Two fresh faces have been revealed for the upcoming Season 2 of the popular hockey-themed series, “Heated Rivalry,” on Crave. Daniel Diemer, a Canadian actor recognized for his role as Tyson in the TV series “Percy Jackson and the Olympians,” is set to portray the character of hockey player Ryan Price. Joining him is Welsh actor Shaheen Jafargholi, who will play the role of musician Fabian Salah, also featuring in the HBO show “War.”
The characters of Ryan and Fabian take center stage in the third book of Rachel Reid’s best-selling “Game Changers” hockey romance series, titled “Tough Guy.” The narrative follows pro hockey enforcer Ryan as he moves to the Toronto team and encounters Fabian, an aspiring musician with whom he shared a significant moment in high school. Despite the passage of time, their chemistry reignites, but a future together may demand Ryan to make a tough choice between love and his hockey career.
Writer Jacob Tierney and producer Brendan Brady expressed their excitement for the new cast members, stating that Daniel and Shaheen bring a unique energy to Rachel Reid’s world. They praised the actors for their portrayal of the bold, complex, and engaging characters of Fabian and Ryan, anticipating the audience’s response to their performances.
Season 1 of the series adapted the first two books of Reid’s series, “Game Changer” and “Heated Rivalry.” Crave has confirmed that Season 2 of “Heated Rivalry” will continue the story of Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, the hockey rivals-turned-lovers from Reid’s novel “The Long Game,” with Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie reprising their lead roles in the TV adaptation.
The upcoming season will also weave in the stories of Troy Barrett, a hockey player traded to Ilya’s new team, and Harris Dover, a social media manager, from the fifth book, “Role Model,” of the book series. New cast additions include Justice Smith as Harris and Charlie Gillespie as Troy, along with Emily Hampshire from “Schitt’s Creek” and drag queen Priyanka.
Scheduled to premiere in spring 2027, Season 2 of “Heated Rivalry” promises an exciting continuation of the intertwined lives and relationships in the world of competitive hockey.