— spencer (prime 0.1% of spencers) (@hoddsuspenders) November 30, 2025
you’d should put me in an involuntary psychiatric maintain if i used to be hollander https://t.co/a3xrMvcodA
— cooper (@marnieapologist) November 29, 2025
— CINEMA 505 (@CINEMA505) November 28, 2025
That the lead actors are leaning into the present’s horniess helps to extend the Heated Rivalry hype. Williams and Storrie advised Out Magazine the opposite day that they’d sexual chemistry from the opening puck drop (aka auditions), and creator and showrunner Jacob Tierney stated that Williams advised him that the opposite actor he learn with, “was good, but Connor felt like he was going to pin me down and f*ck me.”
Greatest again photographs within the first episode of #HeatedRivalry pic.twitter.com/gGaIAWnEzQ
— HBO Max (@hbomax) November 30, 2025
Even HBO Max is doubling down on the horniness. The official account posted a collage of images of Ilya and Hudson’s backs with the caption, “best back shots in the first episode of #HeatedRivalry.” “HBO…you’re CRAZZYYY for this,” learn a reply.
Horny males being horny collectively is nice fodder for the web, however there’s one other layer that makes Heated Rivalry so particular. Ilya and Hudson should preserve their romance a secret not simply because they play for rival groups, however due to the frustratingly regressive ideologies that plague skilled hockey. The NHL, as of writing, has zero overtly homosexual gamers, and has waffled back-and-forth between supporting its LGBTQ+ followers and ignoring them—or, should you’re the Staal brothers, refusing to participate in a Pride Night due to their “Christian beliefs.”
okay so sadly heated rivalry is unbelievable. hoped i’d not fall down the homosexual smut pipeline however my eyes should not deceiving me. the characters are multi-dimensional, the plot is intense, and the smut? yeah, i want extra.
— spencer thomas (@byspencerthomas) November 29, 2025
Heated Rivalry takes an extremely straight sport and injects some queerness into it, and from what everyone seems to be saying, it does so deftly and sexily. I’ve it queued as much as begin watching tonight for…analysis functions.
