How “Heated Rivalry” Sparked Thirst, Hope, and Memes
A Canadian TV show about gay hockey romance unexpectedly became a moment of tender (but sexy) relief in an increasingly unfair world.
A Canadian TV show about gay hockey romance unexpectedly became a moment of tender (but sexy) relief in an increasingly unfair world.
So much for watching it for the plot. (screenshot via X)
Read with caution: Spoilers ahead!
Let me start by saying that I am a cis woman, and I don't know anything about ice hockey except that people on TikTok have started calling the rinks “boy aquariums.” But I, like a large percentage of the show’s women-identifying audience, tore through the first five episodes of Heated Rivalry (2025–ongoing) in less than a day.
In just one month, the Canadian gay hockey romance drama, adapted from author Rachel Reid's Game Changers (2019–) novel series, has skyrocketed in popularity and critical acclaim, scoring an impressive 98% on Rotten Tomatoes. It's also responsible for an influx of horny, yearn-y, and adoring memes that have inspired so many others to tune in.
The A in LGBTQIA stands for “Ally,” right? (screenshot via X)
At face value, what's not to love? The main cast is eye candy and exposed. Fresh-faced co-leads Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie are breakout stars who shatter the monotony of Hollywood's recycled talent pool, and the long-form plot is a realistic slow burn peppered with yearning, respectful but passionate sex, drama, and competition. Streaming on Crave and HBO Max, this remarkable contribution to queer storytelling has been a salve for me following Netflix's decision to cancel Boots (2025), about a closeted gay teenager who impulsively enlisted in the Marine Corps while it was still illegal for non-heterosexual people to serve.
With Williams playing Canadian ice hockey player Shane Hollander and Storrie as his Russian rival Ilya Rozanov, Heated Rivalry follows the pair through an enemies-to-lovers track that starts off as purely sexual, but develops into something so much deeper as the characters' lives and backgrounds unfurl and intertwine through the episodes. Pitted against each other both on the rink and in the media, Hollander and Rozanov, who only meet in secret and text each other with aliases, are also stifled by the sport's hypermasculinity and implicit homophobia as well as the compulsory heterosexuality imposed by friends and family.
Scott Hunter, another star hockey player (portrayed by François Arnaud) in the Hollander/Rozanov universe, also navigates his own queerness throughout the show, ultimately setting the main characters free by kissing his partner Kip (played by Robbie G.K.) on the rink after his team wins the (fictionalized) Major League Hockey Cup. (As a fun art-world aside, in the book, Kip is an art history student that interviews for a position at the Museum of the City of New York.)
While brazen commentary about Hollander and Rozanov's romantic and sexual dynamics proliferated online throughout the show's release, the kiss proved to be a plot point that launched a thousand cheers and memes among the show's fanbase — especially as it laid the framework for the coveted finale episode at Hollander's summer cottage.
SCOTT HUNTER AND KIP I'M SORRY I EVER DOUBTED YOU #heatedrivarly pic.twitter.com/SCHBUCJR2u
— david is watching heated rivalry rn (@seIenalusts) December 19, 2025
If not, we all riot. (screenshot via X)
”... And they were roommates.” (screenshot via X)
Stay with me, there's more to come.
This is just the tip of the iceberg, but it certainly goes to show how invested so many of us have become in this six-episode show. Heated Rivalry became a hit among women (heyy 🙋🏾♀️) not only because of our documented interest in same-sex romance stories, but for emphasizing the simultaneous simplicity and sensuality of obtaining explicit consent, especially in a post-Fifty Shades of Grey era.
The growth in the relationship between Hollander, an awkward and reserved babyqueer who has more family support than he recognizes, and Rozanov, whose devil-may-care confidence masks a broken family dynamic in Russia, is magnetic as it unfolds over raunchy trysts and risqué text messages throughout an eight-year period. Their chemistry is undeniable and rooted in realism (I mean, not everyone can be as gorgeous as them, but still ...) until it reaches a boiling point during a pivotal nightclub scene.
@nola_rhianne needless to say we’re invested #heatedrivalry #ucla #fyp @ava callahan @kai😇😇 @jordis @ashlee ♬ original sound - nola_rhianne
Another compelling aspect of the show is that it prioritizes depicting queer love and happiness rather than contributing to the pool of trauma-porn content modeled after real-life discrimination, abuse, oppression, and persecution. Finally, everybody gets a happy ending (😉).
At this point, I've done enough proselytizing for the show. Let me strip it down to this: It's hot, it's tender, it's sensitive, it's ensnaring, it's current, it's resistance, and based on everyone's reactions, it was sorely needed as a glimmer of hope and optimism to close out this shitty fucking year — ESPECIALLY since we've got two more seasons confirmed. ("Justice for Boots!” I shout.)
But while those two seasons are still in production, at least we have each other:
@97.09.01___ Merry Yaoimas to all who celebrate 👬🎄 #heatedrivalry #heatedrivalryfinale @Heated Rivalry @cravecanada @HBO Max ♬ original sound - Liz⏤͟͟͞͞★
@bookishniki Devil works hard But Yuna Hollander works harder #heatedrivalryshow #heatedrivalry #hollanov #heatedrivalrymeme ♬ Major Bag Alert - Damickey Lillard
@mtnseason Very similar #heatedrivalry #fyp #mlm #funny #trending ♬ Red sun in the sky original - Socialist Music
@margarettiktokgod It’s a Heated Rivalry Christmas. Merry Christmas grandma. #heatedrivalry #shanehollander #ilyarozanov ♬ All The Things She Said - Harrison
me unwatching the entire season so I can rewatch it again for the first time #heatedrivalry pic.twitter.com/wOxCUP0Aq2
— david is watching heated rivalry rn (@seIenalusts) December 26, 2025
Many such cases ... (screenshots via X)
It really is that serious. (screenshot via X)
It's a canon event, I cannot interfere. (screenshot via X)
The beauty of language is that new and unique sentences like this one happen all the time! (screenshot via X)
@suemeeeeeee Not a lot of hockey going on in these episodes…. #heatedrivalry #shanehollander #ilyarozanov ♬ Challengers: Match Point (Challengers Soundtrack) - Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross
day 1 of heated rivalry withdrawals pic.twitter.com/mPDjIXE3WR
— chris (@chrisdadeviant) December 27, 2025
@nat_doll Replying to @Zephyr #heatedrivalry ♬ original sound - nat doll
@francisjayyb Rose is a supportive ally 👸🏼 #heatedrivalry ♬ original sound - Francis
@crazysadazn I love when they bicker #heatedrivalry #shanehollander #ilyarozanov #hollanov ♬ original sound - Heated Rivalry
And if the memes aren't enough to tide you over, Williams and Storrie have confirmed that they'll be co-narrating an erotic romantasy audio romance through Quinn, an immersive erotica app, in the meantime.
........ 🎶 And a happy new year! 🎶 (screenshot via X)