Heated Rivalry News
@heatedrivalnews • 6,327 subscribers
Your go-to news source for the latest updates on “Heated Rivalry,” the “Game Changers” books, and so much more! Turn on notifications to never miss a post! 🔔
Shorts
Videos
Shane Howlander and Ilya Ruffanov on kiss cam at the NHL's Stanley Pup!
Heated Rivalry News755,706 views • 2 months ago
![Jacob Tierney talks about “boring” and “fuck you” meaning “I love you” for Shane and Ilya. 'A really good friend of mine—a person who reads my scripts who's a brilliant novelist named Rainbow Rowell—she read the first episode and she said to me… “just remember that every ‘fuck you’ is ‘I love you,’ and maybe you're saying ‘fuck you’ too many times.” And I was like oh, that's such a good call. That's a great call. Because it was just a reminder of all of the things they say to each other that are not ‘I love you’ and that are not— Boring, you know, when Ilya calls Shane boring, he's saying he's in love with him. And he's not boring, [Ilya] is endlessly fascinated by Shane. And the only way he can communicate that is by making fun of him and calling him boring, because anything else would rip his soul out through his face. Like that's the idea, and so even the words we use to obfuscate matter, you know?' (via live Q&A with Stage 32 on March 24, 2026)](https://image.24vids.com/tw-2036623859860816272/amplify_video_thumb/2036623755380658176/img/UmOmoZgk1weOWKU0.jpg)
Jacob Tierney talks about “boring” and “fuck you” meaning “I love you” for Shane and Ilya. 'A really good friend of mine—a person who reads my scripts who's a brilliant novelist named Rainbow Rowell—she read the first episode and she said to me… “just remember that every ‘fuck you’ is ‘I love you,’ and maybe you're saying ‘fuck you’ too many times.” And I was like oh, that's such a good call. That's a great call. Because it was just a reminder of all of the things they say to each other that are not ‘I love you’ and that are not— Boring, you know, when Ilya calls Shane boring, he's saying he's in love with him. And he's not boring, [Ilya] is endlessly fascinated by Shane. And the only way he can communicate that is by making fun of him and calling him boring, because anything else would rip his soul out through his face. Like that's the idea, and so even the words we use to obfuscate matter, you know?' (via live Q&A with Stage 32 on March 24, 2026)
Heated Rivalry News1,483,793 views • 5 months ago
Rachel Reid was interviewed by CBC News about her generous donation to the Annapolis Valley Regional Library system: “I heard about the five branches that were closing, and I just think libraries are so important. I think they’re absolutely an essential service that needs to be properly funded, especially in rural areas and smaller towns. “I don’t know if I can actually keep these branches open or not, but I wanted to help as much as I could, and I knew that the amount of money that they needed was an amount of money that I could provide. “I just feel like I had to do it. I don't know what the point is of being a successful author in Nova Scotia if you're not going to use it for good. "I want to continue to live in Nova Scotia, but I do feel that lately there’s been a lot of government decisions that have made it less appealing to live in Nova Scotia. And this is one of them. “I want to do what I can to help, but I also think private donations can't replace government policy, which is where this funding should be coming from. "Really, my goal was to try and do what I could to keep these branches open for now, and then maybe raise enough awareness to make sure that this problem doesn’t happen again when these kinds of decisions are made by the government next year. "When I was a kid, you know I grew up in Bedford, Nova Scotia, and I was at that Bedford Library all the time taking out as many books as they'd let me at a time and burning through them. "A lot of those books are what initially inspired me to want be an author. I don't think I'd be an author without my local library." 🗣️ Rachel Reid interviewed by CBC News, August 17, 2026 ▶️ ✍🏼 transcription by Heated Rivalry News
Heated Rivalry News31,291 views • 5 days ago
The Best of Jane and Lily 👩❤️👩 "Look, it’s exactly what it says on the video: just a compilation of Jane and Lily being their usual selves. No famous hockey players here, just two people sending completely standard, definitely-not-suspicious texts to one another." (via heatedrivalryoncrave | YouTube)
Heated Rivalry News47,709 views • 13 days ago
Rachel Reid on the storyline for Unrivaled: “I've said it before, it's going to pick up basically where The Long Game left off, so you didn't miss anything. It’s set in 2021, so that's something I have to keep remembering. But yeah, it's their first season playing together on the same team. They're married. Everybody knows about their relationship. There's so many things that are brand new for them. So where The Long Game, it seemed like a big happy ending for them. But as I kept thinking about it, in the years since it came out, it's really the start of a whole new, kind of weird era of their life that is totally brand new for them. And it isn't going to be totally smooth. So yeah, we're going to see them together a lot instead of grabbing time here and there. There's going to be some bad luck--not everybody loves that two hockey players are married together on the same team. But some people really love it. And I think we're going to see a lot of support for them, but also a lot of the other stuff. Yeah, I don't know, I think it's going to be fun. I'm not going to drag Shane and Ilya through hell, you know, that's not the point of the book. They've been through enough. 🗣️ Rachel Reid x Spotify event, May 13, 2026 ▶️ ✍🏼 transcription by Heated Rivalry News (please credit if reposting)
Heated Rivalry News280,069 views • 3 months ago
Ksenia confirms she’s read scripts for season two and Rachel promises a “happy ever after” for Unrivaled: Interviewer: How excited are you to head back to the set for season two? Ksenia: I'm very excited for season two and for everything it has in store. I can't say anything, you guys know I can't say anything! But I'm excited. Interviewer: Have you read the scripts yet? Ksenia: Maybe. Maybe I have, maybe I have. I have. Rachel: I think this upcoming season is going to be very, very good. Interviewer: Everyone is super excited for your next book. I know it's coming out in 2027, is there anything you can tease? Because people want to know what's going to happen to Shane and Ilya. Rachel: They're going to be teammates for the first time. They're together, and the world knows about them. It's going to pick up right where The Long Game left off, so you didn't miss anything. And it's going to be a nice happy ending for them, a happy ever after. 🗣️ THR Women in Entertainment Canada, May 28, 2026 🎥 Etalk: ✍️🏻 transcription by Heated Rivalry News
Heated Rivalry News172,978 views • 2 months ago
![Short clips and quotes of Rachel Reid and Ngozi Ukazu from popverse BookCon’s “You Had Me at Hockey” panel this morning: Rachel:…I'm not a good planner. I wrote each book as if it might be the last one in the series. And then when it wasn’t, I had to try to fit everything in. Thankfully, I have really great fans who created this kind of online series bible for me. Which I also sent to Jacob! I appreciate it, it’s great. Because I need to look up things like, their player numbers, birthdays, heights, stuff like that. It’s very, very helpful." 🏒 🏒 🏒 Ngozi: " …I think a fully realized character of color in a hockey novel is one where we're not only inhabiting that point of view, but we're talking about those barriers. We're coming up against them in complex, messy ways. But to be honest, I'm a little—I'm less interested in this idea of inclusion and representation, and I'm becoming more invested in the idea of centering [audience applause]. I think in my future projects—I'm working on another volume of Check, Please! [audience applause]. And I don't think I'd be able to do it, if it was focusing primarily on white characters. We have a biracial character and an Asian character and another character who's from a like, blue-collar socioeconomic class. And yeah, I think my projects going forward, I'm less interested in inclusion and more on centering, even though I have one more shift in the white boy yaoi mines." ▶️ videos via arkh4m_ | threads 🗣️ quotes via “You Had Me at Hockey” panel on April 19, 2026 ✍🏼 transcription via heatedrivalnews (please credit if reposting)](https://image.24vids.com/tw-2046037441769787419/amplify_video_thumb/2046035527086878720/img/mQt2W6GMBU5QMzrW.jpg)
Short clips and quotes of Rachel Reid and Ngozi Ukazu from popverse BookCon’s “You Had Me at Hockey” panel this morning: Rachel:…I'm not a good planner. I wrote each book as if it might be the last one in the series. And then when it wasn’t, I had to try to fit everything in. Thankfully, I have really great fans who created this kind of online series bible for me. Which I also sent to Jacob! I appreciate it, it’s great. Because I need to look up things like, their player numbers, birthdays, heights, stuff like that. It’s very, very helpful." 🏒 🏒 🏒 Ngozi: " …I think a fully realized character of color in a hockey novel is one where we're not only inhabiting that point of view, but we're talking about those barriers. We're coming up against them in complex, messy ways. But to be honest, I'm a little—I'm less interested in this idea of inclusion and representation, and I'm becoming more invested in the idea of centering [audience applause]. I think in my future projects—I'm working on another volume of Check, Please! [audience applause]. And I don't think I'd be able to do it, if it was focusing primarily on white characters. We have a biracial character and an Asian character and another character who's from a like, blue-collar socioeconomic class. And yeah, I think my projects going forward, I'm less interested in inclusion and more on centering, even though I have one more shift in the white boy yaoi mines." ▶️ videos via arkh4m_ | threads 🗣️ quotes via “You Had Me at Hockey” panel on April 19, 2026 ✍🏼 transcription via heatedrivalnews (please credit if reposting)
Heated Rivalry News239,675 views • 4 months ago
![Rachel and Jacob talking about season two having "more hockey": Jacob: You know what's funny, there is more hockey in the new season. Rachel: There is, no, I noticed that. Jacob: Yeah, yea me too. You know who else did, my first AD [assistant director]. He was like, "What are we doing?" Rachel: The actors are going to be thrilled. Jacob: They don't love that part. (via etalkctv | instagram)](https://image.24vids.com/tw-2060107110088835153/amplify_video_thumb/2060107044653297665/img/ki3MCHIfN6Z-2SEB.jpg)
Rachel and Jacob talking about season two having "more hockey": Jacob: You know what's funny, there is more hockey in the new season. Rachel: There is, no, I noticed that. Jacob: Yeah, yea me too. You know who else did, my first AD [assistant director]. He was like, "What are we doing?" Rachel: The actors are going to be thrilled. Jacob: They don't love that part. (via etalkctv | instagram)
Heated Rivalry News150,996 views • 2 months ago
![Jacob Tierney on the music budget for season two: "It's like half a Taylor Swift song is the budget per episode. And listen, I have the same budget for next season, but what I have now is goodwill. People who want to be on the show, that’s the thing that has changed. The music that is being sent to us. The people—the artists—who have reached out and have been like, "Please use my song." [Joking voice] You always kind of want to pitch to a musician where you're like, "Well, if you give me your song for $5,000, then like, maybe eight new people will hear it." And then this time, it's like, look what the fuck happened to Wolf Parade. And look what happened to Feist. And look what happened to Harrison. And look what's happened to Peter. It’s just, there's so many examples where you're like this is [shrugs]. Like I just had lunch with Wet Leg, and they were like, “It changed everything for this album.” And I was like, “That's fucking amazing.” “Look at these songs that are 20 years old in some cases and are at the top of the streaming charts. People watch the show, and they like the music, so it is a bigger platform… But we don’t have more money.” ✳️ 🗣️ Inside the Sound of Heated Rivalry, May 7, 2026. ▶️ ✍🏼transcription by Heated Rivalry News ✳️ Final paragraph via Canadian Press:](https://image.24vids.com/tw-2054022217655034241/amplify_video_thumb/2054022140286926848/img/yx1IduouwQhROqDl.jpg)
Jacob Tierney on the music budget for season two: "It's like half a Taylor Swift song is the budget per episode. And listen, I have the same budget for next season, but what I have now is goodwill. People who want to be on the show, that’s the thing that has changed. The music that is being sent to us. The people—the artists—who have reached out and have been like, "Please use my song." [Joking voice] You always kind of want to pitch to a musician where you're like, "Well, if you give me your song for $5,000, then like, maybe eight new people will hear it." And then this time, it's like, look what the fuck happened to Wolf Parade. And look what happened to Feist. And look what happened to Harrison. And look what's happened to Peter. It’s just, there's so many examples where you're like this is [shrugs]. Like I just had lunch with Wet Leg, and they were like, “It changed everything for this album.” And I was like, “That's fucking amazing.” “Look at these songs that are 20 years old in some cases and are at the top of the streaming charts. People watch the show, and they like the music, so it is a bigger platform… But we don’t have more money.” ✳️ 🗣️ Inside the Sound of Heated Rivalry, May 7, 2026. ▶️ ✍🏼transcription by Heated Rivalry News ✳️ Final paragraph via Canadian Press:
Heated Rivalry News168,725 views • 3 months ago
Ahead of his time? Back in 2020, Charlie Gillespie did an interview with the Permanent Rain Press, where he called for more hockey stories and talked about how he'd "love" to take on a hockey role: PR Press: What do you look for in a new project? Charlie: I look for something that's exciting! Something that I'm going to really excited about doing, obviously. But I would really love to try and tell an East Coast story. Something from The Maritimes. Something from, you know, where I'm from. And I love a hockey story, just because that's what I grew up in. Yeah, if I had to say one thing that I would love to do right now, I'd love to do a World Junior or a hockey kind of story. Just because it's a part of what I grew up with. It's a part of so many millions of people, the way that they grew up as well, And it’s just not a story that's told enough! I just wanna—I could watch a movie every single day and be fine with it and not think it's a waste of time, because I love movies. And I just, I would love to watch a hockey movie, you know? PR Press: Back to your roots! Hopefully something like that comes up in the future. Charlie: Yes! 🗣️ Permanent Rain Press interview, August 25, 2020 ▶️ ✍🏼 transcription by Heated Rivalry News
Heated Rivalry News25,765 views • 15 days ago
The Ottawa Ottawa Senators received the 2026 Stanley Award: Social Impact and Growth Initiative in recognition of their Heated Rivalry-inspired "When Rivalry Becomes Unity" campaign. The Senators raised money for Ottawa Pride Hockey, an inclusive queer hockey recreation league, by selling jerseys emblazoned with the names "Hollander" and "Rozanov." This was Ottawa’s first nomination and win for the Stanley Awards, which honors business and marketing achievements for NHL teams. Winners for the awards are chosen by an external panel of sports and entertainment industry leaders. In an interview with CTV News back in January, the Marketing VP for the Senators, Peter Shier, said the idea was inspired by fans who were already placing orders for customized Ottawa jerseys that sported the characters' names. The marketing team noticed the custom orders and decided to roll with it. According to Shier, “We had the idea on a Friday morning, and we had a whole bunch of jerseys in the store by Saturday night at our game. We sold out within probably an hour--before the first period was over.” After that game, news of the Ottawa jerseys went viral online, and the online store for the Senators started receiving "orders from, I think, Germany, Sweden, Indonesia, Kazakhstan--so it's really great,” says Shier. These customized Heated Rivalry Senators jerseys are available in persona at the Canadian Tire Centre arena or via the official Senators online store: 🛒 Hollander: 🛒 Rozanov: 🛒 Custom: More information 🌈 Ottawa Pride Hockey: 🎥 Video source: 🏒Stanley Award winners:
Heated Rivalry News43,946 views • 1 month ago
![Jacob Tierney discusses the demanding physicality of Connor and Hudson's Heated Rivalry roles. "What I always knew about this show—and what I like in general—is behavior is more interesting to me than dialogue. Especially with characters like [Shane and Ilya] who are almost never talking about the topic. They are talking around things. They are full of bluster. They are bragging or showing off or being defensive. … So it's way more about their behavior. It was so much more physical, what I would tell them to do. Because I was like—this dialogue, this scene is like 2½ pages, and not one thing you're saying matters. I don't care about it. What I care about is what your body is doing up against that wall, and when you decide to approach him, and the way you're going to touch him, and at what point. And when you're going to let him off the hook emotionally or when you're going to hook him emotionally. That stuff is so much more important, and that you pace in around what is written. And that is deeply physical. The best acting to me is always physical and the best platform you can give an actor—as a writer, I think—is physical stuff… I want to see what your body is doing. Your body will tell me more than your words ever will. Your eyes will tell me more. But like, especially with these characters, because they're athletes too. It's like physicality will be everything. And that was also why these roles were so demanding, you know? There's the physicality of the intimacy, and then there's the physicality of the hockey. Everything is physical in this story." Transcription via Heated Rivalry News & Updates Quote via Q&A with Stage 32 on March 24, 2026](https://image.24vids.com/tw-2036650688097169526/amplify_video_thumb/2036649857503666176/img/H_IClvNiwViGNaq1.jpg)
Jacob Tierney discusses the demanding physicality of Connor and Hudson's Heated Rivalry roles. "What I always knew about this show—and what I like in general—is behavior is more interesting to me than dialogue. Especially with characters like [Shane and Ilya] who are almost never talking about the topic. They are talking around things. They are full of bluster. They are bragging or showing off or being defensive. … So it's way more about their behavior. It was so much more physical, what I would tell them to do. Because I was like—this dialogue, this scene is like 2½ pages, and not one thing you're saying matters. I don't care about it. What I care about is what your body is doing up against that wall, and when you decide to approach him, and the way you're going to touch him, and at what point. And when you're going to let him off the hook emotionally or when you're going to hook him emotionally. That stuff is so much more important, and that you pace in around what is written. And that is deeply physical. The best acting to me is always physical and the best platform you can give an actor—as a writer, I think—is physical stuff… I want to see what your body is doing. Your body will tell me more than your words ever will. Your eyes will tell me more. But like, especially with these characters, because they're athletes too. It's like physicality will be everything. And that was also why these roles were so demanding, you know? There's the physicality of the intimacy, and then there's the physicality of the hockey. Everything is physical in this story." Transcription via Heated Rivalry News & Updates Quote via Q&A with Stage 32 on March 24, 2026
Heated Rivalry News & Updates155,866 views • 5 months ago
![Jacob Tierney talks about telling "a human story" and the decision to release the first two episodes of Heated Rivalry simultaneously: 'You know the truth is, it was so important to me that episodes one and two dropped at the same time because it was so clear to me—we’re building to Shane not sending that text, “We didn't even kiss.” And I knew that when I wrote that— Because that was an inner monologue in the book, and he was like, “I can't believe we didn't even kiss.” And I underlined it, and I was like, that's the thing I need to express here. That’s the perfect little moment. That tells you everything you need to know about this, is that all [Shane] thought about that whole time was kissing [Ilya]. And that takes—It does this, it does a complete flip to the sex… that can feel salacious or that can feel like, “oh my we're seeing so many butts!” And you're like no, this is just a reminder of here's where we're going and here's where we're coming from, you know? It’s like, what do they want? They want a human connection. They want intimacy.” Source - Live Q&A with Stage 32 on March 24, 2026:](https://image.24vids.com/tw-2036607428351963602/amplify_video_thumb/2036604982993039360/img/F4w0GN9jqlN6vl9J.jpg)
Jacob Tierney talks about telling "a human story" and the decision to release the first two episodes of Heated Rivalry simultaneously: 'You know the truth is, it was so important to me that episodes one and two dropped at the same time because it was so clear to me—we’re building to Shane not sending that text, “We didn't even kiss.” And I knew that when I wrote that— Because that was an inner monologue in the book, and he was like, “I can't believe we didn't even kiss.” And I underlined it, and I was like, that's the thing I need to express here. That’s the perfect little moment. That tells you everything you need to know about this, is that all [Shane] thought about that whole time was kissing [Ilya]. And that takes—It does this, it does a complete flip to the sex… that can feel salacious or that can feel like, “oh my we're seeing so many butts!” And you're like no, this is just a reminder of here's where we're going and here's where we're coming from, you know? It’s like, what do they want? They want a human connection. They want intimacy.” Source - Live Q&A with Stage 32 on March 24, 2026:
Heated Rivalry News109,387 views • 5 months ago
Rachel and Jacob talk about Troy and Harris in season two! (via iheartradioca | instagram) Jacob: "People, they're like, "Don't spoil it." And I'm like there are fucking books, A, and B, of course there's gonna be Troy and Harris? It takes place at the same time as The Long Game! Rachel: Yea, when people complain about the spoilers, I'm like, "Wow, so you didn't read the books. Okay. I see."
Heated Rivalry News65,156 views • 2 months ago
![#tbt to June 2025, when Rachel Reid answered a question about Shane and Ilya’s 💗wedding date💗 during a fan Q&A: Interviewer: “Okay, so this is kind of cute. Someone wanted to know an actual date for Shane and Ilya's wedding, because they wanted to celebrate it. So is there a date? Can you make one up?” Rachel: “I think I went back and looked—I always make a Google Calendar when I'm writing a book, so I'll have it—sometimes it's not always over the right year that the book's set in, though, so it's hard to say. “But I would say, based on other dates I had in there… I said it's a Saturday, and I feel like if the year that they got married was the same year that I set the Google Calendar in, then I would say their anniversary is July 10th… “Yeah, I was like [July] 10th or 17th, but let's go 10th. Let's just say the 10th. Because that gives them lots of time to do the camps and then have their honeymoon and then get ready for training and everything. “I think the 10th [nods]. And like, we're seeing NHL players getting married now [in June 2025]. The NHL wedding season has started, so I feel like July 10th isn't too early. It works.” 🗣️Rachel Reid instagram live fan Q&A, June 29, 2025 ▶️ julietfoxreads | ✍️🏻 transcription by Heated Rivalry News](https://image.24vids.com/tw-2075221114205216873/amplify_video_thumb/2075099787955757056/img/sNRkUhscYwJ0Y5Hs.jpg)
#tbt to June 2025, when Rachel Reid answered a question about Shane and Ilya’s 💗wedding date💗 during a fan Q&A: Interviewer: “Okay, so this is kind of cute. Someone wanted to know an actual date for Shane and Ilya's wedding, because they wanted to celebrate it. So is there a date? Can you make one up?” Rachel: “I think I went back and looked—I always make a Google Calendar when I'm writing a book, so I'll have it—sometimes it's not always over the right year that the book's set in, though, so it's hard to say. “But I would say, based on other dates I had in there… I said it's a Saturday, and I feel like if the year that they got married was the same year that I set the Google Calendar in, then I would say their anniversary is July 10th… “Yeah, I was like [July] 10th or 17th, but let's go 10th. Let's just say the 10th. Because that gives them lots of time to do the camps and then have their honeymoon and then get ready for training and everything. “I think the 10th [nods]. And like, we're seeing NHL players getting married now [in June 2025]. The NHL wedding season has started, so I feel like July 10th isn't too early. It works.” 🗣️Rachel Reid instagram live fan Q&A, June 29, 2025 ▶️ julietfoxreads | ✍️🏻 transcription by Heated Rivalry News
Heated Rivalry News34,549 views • 1 month ago
![Jacob’s acceptance speech for Heated Rivalry at the Television Academy Honors, May 21, 2026 “You know when you option pornography… [audience laughs] Uhhh this has been— I mean— I don't know why it's really hitting me tonight? I don't know if it's Padma Lakshmi talking about my show or just being here in this company? Uh it— This show has been a surprise every step of the way, and I can safely say that the biggest surprise—and the one that I'll probably take with me the farthest and the longest and that means the most to me—is that I found a network at home in my country— Crave, a lot of my folks are here tonight—and they let me make a show. And they did not note me to death, and they trusted me, and they let me make THIS show. And it's such a real pleasure to work with you guys. Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for making this show with me. Thank you to our friends at HBO for picking it up and showing it all over the world. Thank you to my two wonderful people in my life here—my agent and my lawyer. [Joking] Like really, really? My agent, really? [audience laughs] You can say what you want about my agent, Matt Smith at CAA, but I've been to both of his weddings, and I've known him for decades.” 🗣️Television Academy Honors, May 20, 2026 ▶️ ✍🏼 transcription by Heated Rivalry News (please credit if reposting)](https://image.24vids.com/tw-2057402101450326332/amplify_video_thumb/2057401875033460736/img/eBwfvn3uNSLow7HV.jpg)
Jacob’s acceptance speech for Heated Rivalry at the Television Academy Honors, May 21, 2026 “You know when you option pornography… [audience laughs] Uhhh this has been— I mean— I don't know why it's really hitting me tonight? I don't know if it's Padma Lakshmi talking about my show or just being here in this company? Uh it— This show has been a surprise every step of the way, and I can safely say that the biggest surprise—and the one that I'll probably take with me the farthest and the longest and that means the most to me—is that I found a network at home in my country— Crave, a lot of my folks are here tonight—and they let me make a show. And they did not note me to death, and they trusted me, and they let me make THIS show. And it's such a real pleasure to work with you guys. Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for making this show with me. Thank you to our friends at HBO for picking it up and showing it all over the world. Thank you to my two wonderful people in my life here—my agent and my lawyer. [Joking] Like really, really? My agent, really? [audience laughs] You can say what you want about my agent, Matt Smith at CAA, but I've been to both of his weddings, and I've known him for decades.” 🗣️Television Academy Honors, May 20, 2026 ▶️ ✍🏼 transcription by Heated Rivalry News (please credit if reposting)
Heated Rivalry News64,881 views • 3 months ago
