What to Expect for ‘Heated Rivalry’ Season 2: Everything We Understand So Far

Fans of the steamy hockey romance Heated Rivalry are eagerly anticipating Season 2, which promises to raise the stakes for Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov as they navigate a more serious chapter in their decade-long relationship. Based on Rachel Reid’s novel The Long Game, the upcoming season will explore the challenges of maintaining a secret romance while balancing professional ambitions and personal growth. Series creator Jacob Tierney has emphasized that the adaptation will delve into emotionally sophisticated territory, moving beyond the adolescent dynamics of the first season.

According to Tierney, who spoke at BookCon 2026, the source material offers rich ground for storytelling: “It really is different, and the challenge, from an adaptation standpoint, is you’re in much more serious territory.” He noted that while flirtation and intimacy remain, the “hotel room, adolescent sex” elements are largely gone, replaced by deeper conversations about communication, trust, and what it takes to sustain a long-term relationship.

Reid confirmed she has been working on Unrivaled, the direct sequel to The Long Game, for about a year and is “very happy” with the draft. The new book will follow Shane and Ilya after their wedding as they continue to play for the same hockey team, still keeping their relationship private despite Ilya’s desire to go public.

In addition to the central couple, Season 2 will introduce a new storyline adapted from Reid’s Role Model, focusing on Troy Barrett—a recently traded player described as “really damaged”—and Harris Drover, the team’s chipper social media manager. Tierney explained that this grumpy-sunshine romance will receive significant attention, calling it “a fertile playground” for character-driven drama.

Although Lionsgate Play has confirmed the Season 2 pickup, an official release date has not yet been announced. However, social media updates from the show’s Instagram account in April 2026 indicated a target release in 2027. Crave Canada remains the home broadcaster for the series in Canada.

As production progresses, fans can expect a more mature, emotionally resonant season that honors the complexity of Reid’s novels while expanding the world of Heated Rivalry with new relationships and deeper explorations of love, identity, and ambition.