The world of hockey romance is abuzz with excitement as five fresh faces are set to join the ensemble of characters in Crave’s popular series, Heated Rivalry.
Renowned Canadian actress Emily Hampshire will take on the role of Vanessa, a sex shop employee, while Canadian comedian and actress Sabrina Jalees will portray sports agent Farah Jalali, and drag queen Priyanka will play Tarek, an office assistant.
Emily Hampshire, known for her work in the sitcom Schitt’s Creek and TV series 12 Monkeys, brings her talent to the project. Sabrina Jalees, the former host of the radio and web show Laugh Out Loud and a writer for Canada’s Got Talent, joins the cast. Priyanka, the winner of the inaugural season of Canada’s Drag Race, adds a unique flair to the lineup.
Additionally, Canadian actor and musician Robert Naylor will play goaltender Wyatt Hayes, and Swedish actor Edvin Ryding will portray rookie hockey player Luca Haas.
Robert Naylor, recognized for voicing D.W. Read in the animated series Arthur, and Edvin Ryding, who starred as Prince Wilhelm in Netflix’s Young Royals, round out the new additions to the cast.
The casting announcement was shared on Instagram on Thursday.
Crave has confirmed that season two of Heated Rivalry will delve further into the story of Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, former hockey rivals turned romantic partners, based on Rachel Reid’s sixth novel in the Game Changer series, The Long Game. The Game Changer series consists of interconnected hockey romance novels with overlapping character narratives.
Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie will reprise their lead roles in the TV adaptation.
The first season of the show adapted the initial two books in Reid’s series, Game Changer and Heated Rivalry.
With the latest casting update, it is anticipated that the third novel in the series, Tough Guy, will also be brought to the screen. Vanessa and Tarek are known associates of Fabian Salah, the love interest of hockey player Ryan Price in Tough Guy.
