The realm of hockey romance is abuzz with excitement once again as Crave’s “Heated Rivalry” welcomes five new additions to its cast. Notable Canadian actress Emily Hampshire will take on the role of Vanessa, a character working in a sex shop, while Canadian comedian and actress Sabrina Jalees will portray sports agent Farah Jalali. Additionally, drag queen Priyanka will play Tarek, an office assistant.
Emily Hampshire is renowned for her performances in the sitcom “Schitt’s Creek” and the TV series “12 Monkeys.” Sabrina Jalees previously hosted the radio and web show “Laugh Out Loud” and wrote for “Canada’s Got Talent.” Priyanka gained fame by winning the first season of “Canada’s Drag Race.”
Joining the cast are Canadian actor and musician Robert Naylor as goaltender Wyatt Hayes and Swedish actor Edvin Ryding as rookie hockey player Luca Haas. Robert Naylor is recognized for voicing D.W. Read in the animated series “Arthur,” while Edvin Ryding starred as Prince Wilhelm in Netflix’s “Young Royals.”
The announcement of the new cast members was made on Instagram by Crave. The upcoming season two of “Heated Rivalry” will continue to follow the evolving relationship between hockey rivals-turned-lovers Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, characters from Rachel Reid’s sixth novel “The Long Game” in the Game Changer series. The Game Changer series features interconnected stories within the world of hockey romance.
Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie will reprise their lead roles in the TV adaptation. Season one of the show was based on Reid’s novels “Game Changer” and “Heated Rivalry.” With the recent casting announcement, it is anticipated that the third novel in the series, “Tough Guy,” will also be adapted.
The series is set to include 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” in the upcoming second season. Justice Smith has been cast as Harris and Charlie Gillespie, known for “Julie and the Phantoms,” will play Troy. The highly anticipated season two of “Heated Rivalry” is scheduled to premiere in spring 2027.