Where was Heated Rivalry filmed? Filming locations of the latest sports romance explored

Heated Rivalry is a romantic sports drama that follows two rich young hockey players, Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov. Shane is Canadian, while Rozanov is a Russian player starring in the fictional Major League of Hockey. They are portrayed as fierce rivals, and over time, their rivalry transforms into romance.

They are both ambitious toward their goals, while their relationship ultimately tests their dedication to the sport. They endure the pressure of being top athletes while keeping their affair hidden. Heated Rivalry therefore deals with layers of emotions, and to form a world where these can unfold, the production design and locations have played a major role.

Read on to know where the show has been shot.

Where was Heated Rivalry filmed? Filming locations explored

The show Heated Rivalry is shot in two major locations in the Canadian province: Ontario and Quebec. Both locations are popular for their friendly infrastructure and versatile cityscapes. These worlds help recreate the sporty world of hockey and the romantic world of the two stars of the rival teams.

The majority of the filming is done in Ontario for the different kinds of environments it offers. The place can easily be a stand-in for U.S. cities while also offering hockey arenas and lakeside hideouts, along with urban streets for some contrast. Toronto is one of the biggest film hubs in Canada, being the capital of Ontario. The popular film Good Will Hunting was also shot there.

Both indoor and outdoor scenes found the right setting in Toronto, which provided accurate neighborhoods and streets, complementing the story’s tone and character journey. The city has several studios for filming scenes that require a more controlled environment. All the locker-room and professional hockey life of the characters were shot there. Toronto often doubles for New York or Chicago, so it provides the perfect urban look for a sports-drama series.

Another crucial place in Ontario was Hamilton, which offers more intimate and atmospheric backdrops. Le Tambour Tavern on James Street North was used for restaurant and conversation scenes. The tavern offered a warm and rustic, sepia-toned frame, while the designs echoed the history associated with Parisian steakhouses. This vintage ambience felt perfect for any intimate or emotionally character-driven scenes in the show. Hamilton is a busy port city and a well-known filming location in Canada. It offers city charm along with a historical touch, making the visual tapestry rich and unique.

More filming took place in Guelph at the Sleeman Centre, an actual major junior hockey arena. This location provided authentic on-ice sequences, game environments, and training scenes crucial for a hockey-centered story. Lastly, some reports also state that a few scenes were filmed near Lake Muskoka, and its quiet and scenic lakeside view beautifully adorned the frames of Heated Rivalry.

The second major location where the show was filmed is Quebec, especially Montreal. This location added a different aesthetic and tone with its European-style architecture and large sports venues, offering scale and realism to the show. Some of the establishing wider shots feature Notre-Dame Basilica and the Bell Centre, along with Olympic Stadium. This helped the makers support the story and characters with a sense of authenticity, with real sports locations being part of the shooting environment.

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Heated Rivalry dropped on 28 November 2025 with its two episodes.

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