Two fresh faces have been revealed for the upcoming Season 2 of the popular hockey series “Heated Rivalry” on Crave. Daniel Diemer, a Canadian actor recognized for his role as Tyson in “Percy Jackson and the Olympians,” will take on the character of hockey player Ryan Price. Welsh actor Shaheen Jafargholi, known for his appearance in the HBO series “War,” will portray musician Fabian Salah, Ryan’s love interest.

The duo will bring to life the protagonists from Rachel Reid’s best-selling hockey romance series novel “Tough Guy.” The plot revolves around pro hockey enforcer Ryan, who, after being traded to the Toronto team, encounters Fabian in the city’s gay village. Despite past connections and undeniable chemistry, a potential future together may require Ryan to bid farewell to his hockey career.

Writer Jacob Tierney and producer Brendan Brady expressed their excitement for the fresh energy Diemer and Jafargholi will bring to the characters. They lauded the actors’ ability to portray the bold and complex personas of Fabian and Ryan with confidence and emotional depth.

Season 1 adapted the initial two books of Reid’s series, “Game Changer” and “Heated Rivalry.” Season 2 of “Heated Rivalry” will continue the love story of Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov from Reid’s novel “The Long Game,” with Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie reprising their roles.

Furthermore, Season 2 will introduce the narratives of Troy Barrett, a hockey player traded to Ilya’s new team, and Harris Dover, a social media manager, from the book series’ fifth installment, “Role Model.” New cast additions include Justice Smith as Harris and Charlie Gillespie, known for his role in “Julie and the Phantoms,” as Troy, alongside Emily Hampshire from “Schitt’s Creek” and drag queen Priyanka.

The highly-anticipated Season 2 of “Heated Rivalry” is scheduled for a spring 2027 premiere, promising fans an exciting continuation of the captivating storyline.