This year’s steamiest hit, Heated Rivalry, is now streaming on HBO Max. The 6-episode series produced by Crave television brings to life an intense queer hockey romance that’s become a breakout sensation.
In the series Actor Hudson Williams plays the role of Shane Hollander and Actor Connor Storrie plays the role of Ilya Rozanov. The story centers around Hollander, a clean-cut Canadian ‘golden boy’ and his Russian rival Rosanov who is the former Russian Olympic Hockey champion. Their fierce on-ice competition begins at the World Junior Championships at age 17 and carries into their professional careers in Major League Hockey, where Shane captains the Montreal Metros and Ilya plays for the Boston Raiders.
The two ‘Heated Rivalry’ stars have made some impromptu high-profile appearances in several West Hollywood locations stunning the crowd at Hi Tops during a charitable trivia night. And then bar crawled along Santa Monica Blvd stopping off at Gym Bar, and Rocco’s to take photos. The two also made appearances at the another party at Chateau Marmont on Sunset Blvd. along WeHo’s Sunset Strip.
‘Heated Rivalry’ as produced by Crave Television was based on a book series, ‘The Game Changer’, by author Rachel Reid and enlivened by gay creator James Tierney. The success of the series drawing on the struggles of being famous and coming out of the closet along with its depiction of gay romance without any inhibitions. Tierney’s raw spread-eagle truth to light worthy of an Emmy nomination.
In one of the most exhilarating gay moments ever seen on the screen came in Episode 5 aptly named, “I’ll believe in anything”. It’s the Stanley Cup Championships, and both Montreal Metros and the Boston Raiders have been eliminated from the finals leaving Hollander at home in Canada, and Rosanov at his home in Russia. François Arnaud who plays the role of Scott Hunter is the captain of the New York Admirals who are playing for the Stanley Cup Championship.
What follows is an epic coming-out gesture when the closeted captain of the Championship New York Admirals calls then calls his ex-boyfriend Kip Grady played by Robbie C. K. down from the stands and pulls him into a long kiss in front of the packed arena, the media and a massive television audience.
The public display of Hunter officially coming out of the closet and declaring his love for Kip, was a “game changer” moment on the screen and for many in the LBGTQ+ community. It was a barrier broken if only for inclusivity in professional sports. The moment captivated at WeHo’s Gym Bar when the crowd went wild and the Tik-Toc when viral receiving almost 7M views and counting.
Williams and Storrie have been booked for three seasons. On December 12, Crave media gave the green light for season 2. Perhaps next episodes will introduce a West Hollywood or Los Angeles based team.
Maybe you can sell their jerseys in your store. I would love a Boston Raiders or Montreal Metros shirt
this is true and worth ‘knocking off’
Crave copyright attorneys coming after you in 3..2..