Two fresh faces have been revealed for the upcoming Season 2 of Crave’s popular hockey drama series, “Heated Rivalry.” Canadian actor Daniel Diemer, recognized for his role as Tyson in the TV show “Percy Jackson and the Olympians,” will take on the character of hockey player Ryan Price. Welsh actor Shaheen Jafargholi is set to portray his romantic interest, musician Fabian Salah, who will also appear in the HBO series “War.”
The characters Ryan and Fabian are the focal point of the third book in Rachel Reid’s acclaimed “Game Changers” hockey romance series, titled “Tough Guy.” This narrative delves into the journey of professional hockey enforcer Ryan, who, upon being traded to the Toronto team, encounters Fabian, an aspiring musician from his past. Despite their history, their chemistry reignites, yet pursuing a future together may necessitate Ryan to make a tough decision regarding his hockey career.
Writer Jacob Tierney and producer Brendan Brady expressed their excitement about the unique energy that Daniel and Shaheen bring to the world crafted by Rachel Reid. The duo praised the actors for embodying the multifaceted and captivating personas of Ryan and Fabian, anticipating the audience’s reception of their interpretation of these characters.
The first season of the show adapted the initial two books of Reid’s series, “Game Changer” and “Heated Rivalry.” Season 2 of “Heated Rivalry” will further delve into the evolving relationship between hockey rivals-turned-lovers Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov from Reid’s novel “The Long Game,” with Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie reprising their lead roles in the TV adaptation.
Additionally, the upcoming season will integrate the narratives of Troy Barrett, a hockey player traded to Ilya’s team, and Harris Dover, a social media manager, from the fifth novel in the series, “Role Model.” New cast additions include Justice Smith as Harris and Charlie Gillespie, known for his role in “Julie and the Phantoms,” as Troy. Noteworthy mentions also go to Emily Hampshire from “Schitt’s Creek” and drag queen Priyanka, who join the ensemble.
“Heated Rivalry” Season 2 is scheduled to premiere in the spring of 2027.
