In the world of hockey romance, exciting developments are underway as Crave’s “Heated Rivalry” welcomes five new additions to its cast. Emily Hampshire, a renowned Canadian actress known for her roles in “Schitt’s Creek” and “12 Monkeys,” will portray Vanessa, a sex shop worker. Sabrina Jalees, a Canadian comedian and actress, takes on the role of sports agent Farah Jalali, while Priyanka, winner of the first season of “Canada’s Drag Race,” plays Tarek, an office assistant.
Joining the ensemble are Robert Naylor, a Canadian actor and musician recognized for voicing D.W. Read in the animated series “Arthur,” as goaltender Wyatt Hayes, and Edvin Ryding, a Swedish actor who starred in Netflix’s “Young Royals,” as rookie hockey player Luca Haas.
The casting announcement, shared on Instagram, revealed that the upcoming season of “Heated Rivalry” will continue the tale of Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, former hockey rivals turned lovers. Based on Rachel Reid’s Game Changer series, specifically the sixth novel titled “The Long Game,” the show promises to intertwine characters’ stories within the hockey romance universe.
Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie will reprise their leading roles in the TV adaptation, embodying the characters of Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander. Season one of the series adapted the initial two books in Reid’s series, “Game Changer” and “Heated Rivalry,” hinting at a potential adaptation of the third novel, “Tough Guy,” with Vanessa and Tarek playing pivotal roles.
Additionally, the upcoming season will incorporate characters from the fifth novel, “Role Model,” including Troy Barrett, a traded hockey player, and Harris Dover, a social media manager. The latest casting news unveiled Justice Smith as Harris and Charlie Gillespie from “Julie and the Phantoms” as Troy, with the second season set to premiere in the spring of 2027.