## Is the HBO Max series a true story?
“Heated Rivalry” is not based on real events, but it does have clearly defined source material in the world of fiction. The show takes its story from the Game Changers novel series by romance author Rachel Reid, which focuses on queer hockey romances rather than real-life sports figures.
## What “Heated Rivalry” is about
According to the official description, the series follows rival hockey stars Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, who dominate Major League Hockey while feeling an intense, confusing pull toward each other. What begins as a secret fling between two young rookies gradually becomes a long-running journey of love, denial, and self-discovery as they chase championships on the ice and wrestle with their feelings off it over the course of eight years.
### Central themes
- The story explores how professional pressure and public image collide with private desire and vulnerability for elite athletes.
- It places a queer love story at the center of a traditionally macho sport, emphasizing both rivalry and emotional intimacy.
## What it’s based on
Show creator Jacob Tierney, a Canadian actor, writer, and director also associated with Hulu’s “Letterkenny,” adapted “Heated Rivalry” from Rachel Reid’s Game Changers novels. The TV plot specifically draws on the book of the same name, which follows fictional players rather than dramatizing the careers of real-world hockey stars.
### The Game Changers book series
- Game Changers is a six-book series, with each volume focused on a different gay hockey romance set in a shared universe.
- Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov are confirmed by Reid to be entirely fictional characters, though their competitive drive and professional environment echo recognizable aspects of modern hockey culture.
## Cast and characters
The on-screen relationship between Shane and Ilya is brought to life by Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, who play the dueling stars at the heart of the show. The supporting ensemble includes François Arnaud, Christina Chang, Dylan Walsh, Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova, Sophie Nélisse, and Callan Potter, rounding out the world of teammates, rivals, and people in the protagonists’ personal lives.
## Author’s note
> “I know how lucky I am, having received so much love for this series and these characters. I appreciate all of the love and support so much, and believe me when I say this decision comes from my own love of these characters. I want to do the right thing by them, and sometimes the right thing is to walk away.”
This reflection from Rachel Reid closes a long blog post in which she thanks fans for their support and explains her choice about how and when to step away from the series and its characters, underlining her emotional connection to the world that inspired the show.
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Summary: A fictional queer hockey romance adapted from Rachel Reid’s Game Changers novels, “Heated Rivalry” trades real-life biography for intense rivalry, slow-burn desire, and eight years of emotional growth on and off the ice.
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Blavity on MSN — 2025-11-29