Six months after the first season finale of Crave original “Heated Rivalry,” the show’s ripple effect is still reaching the supporting cast—boosting careers, expanding audiences, and pushing new conversations in hockey culture as Season 2 heads for 2027.
Last December. “Heated Rivalry” fans flooded a cottage for the show’s finale—and the energy didn’t burn out when the credits rolled. Six months after the series’ first season finale premiered. the Crave original’s impact is still ricocheting through casting calls. career plans. and even the way people talk about hockey.
The season wrapped with a contained episode that consummated the star-crossed romance of rivals-turned-lovers ice hockey players Russian prodigy Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie) and Canadian treasure Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams). Storrie and Williams quickly became overnight sensations: they hit late-night shows. dominated the conversation during film awards season. and launched what seemed like endless new brand deals.
With Season 2 expected to come in 2027, the fervor hasn’t dipped. And in a twist that isn’t typical for sports romance, the spotlight has expanded beyond the two leads. The supporting cast—now embraced by the show’s dedicated fanbase—has found its own lives shifting in real time.
Just days after “Heated Rivalry” picked up a sweep at the Canadian Screen Awards—16 awards in total—IndieWire sat down with key members of the show’s supporting cast to talk about how the series has changed their careers, lives, and futures.
Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova, who plays Ilya’s close friend and occasional sexual partner Svetlana Vetrova, said she got an early taste of the fandom before the show even released. “One fan from Eastern Europe flew in for the premiere, the show wasn’t out yet, only a trailer,” she said.
For Kharlamova, the role wasn’t just a breakout moment—it also fit part of her personal identity. She plays Svetlana in a way that required her to be fluent in Russian and English. a detail she described as deeply satisfying. “I was so excited, because I’m half Russian, but people often don’t acknowledge it,” she said. “It was a good showcase of another part of my cultural identity.”.
On set, she said the atmosphere felt different from what she’d experienced before. Praising Jacob Tierney’s sports romance. Kharlamova described it as a space where actors could settle in rather than perform under pressure. “Tierney’s set was different: he created such an amazing environment for us to really explore,” she said. Previously, she described working conditions where “directors yell at people, they’re rude, and there’s always such a rush.”.
The career lift has been immediate, too. “There’s a lot of attention and a lot more opportunities. ” Kharlamova said. adding that casting often pays attention to that kind of sustained. supportive audience. Even for indie projects. she said her growing following has helped her visibility: “It’s helping with stuff I want to do in the future. It’s opening a lot of doors, and I’m very grateful.”.
She can’t discuss details of a second season, but she did offer a wish for Svetlana: “I hope she gets to meet Shane at some point. They could have a nice conversation; it would probably start a little hostile, but end very friendly. They’re both big hockey nerds, so that would be a very cute scene.”
Kharlamova’s other upcoming project is also being kept under wraps, though she teased “you might see me in ‘Sterling Point,’” Megan Park’s drama series arriving on Prime Video this summer.
Callan Potter, who plays fan favorite Hayden Pike—the Montreal Metros teammate and best friend of Shane—described the show’s impact in blunt, personal terms. “I don’t think anyone knew the scale of the impact that the show would have. It was a shock,” he said.
Potter said the effect has shown up even in casual life. When he tells people he’s an actor. he hears follow-up questions like: “Have I seen you in anything?” He said many performers work steadily. but it’s rare to have a single role they can point to. “I’ve been really fortunate that I’ve had a pretty busy year; it would be silly not to attribute a good portion of that to [‘Heated Rivalry’]. ” he said.
His entry into the show also has a small, fan-close moment. Potter was in a play in Edmonton, Canada, when he received an Instagram DM from Jacob Tierney. “You’re my Hayden,” Potter recalled the message reading. “I hadn’t heard anything, so I wasn’t sure if I was shortlisted. It was such a wonderful surprise.”.
Potter praised the leading stars. saying Hudson and Connor “are killing it; they deserve all of the flowers.” He also framed it as good fortune—being part of a Canadian production that has momentum. After his appearance. he said his following grew and he joined Cameo to deliver personalized messages to fans who swarmed to get one.
Looking ahead to Season 2. Potter said he’s hoping for conflict that can crackle on screen: “I love a good argument scene. … I love it when two characters have their position, and then it’s a fencing match. It’s so dynamic on screen!” He also wants “a really beautiful overall emotional arc” for Hayden.
Even as the spotlight grows. Potter said he’s trying to keep his career centered on stories he genuinely cares about—while acknowledging how little control actors often have. “It’s hard to predict how your path is going to evolve. so much of your future is in other people’s hands. and there are so many decisions that you don’t make that result in the changing of your trajectory. ” he said. “I do my best to stay open. The goal is to be ready and prepared for whatever life throws at you.”.
Harrison Browne’s path to “Heated Rivalry” is perhaps the most distinctive. Before stepping into acting, Browne was a professional ice hockey player in the National Women’s Hockey League, and became the first openly transgender athlete in professional team sports in North America.
In “Heated Rivalry. ” Browne plays Connors. Ilya’s teammate. who relays the rumor that Shane is dating famous actress Rose Landry (Sophie Nélisse). Browne originally auditioned for Hayden, but Tierney’s team carved out the role of Connors for him. “I’m not in the position where I usually get offers,” Browne said of previous auditions. “When I retired from women’s hockey. I didn’t know where I fit in; [‘Heated Rivalry’] was a really nice way to feel like I belong in this sport.”.
For Browne, 2025 arrived as a packed year: the release of his co-authored book “Let Us Play: Winning the Battle for Gender Diverse Athletes,” the premiere of his short film “Pink Light” at TIFF, and his appearance in “Heated Rivalry” episodes.
He also tied the show’s sudden mainstream reach to the way his public work gains traction. “I’ve been speaking on trans issues as a public figure since 2016. and the growth that took 10 years to build got shattered within a week of this show. ” he said. “My book sales have increased … my first time going to the States promoting my book. half of the crowd were like. ‘I know you from “Heated Rivalry.”’ It’s deeply influenced my life and helped me money-wise.”.
Browne also argued that the show’s popularity is changing conversations in hockey culture beyond acting. He likened Hollander and Rozanov jerseys to the “new Pride flag” at games. He also said “Heated Rivalry” is holding hockey accountable. framing it through the frustration fans feel about the sport’s institutional problems.
He put the challenge plainly: “The BS meter with [hockey fans] is: hockey is broken. why should we give it our time?. Why should we give you our money when the Vegas Knights have a sexual predator in their net [in 2018. Vegas Knights’ goaltender Carter Heart was charged with sexual assault] and the USA Olympic team has the FBI director at the Olympics [FBI Director Kash Patel was criticized after partying with the US men’s ice hockey team Olympic win]?. Is hockey fixed because of ‘Heated Rivalry’?. No, but it’s a step in the right direction.”.
Browne said he’s not slowing down. “There’s definitely a sense of urgency to take advantage of this new spotlight,” he said.
His next project is transforming “Pink Light” into a feature. With a Telefilm Canada grant to develop the film, “Pink Light” will center on women’s college hockey. “I’m really excited to take this moment to shine a light on women’s hockey; it’s an amazing space for LGBTQ+ individuals. ” he said. He added that “the fact we got a grant with my name attached as a first-time director speaks volumes to this hockey moment right now.”.
The through-line across Kharlamova, Potter, and Browne is stark: the show didn’t just create characters—they pulled real attention into real lives. And with Season 2 expected to come in 2027, that attention is already moving from premieres and awards to promises about what comes next.
Heated Rivalry Crave Connor Storrie Hudson Williams Jacob Tierney Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova Callan Potter Harrison Browne Svetlana Vetrova Hayden Pike Connors Canadian Screen Awards TIFF Prime Video Sterling Point Pink Light Let Us Play Carter Heart Kash Patel Rose Landry Sophie Nélisse Montreal Metros Ilya Rozanov Shane Hollander