Archive · 8 Aug 2026
Heated Rivalry Season 2 Adds Justice Smith, Charlie Gillespie
There is a popular TV show called Heated Rivalry about two hockey players who are big rivals but secretly fall in love.
The show is based on a series of books by Rachel Reid.
It is coming back for a second season, and two new actors are joining the show.
Justice Smith will play a character named Harris Dover.
Charles Gillespie will play a character named Troy Barrett.
One article spells the character's name as Harris Drover, so the exact spelling is not fully confirmed.
The actors who play the two main characters, Shane and Ilya, are also coming back.
The new season will add new characters while continuing the main story.
The people who make the show said the new actors understood their characters really well.
The new season is expected to come out in the spring of 2027, and people in more than 130 countries can watch it.
Justice Smith and Charles Gillespie have joined the cast of Heated Rivalry Season 2.
Smith will play Harris Dover (spelled "Drover" in one report), while Gillespie has been cast as Troy Barrett.
Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie will reprise their leading roles as Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov.
Season 2 is scheduled to premiere in Spring 2027.
The series, created by Jacob Tierney and based on Rachel Reid's Game Changers books, is available in more than 130 countries.
- Who
- Justice Smith and Charles Gillespie, joining returning leads Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, on a series created by Jacob Tierney and based on Rachel Reid's books.
- What
- The casting announcement for Season 2 of the hockey drama Heated Rivalry, introducing new characters Harris Dover and Troy Barrett.
- When
- Season 2 is scheduled to premiere in Spring 2027; Season 1 premiered on November 28, 2025.
- Where
- Commissioned by Bell Media's Crave in Canada, with the first season also released on HBO Max in the US and distributed internationally by Sphere Abacus.
- Why
- To expand the show's world with new characters while continuing the secret romance story of Shane and Ilya.
- Series
- Heated Rivalry (Season 2)
- New cast members
- Justice Smith as Harris Dover; Charles Gillespie as Troy Barrett
- Name discrepancy
- One report spells Smith's character "Harris Drover"
- Returning cast
- Hudson Williams as Shane Hollander; Connor Storrie as Ilya Rozanov
- Creator
- Jacob Tierney
- Based on
- Rachel Reid's Game Changers book series
- Premiere
- Spring 2027
- Commissioned by
- Bell Media's Crave, with Canada Media Fund participation
- Distribution
- Sphere Abacus (a Bell Media company), available in more than 130 countries
