In the realm of hockey romance, exciting developments are underway once again. Crave’s series “Heated Rivalry” is welcoming five new talents to its ensemble. Emily Hampshire, a renowned Canadian actress, will portray Vanessa, a character working in a sex shop. Sabrina Jalees, a Canadian comedian and actress, takes on the role of sports agent Farah Jalali, while drag queen Priyanka embodies the character of Tarek, an office assistant.
Hampshire is celebrated for her performances in the sitcom “Schitt’s Creek” and the TV series “12 Monkeys.” Jalees, on the other hand, is known for hosting the radio and web show “Laugh Out Loud” and writing for “Canada’s Got Talent.” Priyanka rose to fame by winning the inaugural season of “Canada’s Drag Race.”
Joining the cast are Robert Naylor, a Canadian actor and musician playing goaltender Wyatt Hayes, and Edvin Ryding, a Swedish actor portraying rookie hockey player Luca Haas. Naylor is recognized for voicing D.W. Read in the animated series “Arthur,” while Ryding starred as Prince Wilhelm in Netflix’s “Young Royals.”
The casting announcement was shared on Instagram by Crave. Season two of “Heated Rivalry” will delve deeper into the evolving relationship between hockey rivals-turned-lovers Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, inspired by Rachel Reid’s novel “The Long Game” from the Game Changer series.
The lead roles will once again be played by Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie in the TV adaptation. Season one of the show covered the first two novels in Reid’s series, “Game Changer” and “Heated Rivalry.”
With this fresh casting news, it is anticipated that the third novel in the series, “Tough Guy,” will also be adapted for the screen. Vanessa and Tarek are close associates of Fabian Salah, the romantic interest of hockey player Ryan Price in “Tough Guy.”
Furthermore, the upcoming season will incorporate the narratives of Troy Barrett, a hockey player traded to Ilya’s new team, and Harris Dover, a social media manager, from the fifth book in the series, “Role Model.”
Justice Smith has been announced as the actor to portray Harris, and Charlie Gillespie, known for his role in “Julie and the Phantoms,” will bring Troy to life. The premiere of season two of “Heated Rivalry” is scheduled for spring 2027.