The much-awaited television version of Heated Rivalry will soon arrive. This Canadian show tells a romantic sports story. It comes from the successful book by author Rachel Reid. The plot follows two competing professional hockey players, Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov.
Their passionate, secret love story spans eight years. The series will first launch on Crave in Canada. Heated Rivalry will then be shown to people across the globe, including in the United States and Australia, through HBO Max. Fans are ready to see this hockey drama. Everyone wants to know the exact Heated Rivalry release schedule. The official start date for the new series is November 28, 2025.
Heated Rivalry release schedule

The big premiere and double episode start
November 28, 2025, falls on a Friday. The Heated Rivalry release schedule begins with a special two-episode launch. The network plans to drop the first two episodes on that very first day. This lets viewers immediately jump into the love story of Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov.
The first episode is titled "Rookies". The second episode is called "Olympians". Starting with two episodes helps the show set up its main story very quickly. This kind of start is common for new programs on streaming services. It gives viewers a compelling reason to begin watching right away.
The weekly plan for Heated Rivalry
After the big premiere, the Heated Rivalry release schedule changes to a normal weekly pattern. New episodes will become available every Friday after the initial launch. This means people will get just one new part of the story each week.
The choice to release one episode a week lets the drama and tension grow steadily. It also gives the audience time to discuss the latest events before the next episode arrives.
The season includes six episodes altogether. Episode three will release on December 5, 2025. Then, episode four, which is titled "Rose," comes out on December 12, 2025. Episode five, named "I'll Believe in Anything," releases on December 19, 2025.
The series centers on the personal lives and hockey careers of the two lead characters. Because of this focus, viewers should prepare for many intense emotions and arguments in every episode. This set schedule means the show will air weekly during the Christmas holiday period.
Important facts for HBO Max viewers

The show is made in Canada, but many countries will show it. HBO Max bought the rights to stream the series in both the United States and Australia, and the audience will receive the new episodes on the very same day as the Canadian debut.
The global deal helps Heated Rivalry reach a much wider group of viewers. People outside of Canada should look up the precise time their local HBO Max platform makes the episodes available on Friday mornings.
The series comes from the second book in Rachel Reid’s popular Game Changers series. The books have a big and loyal following. People have waited a long time for this book to be made into a show. It already has a strong base of interested fans. Hudson Williams plays Shane Hollander, and Connor Storrie plays Ilya Rozanov. The connection between these two actors is a major part of the story's appeal.
When the Heated Rivalry finale will air
The season runs for six episodes, so it covers a four-week period. The final episode is set to air on December 26, 2025. This last part of the story is called "The Cottage". The short season structure promises a very focused and emotional narrative. The show tells the story of the private, intense relationship between the two professional rivals.
The people who made the show, including creator Jacob Tierney, aimed for a short story. They wanted to respect the source book while creating an exciting TV series. This final episode brings the first season to a close. The whole Heated Rivalry release schedule runs from the end of November until Boxing Day. This gives fans a thrilling new series to follow through the end of the year.