In the realm of hockey romance, excitement is brewing once again as Crave introduces five fresh additions to the cast of “Heated Rivalry.” Emily Hampshire, the Canadian actress, takes on the role of Vanessa, a sex shop employee, while Sabrina Jalees, a Canadian comedian and actress, portrays sports agent Farah Jalali. Additionally, drag queen Priyanka embodies Tarek, an office assistant.
Hampshire is renowned for her performances in the sitcom “Schitt’s Creek” and the TV series “12 Monkeys.” Jalees previously hosted the radio and web show “Laugh Out Loud” and served as a writer for “Canada’s Got Talent.” Priyanka notably clinched victory in the inaugural season of “Canada’s Drag Race.”
Joining the lineup are Robert Naylor, a Canadian actor and musician, as goaltender Wyatt Hayes, and Edvin Ryding, a Swedish actor, as rookie hockey player Luca Haas. Naylor is recognized for lending his voice to D.W. Read in the animated series “Arthur,” while Ryding portrayed Prince Wilhelm in Netflix’s “Young Royals.”
The new casting details were unveiled on Instagram by Crave. Season two of “Heated Rivalry” will further delve into the tale of hockey adversaries-turned-lovers Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, inspired by the sixth novel in Rachel Reid’s Game Changer series, “The Long Game.” The Game Changers series comprises hockey-themed romance novels interconnected through character storylines.
Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie are set to reprise their roles in the TV adaptation as well. Season one of the show encompassed adaptations of Reid’s initial two novels, “Game Changer” and “Heated Rivalry.”
With this fresh casting announcement, it is anticipated that the third novel in the series, “Tough Guy,” will also be brought to life. Vanessa and Tarek are associates of Fabian Salah, the romantic interest of hockey player Ryan Price in “Tough Guy.” The upcoming season will also interweave the narratives of Troy Barrett, a hockey player traded to Ilya’s new team, and Harris Dover, a social media manager, from the fifth novel, “Role Model.”
Justice Smith has been revealed as cast for the role of Harris, while Charlie Gillespie, known for his role in “Julie and the Phantoms,” will portray Troy. The premiere of the eagerly awaited second season of “Heated Rivalry” is slated for spring 2027.