Heated Rivalry Episode 6 is titled 'The Cottage' and will release on HBO Max on December 26. The Crave Canada gay hockey romance series, based on Rachel Reid's Game Changers book series, has also landed a release date in the UK. The series will debut on January 10 on Sky and Now in the UK.This Jacob Tierney-created queer sports drama has become a sensational hit after its premiere, earning a rightful second-season renewal just 15 days after its debut on Crave and HBO Max.Heated Rivalry stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie as two MLH players, Shane and Ilya, respectively. While Shane and Ilya are arch-rivals and fiercely competitive on the ice, they begin a passionate fling in their rookie years that transforms into a complicated yet meaningful relationship over the years.More on this in our story.Heated Rivalry Episode 6 (finale) release date and streaming details View this post on Instagram Instagram PostThe sixth and final episode in Heated Rivalry Season 1, titled 'The Cottage', will release on HBO Max on December 26, 2026, at 12 a.m. PT/ 3 a.m. ET. The finale will drop simultaneously on Crave Canada. As much as fans want Shane and Ilya's story to continue for more episodes, the freshman season will conclude with the upcoming episode. However, worry not, as your favorite players are already confirmed to return for a second season.Since HBO Max holds the exclusive rights to release the series in the US, the platform is currently the only streaming option for the show. HBO Max's basic ad-supported plan starts at $10.99 per month and goes all the way up to the ad-free plan, which costs $ 14.99 per month.A quick recap of Heated Rivalry Episode 5 View this post on Instagram Instagram PostThe penultimate episode of Heated Rivalry, titled 'I'll Believe in Anything,' was the quietest yet the most impactful entry in the series so far. After confirming Rose's suspicions about his sexuality, Shane breaks up with her, but the two remain good friends. Shane and Ilya reunited at the 2017 All-Star Game in Florida, where they played on the same team. Later, when Shane sneaks into Ilya's hotel room, he suggests their relationship has changed after their last hookup but Ilya insists that Russia and his family would not accept them. After Ilya breaks down in Shane's arms, thinking about his dying father, the two share an emotional moment.Months later, Shane learns about Ilya's father's passing and receives a phone call from a depressed Ilya from Russia. Overwhelmed by his family dynamics, Ilya expresses his true feelings to Shane on the phone in Russian. When Shane gets injured during a Boston versus Montreal game, he asks Ilya to come to his cottage under the influence of medication. In the final moments of Episode 5, Ilya and Shane witness Scott Hunter kiss his boyfriend, Kip, publicly on National television after winning the MLH cup. Surprised by this move, Ilya immediately calls Shane to accept the invitation to the cottage.What can you expect from the Heated Rivalry Season 1 finale? View this post on Instagram Instagram PostHeated Rivalry fans can't keep calm because the finale is titled 'The Cottage', a reference to one of the most important sequences from Reid's books. The penultimate episode shifted their dynamics. Not only was it the only entry where we did not see Shane and Ilya get intimate on-screen but they finally started calling each other by their first names. Their video calls and conversations took front seat in Episode 5, suggesting the finale will be the real game-changer for them.Fans can expect our favorite hockey players to finally have the talk and navigate their future together, while continuing their careers as MLH players. Scott Hunter's brave act with Kip instilled some hope in them.Heated Rivalry Episode 6 will likely feature some resolution for Shane and Ilya as they express their feelings for one another, spend some much-needed quality time together and navigate the next steps in their personal and professional life.The Heated Rivalry finale will release on HBO Max on December 26.For the latest scoops on your favorite TV shows and movies, follow SoapCentral.