13 August,2026 05:03 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Hudson Williams, Connor Storrie and Dylan Walsh
The Heated Rivalry hype is showing no signs of slowing down. After becoming one of the breakout releases of 2025, the queer hockey romance series is returning for a second season, and a recent comment from actor Dylan Walsh has sent fans into a frenzy.
Walsh, who plays David Hollander, father of Hudson Williams' Shane Hollander, appears to have accidentally dropped a major detail about the upcoming season. During a conversation about TikTok's new integration with Cameo, the actor revealed that the cast was preparing to head back to Canada to continue filming.
"Getting ready to go back up to Canada and shoot some more episodes⦠I think we're doing 12 this time," Walsh said.
His comment quickly made the rounds online, with fans speculating about what exactly the 12-episode count means for the future of the series.
The revelation is particularly interesting because the first season of Heated Rivalry consisted of six episodes. Walsh's mention of 12 episodes has led some fans to believe that the second and third seasons could potentially be filmed back-to-back, similar to the production approach of the first season.
However, there has been no official confirmation that 12 episodes will be split across two seasons, so fans may have to wait for more details before drawing conclusions.
The actor later appeared to acknowledge that his video had created unwanted attention. "Stepping away because a video went viral that got me in trouble," he reportedly said, adding another layer to the speculation.
Meanwhile, the cast has reportedly assembled in Canada as production gets underway. The series' leads have also been spotted together in the country, further fuelling excitement among fans.
Heated Rivalry became a surprise cultural phenomenon after its 2025 release, turning Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie into breakout stars. The Crave Original follows the complicated relationship between two rival ice hockey players whose professional competition gradually gives way to a deeply emotional romance.
Based on Rachel Reid's bestselling Game Changer book series, the show found an audience for its mix of sports drama, romance and queer representation.
Season 2 is expected to expand the world of Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov while introducing new faces to the franchise. Justice Smith and Charlie Gillespie have also been announced as leads for the upcoming edition.
With production now underway and a reported spring 2027 premiere on the cards, Heated Rivalry fans have plenty to look forward to. But whether Walsh's 12-episode tease points to an extra-long second season or a potential back-to-back shoot for Seasons 2 and 3 remains the big question. Heated Rivalry season 1 has been available to stream in India since February 2026.
