Heated Rivalry: The real life players who inspired the HBO Max show

Sports dramas hit different when you know the chaos on screen didn’t just come from a writer’s room, and so is the case for Heated Rivalry. The new HBO Max series taps into real world of hockey and a spicy affair behind closed doors that checks off all boxes of romance. You see ambition. You see passion. You see the kind of rivalry that builds legends, all the while a steamy premise looms through beween two "rivals" who are so much more than that.

But, behind every dramatic scene on the show, there's some bits of real life tension and even if the story didn't come directly from the diary of a hockay player, it still has some roots to realism. Here's what inspired the story of Heated Rivalry and who are the real-life stars who served as the inspiration!

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Heated Rivalry is the newest romance in town!

When Heated Rivalry arrived on HBO Max on November 28, it instantly caught the attention of viewers who love high intensity competition and high intensity chemistry. The series is adapted from Rachel Reid’s Game Changers novels, and the show follows their secret relationship as it stretches across eight years, weaving through rising careers, pressure filled seasons, and a rivalry that fans cannot stop talking about.

Speaking to the audience at CP24, Reid said,

"I'm absolutely ecstatic with it. It's amazing. ... I couldn't have dreamed a better adaptation of it. I think fan expectations are sky-high and I think they're gonna be exceeded. I don't even know if fans are ready for how good this is."

The series began its life on the page. Heated Rivalry is the second novel in Rachel Reid’s Game Changers series, beloved across #BookTok for its escalating emotional stakes. The novel already created buzz on social media as book lovers and fans of queer romances tapped in with their praise and reviews. Tierney first discovered Reid’s writing during the pandemic, encouraged by a friend who suggested he explore queer romance fiction. He was immediately drawn in by the blend of sweetness, humor, and unapologetic sensuality of the premise. After following Reid on Instagram, he learned she was already a fan of Letterkenny and open to his vision. Reid has since said the adaptation surpassed anything she imagined, and she feels confident that fans will be thrilled with what the series delivers.

Show creator Jacob Tierney told Toronto Life about the story and said,

"This is a gay love story set in the world of hockey, so its very existence is an act of rebellion. But the show itself is happily ever after. I didn't want to subvert too many romance tropes."

The show refuses to lean on familiar melodrama. Instead, Tierney brings his signature mix of humor and heart to the story. Viewers know him from Letterkenny, the comedy he helped build and where he played Glen, the flamboyant pastor who always seemed to pop up at the right (or wrong) moment. Tierney also directed the first two seasons of Shoresy, the Letterkenny spin off that dives even deeper into hockey culture with surprising tenderness. It makes sense that he would find something compelling in a romance shaped by the intensity of the sport itself.

As of now, the show has received widespread acclaim, as fans are devouring it's passionate romance, the comedy and the sports thrilled world of the show. Between all this, one question has consistently popped up: Is there any truth to the story we watched on Heated Rivalry? Are there real-life versions of Shane Hollander or Ilya Rozanov? Here's what you need to know.

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So is Heated Rivalry based on a real story?

Despite the heavy speculation surrounding the series, Heated Rivalry is not a direct retelling of any real life player’s story. It does, however, draw from true sports history in very intentional ways. Reid has always been honest about the creative spark behind the rivalry at the heart of her novel, and her inspirations include some of the most iconic figures the National Hockey League has ever seen.

On her website, the author addressed an important question fans have had since a long time, about the show's roots in reality. There she writes,

"I never directly base my characters on any real people. I’ve been a hockey fan since the eighties, long enough to be very familiar with the different general types of hockey players. Flashy, cocky players like Ilya Rozanov; stoic leaders like Scott Hunter; exhausted veteran enforcers like Ryan Price, etc. "

She then talks about two real life hockey players who inspired the main characters, as she adds,

"One of my inspirations for Heated Rivalry was, obviously, the extremely entertaining rivalry between [Sidney] Crosby and [Alexander] Ovechkin. But I was also inspired by other sports rivalries, by other fictional stories, and by my love of the enemies-to-lovers and forbidden romance tropes. My characters are original, and I work hard on creating them."

Crosby and Ovechkin are known rivals in the field of hockey, and although their professional relationship has never been associated with anything romantic, it sure makes sense why Reid would choose their rivalry as a major inspiration for the show.

Reid has also pointed to other influences, including Jaromír Jágr, Teemu Selänne, and Ilya Kovalchuk, whose flashier styles informed her vision of Ilya Rozanov. For Shane Hollander, she drew inspiration from Wayne Gretzky, Paul Kariya, and other athletes known for a calmer, more disciplined presence. Beyond hockey, she credits her love of longstanding sports rivalries, fictional stories built on tension, and the irresistible enemies to lovers trope for guiding her process.

These inspirations helped her craft characters who feel specific, layered, and original while still tapping into the emotional truths of real athletic competition.

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Heated Rivalry is available to stream on HBO Max.