Two fresh faces have been revealed as the latest additions to Season 2 of Crave’s popular hockey series, “Heated Rivalry.” Daniel Diemer, a Canadian actor recognized for his role as Tyson in “Percy Jackson and the Olympians,” is set to take on the character of hockey player Ryan Price. Welsh actor Shaheen Jafargholi will portray musician Fabian Salah, with upcoming appearances in the HBO series “War.”
The characters of Ryan and Fabian are the central figures in the third book of Rachel Reid’s highly acclaimed hockey romance series, “Game Changers,” titled “Tough Guy.” The narrative revolves around pro hockey enforcer Ryan, who, upon joining the Toronto team, encounters Fabian in the city’s gay village. Despite a near-kiss in high school, their undeniable chemistry resurfaces, presenting a dilemma for Ryan between pursuing a future with Fabian or prioritizing his hockey career.
Writer Jacob Tierney and producer Brendan Brady praised the actors, stating that Daniel and Shaheen bring distinct energy and complexity to Rachel Reid’s world. Season 1 adapted the first two books of the series, “Game Changer” and “Heated Rivalry.” Season 2 of “Heated Rivalry” will continue the love story of Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov from Reid’s novel “The Long Game,” with Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie reprising their lead roles.
Additionally, the upcoming season will integrate the narratives of Troy Barrett, a hockey player traded to Ilya’s team, and Harris Dover, a social media manager, from the fifth book, “Role Model.” New cast members, including Justice Smith as Harris and Charlie Gillespie as Troy, have been announced by Crave. Notable additions to the cast also include Emily Hampshire from “Schitt’s Creek” and drag queen Priyanka.
The highly anticipated Season 2 of “Heated Rivalry” is scheduled to debut in the spring of 2027.
