Crave has expanded the cast for the upcoming second season of its hit queer hockey drama Heated Rivalry, adding five new actors to the lineup for a spring 2027 premiere, according to announcements from the streaming platform and reporting by Now Toronto and PinkNews.
New Cast Additions for Heated Rivalry Season 2
According to Crave’s Instagram announcement published in August, the expanding ensemble features high-profile Canadian and international talent. Schitt’s Creek star Emily Hampshire has been cast as Vanessa, a sex shop worker, while Canada’s Drag Race winner Priyanka will play Tarek, an office assistant, as reported by Crave. Comedian and actress Sabrina Jalees joins as sports agent Farah Jalali, according to the network. On the athletic side, Robert Naylor will portray Ottawa Centaurs goaltender Wyatt Hayes, and Swedish actor Edvin Ryding has been cast as rookie hockey player Luca Haas, based on the network announcements cited by PinkNews and Now Toronto.
Did you know? Robert Naylor, who joins Heated Rivalry as goaltender Wyatt Hayes, previously voiced D.W. Read in the animated children’s series Arthur from 2007 to 2012, according to PinkNews.
Expanding Beyond The Long Game
Season two will continue to follow the story of hockey rivals-turned-lovers Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov—played by returning stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie—drawing from Rachel Reid’s sixth novel in the Game Changers series, The Long Game, according to Crave. The new casting of Hampshire and Priyanka strongly indicates that the third book in the series, Tough Guy, will also be adapted, as both characters are friends of Fabian Salah, the love interest of hockey player Ryan Price in that novel, according to PinkNews.
In addition, Crave announced that the upcoming season will incorporate storylines from the fifth novel, Role Model, featuring Troy Barrett and social media manager Harris Dover, played by Charlie Gillespie and Justice Smith respectively, with casting announced on Aug. 7, according to the platform.
Fan Reception and Social Media Reaction
The new casting rollout was met with an enthusiastic response on social media, marking a notable shift from the debate that followed the show’s previous season two casting reveal, which faced criticism from some fans regarding body diversity and book accuracy for the character of Harris, according to Now Toronto reporting. Author Rachel Reid celebrated the casting updates on Instagram by commenting under Crave Canada’s post, “The coolest cast!” and adding, “Finally, we have someone hot on the show,” while Olivia Chow also noted the local talent, commenting, “So many Toronto stars,” as reported by Now Toronto.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will Heated Rivalry Season 2 premiere?
Season 2 of Heated Rivalry is scheduled to premiere in spring 2027, according to Crave.
Which books will Season 2 adapt?
The second season will adapt Rachel Reid’s sixth novel, The Long Game, while also incorporating elements and characters from Tough Guy and Role Model, according to Crave and PinkNews.
Who are the new main cast members joining Season 2?
Emily Hampshire, Priyanka, Sabrina Jalees, Robert Naylor, and Edvin Ryding are joining the cast, alongside previously announced actors Justice Smith and Charlie Gillespie, according to Crave.
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