Two fresh faces have been revealed as new additions to the upcoming Season 2 of Crave’s popular hockey-themed series, “Heated Rivalry.” Daniel Diemer, a Canadian actor recognized for his role as Tyson in the TV series “Percy Jackson and the Olympians,” will take on the character of hockey player Ryan Price. Joining him is Welsh actor Shaheen Jafargholi, known for his upcoming appearance in the HBO show “War,” as the musician Fabian Salah, Ryan’s love interest.
The duo portrays the main characters from Rachel Reid’s acclaimed novel “Tough Guy,” part of the best-selling “Game Changers” hockey romance series. The story follows Ryan, a professional hockey enforcer, who, after being traded to the Toronto team, crosses paths with Fabian in the city’s gay village. Despite their past almost-kiss in high school, their undeniable chemistry reignites. However, a potential future together may require Ryan to make a difficult decision about his hockey career.
According to a press statement by writer Jacob Tierney and producer Brendan Brady, both Diemer and Jafargholi bring unique energies to the characters, emphasizing their complexity and depth. Season 1 of the series adapted Reid’s first two novels, “Game Changer” and “Heated Rivalry,” while Season 2 will continue exploring the relationship between Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov from Reid’s novel “The Long Game,” with Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie reprising their roles.
In addition to the central storyline, Season 2 of “Heated Rivalry” will integrate the narratives of Troy Barrett, a hockey player traded to Ilya’s new team, and Harris Dover, a social media manager, from the fifth book in the series, “Role Model.” New cast members include Justice Smith as Harris and Charlie Gillespie as Troy, alongside Emily Hampshire from “Schitt’s Creek” and drag queen Priyanka.
The highly anticipated Season 2 of “Heated Rivalry” is set to debut in spring 2027, promising to captivate audiences with its engaging plotlines and talented ensemble cast.