Two fresh faces have been added to the lineup for the upcoming Season 2 of Crave’s popular hockey series, “Heated Rivalry.” Daniel Diemer, a Canadian actor recognized for his role as Tyson in the TV series “Percy Jackson and the Olympians,” will take on the character of hockey player Ryan Price. Meanwhile, Welsh actor Shaheen Jafargholi is set to portray musician Fabian Salah, who will serve as Ryan’s love interest in the show. Jafargholi is also slated to appear in the HBO series “War.”
The characters of Ryan and Fabian are the central figures in the third installment of Rachel Reid’s acclaimed hockey romance series, “Game Changers,” titled “Tough Guy.” The narrative follows the journey of professional hockey enforcer Ryan as he navigates his trade to the Toronto team and encounters Fabian, an aspiring musician from his past. Their undeniable chemistry sparks a rekindling of old feelings, but a potential future together may require Ryan to make a difficult decision regarding his hockey career.
Writer Jacob Tierney and producer Brendan Brady expressed their excitement over the addition of Daniel and Shaheen to the cast, noting the unique energy and complexity they bring to the characters. Season 1 of the series adapted the first two books from Reid’s series, “Game Changer” and “Heated Rivalry.”
Season 2 of “Heated Rivalry” will follow the evolving relationship between hockey rivals-turned-lovers Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, based on Reid’s novel “The Long Game.” Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie will reprise their lead roles in the television adaptation. Additionally, the upcoming season will integrate the stories of Troy Barrett, a hockey player traded to Ilya’s team, and Harris Dover, a social media manager, from the fifth novel in the book series, “Role Model.”
New cast members for Season 2 include Justice Smith as Harris and Charlie Gillespie, known for his role in “Julie and the Phantoms,” as Troy. Emily Hampshire from “Schitt’s Creek” and drag queen Priyanka are also among the latest additions to the ensemble. The highly anticipated Season 2 of “Heated Rivalry” is scheduled to premiere in the spring of 2027.