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HBO Max’s “Heated Rivalry” has taken the world by storm, including National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman.
The show revolves around two professional hockey players locked in a relationship with each other and has reportedly gained a huge audience.
Bettman told reporters that he “watched” all six episodes of the miniseries “in one night.”
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NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman speaks to the media before the game between the Edmonton Oilers and the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre. (Marc DesRosiers/Imagn Images)
“It was very well done. I think it’s a wonderful story. The content, especially for young people, could be a little spicy. So you have to balance that depending on how you approach it,” Bettman said.
“I thought the story was very compelling and a lot of fun, because I could see where they were piggybacking off things that we’ve had in the past, whether it was (the Olympics) in Sochi or the All-Star Game in Tampa. It was very well done.”
The league caused controversy in 2023 when it decided to remove themed jerseys worn on ice. Previously, teams wore jerseys during warm-ups that coincided with the theme night in the arena. This included Pride-themed jerseys, which several players have refused to wear in the past. But the same could be said of cancer commemoration, heritage evenings or other causes.
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)
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At the time, Bettman cited a potential “distraction” and remained firm in his stance again this week.
“It wasn’t about Pride jerseys or Pride stripes. It was about introducing things into the game that might not be accepted by the players wearing the jerseys. If some players aren’t buying into the cause, whatever it may be, then you’re creating a distraction that doesn’t serve the purpose,” Bettman said.
All 32 NHL teams are expected to host a Pride Night this season. The Seattle Kraken recently required players to wear jerseys for photo ops.
A general view of the score clock before the annual Celebrating Pride game between the Edmonton Oilers and the Seattle Kraken at Rogers Place on January 18, 2024, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)
The league has been criticized for not welcoming the LGBTQ community at its games, which Bettman called “legitimate concerns” in 2023.
