Low-Budget Canadian Hockey Gay Romance 'Heated Rivalry' Tops Stranger Things Finale

A low-budget Canadian series has emerged as an unexpected holiday TV hit, surpassing even the finale of Netflix's *Stranger Things*. *Heated Rivalry*, produced by the Canadian platform Crave, gained global traction through limited initial distribution and strong word-of-mouth on social media, particularly TikTok and X.

The show, adapted from Rachel Reid's *Game Changers* novel series, follows the intense gay relationship between two rising hockey stars, Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov. Their story blends fierce on-ice competition with romantic tension that threatens their careers in a highly competitive, heteronormative sports world. Created by Jacob Tierney and starring relative newcomers Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, the series premiered on 28 November in Canada, as well as in the US and Australia via HBO Max.

Its momentum built amid a quiet release slate in many markets. The fifth episode hit a perfect 10 rating on IMDb, matching *Breaking Bad*'s historic record, before settling at 9.9 for both that instalment and the season finale. Crave has already greenlit a second season.

In Andorra, the series will air as *Más que rivales* on Movistar Plus+ starting 5 February 2026. The platform secured rights before the buzz exploded but cited technical delays in receiving materials, dubbing, and subtitling for the postponement.

*Heated Rivalry* stands out for its candid portrayal of homosexuality in professional sports, cementing its place among the year's major TV phenomena.