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“Heated Rivalry” has remained in the spotlight since its November debut and release for streaming in the United States.
Following the Bruins’ 4-3 win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday, Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy addressed the series’ influence on hockey and inclusiveness in the sport.
“I think it’s growing, I think the league has done great things,” McAvoy said in reference to the NHL’s progress on inclusion. He also highlighted the Bruins’ commitment to creating a welcoming environment. “Here in our room, we’ve also tried to do things to echo that message and make everyone feel safe and comfortable in the game. That’s very important.”
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Charlie McAvoy (73) of the Boston Bruins awaits a confrontation during the game against the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place on December 19, 2024, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Leila Devlin/Getty Images)
“I haven’t seen it, but from what I’ve heard from that show, she’s grown the game a lot and supported this community, so all of that is great. It’s great for hockey. It’s great for everyone. So, I’m happy that tonight, we won tonight. And I hope a lot of people feel the support from the Bruins.”
McAvoy added: “I’ve heard so much support from people within these communities that this means a lot to them. So this is the least we can do to show our support and show that we’re all on the same team.”
The sports drama series is a television adaptation of the “Game Changers” novel series by Rachel Reid. It follows an off-ice romance between Shane Hollander, a fictional Canadian hockey star, and Ilya Rozanov, a fictional Russian pro.
Logo on an NHL puck during the warm-up period before the game between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Center on April 5, 2025 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Eric Bolte/Imagn Images)
The series even appealed to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, who said he binge-watched it and praised its storytelling.
“I watched all six episodes. I watched them in one night,” Bettman said last week at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC.
‘Heated rivalry’ ACTORS land Olympic role as torchbearers for Milan-Cortina Olympics
“I thought the story was very compelling and a lot of fun, because I could (see) where they were picking up on things that we had in the past, whether it was (the Olympics) in Sochi or the All-Star Game in Tampa. It was very well done.”
Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams, the leads of the romantic sports TV series, have been selected as torchbearers for the 2026 Winter Olympics. After playing Olympic-level rivals on screen, Storrie and Williams will have the opportunity to play a role in the real-life Games.
Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams attend the premiere of “Heated Rivalry” at TIFF Lightbox on November 24, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario. (Harold Feng/Getty Images)
Although neither actor will compete on the ice at the Olympics, they will get another moment in the spotlight during the Olympic torch relay. When and where Storrie and Williams will be involved in the relay has not yet been revealed.
As of Thursday, the flame was in Trieste, Italy, with 13 cities remaining on its route to Milan. The 2026 Winter Games will take place from February 6 to 22.
“Heated Rivalry” has been renewed for a second season.
The Bruins remain at home on Saturday for a matchup against the Montreal Canadiens.
