Heated Rivalry Season 2 Expands Cast Ahead of Spring 2027 Launch

The Crave-HBO Max series Heated Rivalry has added five performers to its Season 2 ensemble. Emily Hampshire (known for *Schitt’s Creek* and Marvel’s *VisionQuest*) will portray Vanessa. Edvin Ryding (*The Young Royals*, *28 Years Later*) is cast as rookie forward Luca Haas. Robert Naylor (*Mile End Kicks*, *Cardinal*) will play goaltender Wyatt Hayes. Sabrina Jalees (*I Used to Be Funny*, *Black Mirror*) joins as agent Farah Jalali, and Priyanka, a Canadian singer-actor and former *Canada’s Drag Race* judge, will appear as Tarek. They join returning leads Hudson Williams (Shane Hollander) and Connor Storrie (Ilya Rozanov) as well as newly announced co-leads Justice Smith (Harris Drover) and Charlie Gillespie (Troy Barrett).

Heated Rivalry Season 2 Update Sees Edvin Ryding, Big Schitt’s Creek Star & More Join Cast

*Heated Rivalry* adapts Rachel Reid’s Game Changers novel series. Season 1, which premiered in November 2025, was based on the second novel *Heated Rivalry* and incorporated elements from the first novel *Game Changers*. The inaugural season followed the secret romance between rookie hockey rivals Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, earning a Peabody, a GLAAD Award, and a Primetime Emmy nomination for Storrie’s hosting of *Saturday Night Live*.

Deadline Hollywood

Season 2 will draw primarily from Reid’s sixth novel The Long Game, continuing Shane and Ilya’s relationship, while also integrating storylines from the fifth novel Role Model and the concurrently-set novel Unrivaled. This expansion introduces a parallel couple—Harris Drover and Troy Barrett—alongside the original duo.

Hollywood Reporter

• November 2025: Series debut on Crave.

The Wrap

• December 2025: Renewal for a second season announced.

Edvin Ryding Joins Heated Rivalry Season 2 With 5 New Cast Members

• Early 2026: Casting of Justice Smith and Charlie Gillespie confirmed.

Heated Rivalry Season 2 Update Sees Edvin Ryding, Big Schitt’s Creek Star & More Join Cast

• Mid-2026: Additional five cast members announced (the present news).

Heated Rivalry Season 2 Update Sees Edvin Ryding, Big Schitt’s Creek Star & More Join Cast

• Spring 2026: Filming of Season 2 commenced, as reported by the series creator.

Hollywood Reporter

• Spring 2027: Season 2 slated to premiere on HBO Max in the United States and on Crave in Canada, with distribution to Australia, Europe (excluding the U.K., Ireland, Spain, and Turkey), Latin America, and select Asian markets (Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, Nepal, Sri Lanka).

Deadline Hollywood

• The first season averaged 10.6 million viewers per episode in the United States.

The Wrap

• Awards include a Peabody Award, a GLAAD Award, and a Canadian Screen Award for Hudson Williams’ portrayal of Shane Hollander.

Express Tribune

He also noted that the production team is asking the public to respect filming locations to ensure a smooth shoot.

Deadline Hollywood

The series’ commissioning bodies—Bell Media’s Crave and the Canada Media Fund—confirmed continued financial support for the second season. HBO Max reiterated its commitment to air the series in the United States.

Hollywood Reporter

• “I hope you guys like Ilya and Shane…,” — Rachel Reid, inspiration from author

Heated Rivalry S02: Hampshire, Ryding, Naylor, Jalees & Priyanka Cast

Season 2 will roll out in spring 2027 across the listed territories, featuring the expanded ensemble and the new dual-story structure. Viewers can anticipate further development of Shane and Ilya’s partnership alongside the emerging romance of Harris Drover and Troy Barrett, as well as the fresh characters introduced by the five new cast members.

Edvin Ryding Joins Heated Rivalry Season 2 With 5 New Cast Members