In an announcement for Season 2 of Crave’s popular hockey drama series “Heated Rivalry,” two new cast members have been revealed. Daniel Diemer, a Canadian actor recognized for his role as Tyson in “Percy Jackson and the Olympians,” will portray the character of hockey player Ryan Price. Joining him is Welsh actor Shaheen Jafargholi, who will play the role of musician Fabian Salah and is also set to appear in HBO’s series “War.”
The characters Ryan and Fabian are the main protagonists in the third novel of Rachel Reid’s best-selling hockey romance series, “Game Changers,” titled “Tough Guy.” The story revolves around pro hockey enforcer Ryan, who, upon being traded to the Toronto team, encounters Fabian in the city’s gay village. Despite their shared history and undeniable chemistry, a potential future together may require Ryan to make a difficult choice between love and his hockey career.
Writer Jacob Tierney and producer Brendan Brady expressed their excitement about the new cast members, stating that Daniel and Shaheen bring a unique energy to the characters created by Rachel Reid. Season 1 of the show adapted the first two books of Reid’s series, “Game Changer” and “Heated Rivalry.”
Season 2 of “Heated Rivalry” will continue to follow the story of Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, hockey rivals turned lovers, from Reid’s novel “The Long Game,” with Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie reprising their roles. Additionally, the upcoming season will incorporate the narratives of Troy Barrett, a hockey player traded to Ilya’s team, and Harris Dover, a social media manager, from the fifth novel in the series, “Role Model.”
The latest season of “Heated Rivalry” will introduce new cast members, including Justice Smith as Harris and Charlie Gillespie, known for his role in “Julie and the Phantoms,” as Troy. Notable additions to the cast also include Emily Hampshire from “Schitt’s Creek” and drag queen Priyanka.
“Season 2 of “Heated Rivalry” is scheduled to premiere in spring 2027, promising fans an exciting continuation of the beloved series.