The Heated Rivalry Season 1 finale may have ended on a hopeful note but it also left fans with anticipation about the second season, which was greenlit 15 days after the series premiere.After a season defined by emotional restraint and stolen moments, HBO Max's sensation queer romance (based on Rachel Reid's Game Changers) finally allowed Shane and Ilya to step into the light, at least partially. Yet hope, in Reid's fictional hockey universe, has never meant closure. Instead, the finale felt like a promise that the story is only beginning and the real challenges are still ahead.While The Cottage left fans with a satisfactory conclusion to Shane and Ilya's love story, their relationship has just begun. After a decade-long fling behind closed hotel rooms, the couple finally stepped into the light, ready to face the world together.Here are 5 burning questions Heated Rivalry Season 2 needs to answer after the hopeful Season 1 finale.5 burning questions (from Season 1) and Heated Rivalry Season 2 theories View this post on Instagram Instagram Post1) How will Shane and Ilya manage the emotional toll of secrecy in their relationship?While the HBO Max series concluded on a positive note for Shane and Ilya, they still have a long way to go. After their true feelings for each other are out in the open, Heated Rivalry Season 2 should explore the aftermath of their confession. While Shane proposed a solid plan by launching a joint charity, David’s awkward interruption derailed the moment, preventing the couple from finishing their conversation about the future.Now that Shane has come out to his parents and the couple is together, it remains to be seen how they will manage the emotional weight of their relationship in public.2) Will Ilya get a Canadian citizenship in Heated Rivalry Season 2?While The Cottage gave us some adorable and steamy scenes between Shane and Ilya, it also featured an open conversation between the couple. Ilya shared that he no longer wants a Russian passport and is hoping to obtain Canadian citizenship so he can stay close to his Canadian boyfriend. After his cheeky plan to marry Svetlana was strongly opposed by Shane, the Metros Captain suggested Ilya switch teams from Boston to Ottawa.Playing for Ottawa would not only scale down their intense rivalry in the media but also lessen their geographical proximity, a win-win situation. While Ilya was on board, Heated Rivalry Season 2 must answer which team the Raiders' Captain actually picked and whether he got a Canadian citizenship.3) Could Ilya and Shane's combined charity change the narrative about their 'rivalry' in the media? View this post on Instagram Instagram PostShane and Ilya, the two star hockey players in the MLH, were pitted against each other in the media since their rookie years. However, despite all odds, the couple's love triumphed in the end but they are still 'rivals' in front of the world. While confessing their love, Shane suggested they launch a combined charity programme and a summer hockey camp to change the narrative about their relationship in the media.While readers saw this happening in the Heated Rivalry (book) epilogue, the HBO Max show opted for a different ending, leaving this a solid mystery for the second season.4) Will Ilya’s family troubles impact his relationship with Shane?Heated Rivalry featured snippets of Ilya's troubled family life since Episode 1 but it was in the penultimate episode, after his father's death, that he cut all ties with his brother and family. In the series finale, he took a step further to Shane and opened up about his mother's su*c*de, hinting at his repressed childhood trauma from growing up in a strict Russian home.While the freshman season barely scratched the surface with Ilya's mental health struggles, fans are hoping that Heated Rivalry Season 2 gives him a chance to accept and confront those issues in therapy. It will also be interesting to see how his familial dynamics will affect his relationship with Shane in the second season.5) Will Heated Rivalry Season 2 feature more couples/characters from Reid's Game Changers? View this post on Instagram Instagram PostNow that Heated Rivalry is a record-breaking success, fans are wondering if more characters/couples from the Game Changers book series will debut in the upcoming season. While the sophomore season will continue Shane and Ilya's story as the main couple, it could introduce important characters from Reid's fictional hockey universe.The presence of Scott Hunter and Kip (protagonists from Book 1) certainly enhanced the storytelling in Season 1 and fans are eagerly waiting for more beloved characters to make their debut in Shane and Ilya's hockey world.You can stream all six episodes of Heated Rivalry on HBO Max.For the latest scoops on your favorite TV shows and movies, follow SoapCentral.