"They were perfect": Heated Rivalry creator Jacob Tierney shares his take on the upcoming Rachel Reid adaptation's casting

Jacob Tierney adapted Rachel Reid’s queer-hockey romance novel for TV in the form of Heated Rivalry.

Casting was very important for the series. Actors needed to look like hockey players and act with emotion. This included showing intimacy and vulnerability.

Finally, Tierney chose Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams. They play the rivals who become lovers in Heated Rivalry. The casting focused on their on-screen chemistry. Storrie brought confidence and humor as Ilya Rozanov. Williams showed seriousness and depth as Shane Hollander.

Together, they show the tension and emotion that drive the story. Their casting helps the series stay true to the book.

Tierney on Heated Rivalry’s casting choices

Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Jacob Tierney said:

“What I knew is that, for me, they were perfect, and they were cast because of a chemistry read where we were all like, ‘Holy shit.’ This fanbase was so supportive from the beginning. It was a huge relief.”

Early trailers show strong chemistry between the two leads. Fans on social media, especially TikTok, are excited, with edits celebrating Shane and Ilya’s dynamic going viral.

The series covers seven years of Shane and Ilya’s relationship. This lets their love grow slowly, not quickly. S*x and intimacy are important to show their love.

Tierney told The Hollywood Reporter that he wanted to stay true to Rachel Reid’s book. The show shows queer joy and intimacy. The queer characters get a happy ending. As per Tierney, he was first unsure about the explicit content but decided the story was right for TV.

What do we know so far about Heated Rivalry?

Heated Rivalry stars Connor Storrie as Ilya Rozanov and Hudson Williams as Shane Hollander. Jacob Tierney created and directed the series. It is based on Rachel Reid’s Game Changers novel.

The show has six episodes. The premiere is November 28, 2025, on Crave in Canada. It will also stream internationally on platforms like HBO Max.

The story is about two top hockey players: Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov. The story starts in 2009. Shane and Ilya meet at a junior hockey final. Shane is drafted to Montréal, and Ilya to Boston.

While the press calls them rivals, off the ice, they are attracted to each other. They start a secret fling during their rookie year. Over eight years, they juggle careers, fame, and love.

As their hockey careers grow, so do their feelings. Their romance makes life more complicated. They must balance ambition, fame, secrecy, and love. If their relationship is exposed, it could ruin everything.

Shane Hollander is biracial Japanese-Canadian. He struggles with his sexuality and his idea of perfection. He is earnest and keeps his emotions controlled.

Meanwhile, Ilya Rozanov is Russian-born. He has a difficult family life. He wants power and control, even in his romantic life.

Heated Rivalry explores love, identity, secrecy, and personal growth. It is set in the high-pressure world of professional hockey. Intimacy and romance show how the characters connect and grow.

Notably, Heated Rivalry is based on a fiction novel by Rachel Reid. Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov are made-up characters. Their rivalry, romance, and lives are all fictional.

So while the hockey world, competition, and fame feel real, the story is completely fictional. The characters, events, and romance are all made up.

According to Teen Vogue, Tierney discovered Heated Rivalry in 2023. He was working on The Traitors Canada at the time. He had listened to the Game Changers series as audiobooks during the pandemic.

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He contacted Rachel Reid on Instagram to get adaptation rights. Tierney wanted to show queer intimacy honestly. He wanted to stay true to the novel, including its s*xual content.

The first season has characters from the first book, The Long Game. If the show does well, sequels could adapt more books. This could expand the Game Changers universe.

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