Will Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie's Characters Start A Family In Heated Rivalry Season 2?

Stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie will reprise their roles as hockey rivals-turned-lovers in Heated Rivalry season two, with filming set to begin in August 2026, series creator Jacob Tierney announced on CBS Mornings.​

Fans should care because the show, which took a steamy hockey romance from Rachel Reid's novels and turned it into a genuine slow-burn hit, promises to dig deeper into what happens when passion collides with the brutal realities of professional sport and public scrutiny.

What is new here is Tierney's timeline and his nudge to 'enjoy the yearn' while waiting, alongside hints from the source book about marriage, backlash, and family. None of it is locked in yet, so take it with a grain of salt until cameras roll.​

Tierney put it plainly. 'There will be more Heated Rivalry on your TVs truly as soon as humanly possible,' he said.​

Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie Return For Deeper Ice Drama

Season one hooked viewers with its raw energy, following Shane Hollander (Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Storrie) as what began as a secret fling between two rookies grew into an eight-year tangle of love, denial, and self-discovery. The official description nails it: the pair chase glory on the ice while wrestling with feelings they cannot ignore, forcing them to ask if their cut-throat world has space for something as breakable as real love.​

What made it stick was not just the spice, though sex educator Eleanor Hadley called those scenes 'sexy as f–k' and praised how well they were depicted. It was the ache of two men built for competition, realising they want more than trophies.​

Season two builds on that foundation, drawing from The Long Game, the sixth book in Reid's Game Changer series and a direct sequel to Heated Rivalry. HBO Max announced it in December 2025 with a cheeky video of Williams and Storrie opening a box to find a puck stamped 'Season 2.' Storrie urged fans: 'Start reading The Long Game if you wanna spoil it for yourselves!'​

In the book, Shane and Ilya have kept their romance secret for a decade, terrified that going public would wreck their careers. The synopsis boils it down to a stark choice: 'It's time for them to decide what's most important, hockey or love.' They end up coming out, marrying, and joining the same team in Ottawa, where they face a nasty '#TakeBackHockey' backlash movement while building a charity and eyeing kids.​

Tierney told Variety the shift feels right. 'There's quite a bit of sex in The Long Game,' he said, 'but I think it functions differently in the second book.' He stressed the show's heart stays with the couple: 'Sex will always be a big part of it, like it is with any romantic relationship. But it's really about continuing that progress of what happens after that first blush of love.'​

That adult edge appeals. Tierney continued: 'We love each other, and now what? Does that mean everything's easy? No, it does not. There are loads of challenges that get thrown Shane and Ilya's way.' He admitted his only plan is to spend more time with characters he adores, watching them grow.​

What Lies Ahead For Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie's On-Screen Duo

Filming kicks off in August 2026, with HBO Max eyeing an April 2027 release, leaving ample time to binge season one again. Williams and Storrie are locked in, joined by Kip (Robbie G.K.) and Scott (François Arnaud).​

The road to a third season ties back to Reid, who is penning Unrivalled, the final book in the trilogy. But she has been candid about hurdles. On Instagram, she explained her Parkinson's symptoms have worsened, slowing her physically and pushing the release from 2026 to 2027. 'When good things happen, sometimes the universe hands you some worse stuff to balance it out,' she wrote. 'So I'm definitely a lot slower, and that's just something I need to learn how to navigate.'​

For a show that thrives on tension between rink and heart, the question of family hangs large. The Long Game has Shane and Ilya planning kids amid the chaos of public life, a milestone that could test Williams and Storrie's chemistry in fresh ways. Tierney's reluctance to rush beyond the books leaves room for invention, but his affection for the pair suggests he will not shy from the messy joys of settling down.​

Sex educator Hadley's endorsement adds weight, especially for a series unafraid of intimacy. As Williams and Storrie lace up for round two, the real win may be proving a queer hockey romance can sustain its heat without losing its soul.