Two fresh faces have been revealed for the upcoming Season 2 of the popular hockey series “Heated Rivalry” on Crave. Canadian actor Daniel Diemer, recognized for his role as Tyson in “Percy Jackson and the Olympians,” will portray the character of hockey player Ryan Price. Welsh actor Shaheen Jafargholi is set to take on the role of musician Fabian Salah, who will be Ryan’s love interest. Jafargholi is also lined up for a part in the HBO series “War.”
In this new season, the focus will be on the characters Ryan and Fabian, who are the main protagonists in the third book of Rachel Reid’s well-received hockey romance series, “Game Changers,” titled “Tough Guy.” The storyline follows pro hockey enforcer Ryan as he moves to the Toronto team and encounters Fabian, an aspiring musician with whom he shared a near-kiss in high school. Despite the passage of time, their undeniable chemistry resurfaces. However, a potential future together may require Ryan to bid farewell to his hockey career.
The show’s writer Jacob Tierney and producer Brendan Brady expressed excitement about the energy that Diemer and Jafargholi bring to the characters. They emphasized the complexity and depth of Ryan and Fabian, praising the actors for their confident and emotionally honest portrayals. The first season of the series adapted the initial two books in Reid’s series, “Game Changer” and “Heated Rivalry.”
Season 2 of “Heated Rivalry” on Crave will continue to follow the story of Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, former hockey rivals turned lovers, from Reid’s novel “The Long Game.” The returning stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie will reprise their roles in the television adaptation. Additionally, this season will integrate the narratives of Troy Barrett, a hockey player traded to Ilya’s new team, and Harris Dover, a social media manager, from the fifth book in the series, “Role Model.”
New additions to the cast for Season 2 include Justice Smith as Harris and Charlie Gillespie, known for his role in “Julie and the Phantoms,” as Troy. Other notable new cast members are Emily Hampshire from “Schitt’s Creek” and drag queen Priyanka. The new season of “Heated Rivalry” is scheduled to premiere in the spring of 2027.