Two fresh faces have been revealed for the upcoming Season 2 of the popular hockey series “Heated Rivalry” on Crave. Daniel Diemer, a Canadian actor recognized for his role as Tyson in “Percy Jackson and the Olympians,” will take on the character of hockey player Ryan Price. Meanwhile, Welsh actor Shaheen Jafargholi, known for his appearance in the HBO series “War,” will portray the role of musician Fabian Salah, who is Ryan’s love interest in the storyline.
The characters Ryan and Fabian are the focal points of the third book in Rachel Reid’s bestselling hockey romance series, “Game Changers,” titled “Tough Guy.” The narrative revolves around Ryan, a professional hockey enforcer who is traded to a team in Toronto. There, he 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 could require Ryan to give up his hockey career.
Writer Jacob Tierney and producer Brendan Brady expressed their excitement about the addition of Daniel and Shaheen to the cast, highlighting the unique energy and complexity they bring to the characters created by Rachel Reid. The upcoming season will further explore the evolving relationship between the main characters from the previous season, Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, as depicted in Reid’s novel “The Long Game,” with Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie reprising their roles in the TV adaptation.
Additionally, Season 2 will incorporate the storylines of Troy Barrett, a hockey player traded to Ilya’s new team, and Harris Dover, a social media manager, from the fifth novel in the series, “Role Model.” New cast members include Justice Smith as Harris and Charlie Gillespie, known for his role in “Julie and the Phantoms,” as Troy. Noteworthy additions to the cast also feature Emily Hampshire from “Schitt’s Creek” and drag queen Priyanka.
The highly anticipated Season 2 of “Heated Rivalry” is scheduled to premiere in the spring of 2027.