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“Heated Rivalry” has remained in the spotlight since its debut in November and its streaming release 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 inclusivity in the sport.
“I think it’s growing, I think the league has done great things,” McAvoy said, referring to the NHL’s progress on inclusion. He also highlighted the Bruins’ commitment to creating a welcoming environment. “Here within our room, we’ve also tried to do things to echo that message and make everyone feel safe and comfortable within the game. It’s very important.”
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Charlie McAvoy (73) of the Boston Bruins waits for a faceoff 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 about that program, it’s grown the game a lot and supported that community, so all of that is incredible. It’s incredible for hockey. It’s incredible for everyone. So I’m happy that tonight we won. And I hope a lot of people feel the support of the Bruins.”
McAvoy added: “I’ve heard so much support from people within those communities that it means a lot to them. So it’s 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 Rachel Reid’s novel series “Game Changers.” It follows an off-ice romance between Shane Hollander, a fictional Canadian hockey star, and Ilya Rozanov, a fictional Russian professional.
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/Image Images)
The series even won over NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, who said he binge-watched it and praised its storytelling.
“I’ve seen all six episodes. I binged them in one night,” Bettman said last week at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC.
‘HEATED RIVALRY’ ACTORS HAVE OLYMPIC ROLE AS TORCH BEARERS FOR MILANO CORTINA OLYMPIC GAMES
“I thought the story was very compelling and very fun, because I could (see) where they were picking 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 lead actors of the sports romance television 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)
While neither actor will compete on the ice at the Olympic Games, they will have another moment in the spotlight during the Olympic Torch Relay. It has not yet been revealed when and where Storrie and Williams will participate in the relay.
As of Thursday, the torch 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 to face the Montreal Canadiens.
