Heated Rivalry is a popular gay hockey romance based on Game Changers by Rachel Reid. The series follows Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov as they navigate the world of this intense ice hockey sports drama. The show has gained popularity with LGBTQ viewers worldwide thanks to its heady mix of intense rivalry and steamy romance.
Heated Rivalry is not available worldwide, and streaming access varies by location. It airs on Crave TV in Canada, HBO Max in the US and Australia, and Sky / NOW Entertainment in the UK. Elsewhere, the show can be hard to find. That’s why so many people are asking how to watch Heated Rivalry from anywhere.
In this guide, I explain how a VPN for streaming Heated Rivalry can help. My recommended VPNs are fast and let you stream the show privately, which is ideal if you’re in a country where LGBTQ content is banned. They also let you watch Heated Rivalry at work or on public wifi without being tracked.
How to watch Heated Rivalry online from anywhere
Using a VPN makes it easy to watch Heated Rivalry online, even if you’re traveling abroad. With a VPN, you can change your IP address and unblock HBO Max, Crave, or another streaming service that carries the show.
New to VPNs? Follow these steps to watch Heated Rivalry from anywhere:
- Choose a reliable streaming VPN. I recommend NordVPN for fast speeds, strong encryption, and its obfuscation, which means you can stream Heated Rivalry privately from anywhere. Alternatively, Surfshark is a secure, lower-cost option, while TotalVPN is a solid choice if you want a VPN bundled with an antivirus.
- Sign up for your preferred VPN. The links in this guide will give you a subscription discount and a money-back guarantee, so you can watch Heated Rivalry risk-free.
- Install the VPN app. All recommended VPNs support Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and smart TV devices. This makes it easy to watch Heated Rivalry on your phone, tablet, laptop, or TV.
- Connect to a VPN server. Connect to a US server for HBO Max, or a Canadian server for Crave. This will change your IP address and let you watch the show abroad.
- Open your streaming service. Once connected, log in to HBO Max or Crave. The episodes should load as usual, even on restricted public wifi.
As soon as you connect to a VPN server in your home country, you’ll be able to log in and stream Heated Rivalry. If the show isn’t available where you live, simply connect to a server in the US or Canada to subscribe to HBO Max or Crave.
Having trouble logging in to Crave or HBO Max? I recommend streaming in your browser rather than the app. Apps often use secondary location signals like GPS, which can conflict with your VPN. I also recommend clearing your cookies and cache, as this removes location data left behind during previous sessions.
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Watch Heated Rivalry outside Canada with a VPN
In Canada, Crave is the exclusive streaming home of Heated Rivalry. The series is a Crave original, which means you won’t be able to watch it on any other Canadian platform or cable TV service, at least for the foreseeable future.
Crave subscriptions start at $9.99 per month with ads, or $19.99 per month ad-free. Some Canadian TV providers may bundle Crave with premium channels. Some Bell TV and Cogeco users, for example, have previously been offered Crave as a special promotion.
Just remember that Crave is region-locked to Canada. If you try to watch Heated Rivalry while traveling abroad, the episodes won’t load. This occurs because Crave limits access to viewers with a valid Canadian IP address.
Thankfully, anyone outside of Canada can still watch Heated Rivalry by using a VPN. A VPN lets you change your IP address to a Canadian one, so you can access your Crave subscription while abroad.
How to watch Heated Rivalry in the US
In the US, HBO Max is the exclusive streaming home of Heated Rivalry. If you’re in the US, you can watch the full series on demand with an HBO Max subscription.
HBO Max plans start at $9.99 per month with ads, or $15.99 per month ad-free. If you are already subscribed to a different service, you may still be able to get HBO Max as an add-on.
US streaming options that offer HBO Max:
- HBO Max (standalone): from $9.99 per month
- Apple TV + HBO Max add-on: Apple TV from $9.99 per month, plus $15.99 per month for HBO Max
- Hulu + HBO Max add-on: Hulu from $7.99 per month, plus $15.99 per month
- YouTube TV + HBO Max add-on: $72.99 per month, plus $15.99 per month
- Sling TV + HBO Max add-on: Sling Orange or Blue from $40 per month, plus $15.99 per month
- DirecTV Stream: HBO Max included with select packages from $79.99 per month
- Spectrum: HBO Max available as a premium add-on; pricing varies.
Bear in mind that all these US streaming platforms are region-locked to the US. If you try to watch Heated Rivalry while traveling abroad, you’ll see a location error message. This happens even if you are a legitimate HBO Max subscriber (due to licensing agreements).
The good news? You can watch Heated Rivalry on vacation by using a VPN. A VPN will help you change your IP address back to a US address. As a result, you can keep accessing your usual service even while travelling.
Can I watch Heated Rivalry in the UK?
In the UK, Sky is the exclusive broadcaster for Heated Rivalry. The series is available through Sky’s entertainment packages, or via NOW (formerly Now TV), which lets you stream Sky TV without an ongoing contract.
The series is available on demand via Sky, rather than airing on a specific linear channel like Sky Atlantic or Sky One. Sky TV packages that include Heated Rivalry start from £26 per month, though special offers do sometimes come up. For many viewers, NOW offers an easier way to stream online without tying you into a long-term commitment.
NOW’s Entertainment Membership costs £9.99 per month. You can cancel at any time, which means you can binge-watch Heated Rivalry over a few days or a week and then cancel to keep costs down.
As with other international streaming services, Sky and NOW are subject to licensing agreements. This means you have to be in Britain to watch your account. If you try to stream Heated Rivalry while traveling abroad, the episodes won’t load.
However, you can use a VPN to change your IP address back to the UK. This will let you log in and stream on Sky Go or NOW as if you were still at home.
What is the Heated Rivalry TV series UK release date on Sky?
Heated Rivalry became available in the UK on January 10, 2026, and all episodes are now available on demand via Sky and NOW.
How to watch Heated Rivalry in Australia
In Australia, Heated Rivalry is available on HBO Max. The series premiered there simultaneously with other major regions. HBO Max subscriptions in Australia start at AU$10.99 per month.
Remember that HBO Max Australia is geo-restricted. If you’re traveling abroad, you’ll need a VPN to access an Australian IP address.
How to watch Heated Rivalry in New Zealand
In New Zealand, Heated Rivalry is available on Neon. Episodes are available to stream on demand. Neon’s basic plan with ads costs NZ$14.99 per month.
Neon is region-locked to New Zealand, so you will need a VPN to unblock your account on vacation.
Can I watch Heated Rivalry for free?
No streaming service currently offers Heated Rivalry for free. It isn’t available on BBC iPlayer, Channel 4, or other international VoD platforms that carry free-to-watch content.
That said, you may be able to watch Heated Rivalry for free by making use of YouTube TV’s free trial. Please note that some online claims are somewhat misleading.
Several VPN review sites claim you can sign up for YouTube TV’s free trial, then add HBO Max during setup to watch Heated Rivalry without paying. In practice, there are some caveats.
YouTube TV’s free trial usually applies only to the base package. HBO Max is a premium add-on and is billed separately, even during a free trial. This means you will probably need to pay for the HBO Max add-on, even if you aren’t paying for the first week of YouTube TV.
That said, YouTube TV sometimes runs promotions that include HBO Max at no extra cost. If you happen to find this offer, you’re good to go.
How to watch Heated Rivalry without paying:
- Connect to a VPN server in the US
- Sign up for YouTube TV’s free trial
- Add HBO Max during trial setup
- Carefully check the billing screen before confirming
If HBO Max shows a $0 charge, you’re all set. Otherwise, you’ll need to decide whether paying for the add-on is worth it. If there is a refund period, you can watch the show during the trial and request a full refund, so you can still watch Heated Rivalry for free.
In which countries is Heated Rivalry banned?
Gay and LGBTQ content is restricted, banned, or heavily discouraged in a number of countries around the world. These restrictions are usually driven by cultural, religious, or political reasons.
Below is a list of countries where you are unlikely to find an official broadcaster for Heated Rivalry, either because of local laws or because LGBTQ content clashes with widely held social norms.
Middle East
- Saudi Arabia
- United Arab Emirates
- Qatar
- Kuwait
- Oman
- Iran
Eastern Europe and Central Asia
- Russia
- Belarus
- Kazakhstan
- Uzbekistan
- Turkmenistan
East and Southeast Asia
- China
- North Korea
- Malaysia
- Indonesia
Africa
- Nigeria
- Uganda
- Ghana
- Tanzania
South Asia
- Pakistan
- Bangladesh
Can I watch Heated Rivalry in China?
Heated Rivalry has become a surprise hit in China. The show has quickly gained popularity, despite the fact that LGBTQ shows are not legally available there. In fact, it is currently Douban’s top-rated foreign show, with many viewers rushing to watch it on foreign streaming services by using a VPN.
China’s crackdown on LGBTQ content means same-sex relationships are banned from TV and local streaming platforms. That’s why there is no official way for you to watch Heated Rivalry in China.
Some VPNs work to unblock Crave and HBO Max from China. However, you need to be extremely careful. If you choose to watch the show, it is important to use a VPN that can bypass the Great Firewall without your ISP finding out.
Many VPNs suffer from leaks or weak encryption. Additionally, I strongly urge you to avoid VPNs advertised in China. These are usually registered with the government, which means they will report your activities to the government.
Can I watch Heated Rivalry in Russia?
In Russia, regulations related to “LGBTQ propaganda” prevent gay romance series like Heated Rivalry from being licensed by local streaming platforms.
Anti-gay laws ban any content that promotes “nontraditional sexual relationships.” As a result, there aren’t any official ways to watch Heated Rivalry. Interestingly, this hasn’t stopped Russians from wanting to watch the show.
Restrictions on LGBTQ shows have actually had the opposite effect. More Russians than ever are interested in watching foreign content. This has led to an explosion of Telegram groups where fans discuss how to use a VPN to access foreign streams of the show.
Watching this queer hockey romance from Russia can lead to legal ramifications. That’s why it’s crucial to understand local laws and to use a reliable VPN with robust encryption and a kill switch.
Using a reliable VPN will help you to watch the show privately, while reducing the risk of being singled out under Russia’s surveillance and data-retention laws.
Please bear in mind that I am not an attorney. Nothing in this guide should be taken as legal advice. It is for educational purposes only. Always do your own research before using a VPN to bypass LGBTQ streaming bans.
What is Heated Rivalry about?
Heated Rivalry is a gay hockey romance series based on the novel Game Changers by Rachel Reid. The show follows Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie), two top-level players competing at the highest level of Major League Hockey. It leans into the enemies-to-lovers trope, starting with a fierce hockey rivalry that slowly develops into a steamy romance series.
That rivalry begins on the ice, with Shane and Ilya competing for opposing teams in Major League Hockey – the Montreal Metros and the Boston Raiders. As the pressure builds, the players are forced to confront identity, expectations, and the realities of a same-sex relationship in professional sport.
Shane is controlled, image-conscious, and terrified of slipping up. Ilya is reckless, provocative, and fully aware of how much he gets under Shane’s skin. On opposite teams, the tension is obvious, but it’s when they’re in the same room that the temperature goes up a notch.
If you like high-intensity sports dramas but want something that challenges the genre instead of repeating it, Heated Rivalry is a must-watch. It keeps the intensity of professional hockey while putting a gay romance at the center of the story.
Heated Rivalry cast
- Hudson Williams as Shane Hollander
- Connor Storrie as Ilya Rozanov
- François Arnaud as Scott Hunter
- Robbie G.K. as Kip Grady
- Christina Chang as Yuna Hollander
- Dylan Walsh as David Hollander
- Sophie Nélisse as Rose Landry
- Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova as Svetlana Vetrova
Heated Rivalry episode guide
If you don’t want any spoilers, I recommend skipping this section altogether. However, if you are searching for a specific episode and you aren’t sure which one it is, you can use the guide below to pinpoint the right one.
- Episode 1 – Rookies (Nov 28, 2025). Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov meet as rookie rivals. The trash talk is immediate. So is the chemistry. Neither of them handles it well.
- Episode 2 – Olympians (Nov 28, 2025). International pressure, secret hookups, and zero emotional maturity. Keeping things quiet gets harder as the stakes rise.
- Episode 3 – Hunter (Dec 5, 2025). Careers start pulling in opposite directions. Feelings get messier. Avoidance becomes the preferred coping strategy.
- Episode 4 – Rose (Dec 12, 2025). Past baggage surfaces and outside relationships complicate everything. What started as fun now feels dangerous.
- Episode 5 – I’ll Believe in Anything (Dec 19, 2025). The emotional breaking point. Honesty finally enters the chat, whether either of them is ready or not.
- Episode 6 – The Cottage (Dec 26, 2025). Season finale. The duo has to decide what their relationship is, and whether it’s worth it.
Will there be a season 2 of Heated Rivalry?
Yes. Heated Rivalry has been renewed for a second season. Actor Connor Storrie, who plays Ilya, has suggested that filming for season 2 could begin later this year, with scripts currently being written.
Season 2 is expected to adapt The Long Game, the follow-up novel in Rachel Reid’s Game Changers series. It will continue Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov’s story both on and off the ice.
Crave is also exploring the possibility of a standalone bonus episode. Executive producer Justin Stockman has said that a bonus episode could arrive before season 2, giving fans something to watch while they wait. That means you may not have to wait too long to return to the world of Heated Rivalry.
Frequently asked questions
Is Heated Rivalry on Hulu or Apple TV?
Heated Rivalry is not included with a standard Hulu or Apple TV subscription. However, you can watch it on either of these popular US streaming platforms by adding HBO Max as an add-on. Once subscribed to MAX, the series will be available to stream on demand through the Hulu or Apple TV interface. The same is true of other services like Prime Video, Sling TV, and DirecTV, where HBO Max can be added as an optional add-on.
Which devices can I watch Heated Rivalry on?
You can watch Heated Rivalry on almost any modern device. The VPNs recommended in this guide support all major platforms, which means you can stream on Android phones and tablets, iPhone and iPad, Windows PCs and Macs, and a wide range of smart TVs. This includes Amazon Fire TV, Android TV / Google TV, Apple TV, and popular gaming consoles like PlayStation and Xbox. Availability may vary slightly by region, but coverage is broad across devices.
