Warning: This article contains light spoilers for the end of "Heated Rivalry."
Enjoy your time at the cottage?
The "Heated Rivalry" finale officially hit HBO Max in the U.S. on Dec. 26, bringing fans of Canadian streamer Crave's unexpected hit hockey romance drama a long-awaited conclusion — at least for now.
The six-episode series, which premiered Nov. 28, was officially renewed for a second season halfway through its airing.
"Heated Rivalry," which is based on the 2019 novel by Canadian author Rachel Reid, follows eight years in the professional and personal lives of two rival hockey stars, Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie). Behind the scenes of their storied rivalry, the two embark on a longstanding sexual relationship and, over tuna melts and texts, fall in love.
The season finale left Shane and Ilya content with their official relationship, but potential obstacles abound: Neither are out to their teams or the world and the plan is to keep the relationship secret for the indefinite future.
The show's ending closely aligns with the book's ending. But thanks to Reid, their story continues in a 2022 sequel, "The Long Game."
Here's what to know about what happens next in Shane and Ilya's story.
What Happens In 'The Long Game'?
Major spoilers ahead for Rachel Reid's 2022 novel, "The Long Game."
"The Long Game" picks up a few years after "Heated Rivalry's" epilogue ended with Shane and Ilya in a happy, but secret, relationship while each continues their own hockey careers.
Ilya has established himself as a star player on a struggling Ottawa team, while Shane is still playing for Montreal, putting the distance between their teams' cities at only about two hours. They've also established the appearance of a public friendship by establishing a joint charity.
But the weight of keeping their relationship a secret gradually grows on Ilya throughout the sequel. "The Long Game" is set during their 11th season of "hiding," as Ilya puts it — seven of secret hookups and three in a "mostly secret committed relationship."
And after moving from Boston to Ottawa, Shane's hometown, to be closer to him, Ilya's hockey ambitions start to take less of a priority, especially in comparison to Shane, who remains locked in on securing another Stanley Cup and solidifying his legacy with Montreal.
The book also follows Ilya's recurring dreams of his mother, who died by suicide when he was 12. It's revealed she experienced severe depression, and Ilya pursues therapy, though he initially keeps it from Shane. He is eventually diagnosed with depression, as he and Shane grow further apart, culminating in a fight where Ilya accuses Shane of picking hockey over his partner.
But never fear, Hollanov does not break up. After their fight, Ilya's team plane has to make an emergency landing. His brush with a crash reminds Shane and Ilya how much they mean to each other. They reconcile, and Shane proposes.
They also set a timeline to come out, but their plans are upended when they are spotted kissing in the background of a video that goes viral. While the league pressures them into releasing a statement claiming the clip was a prank, they refuse. The couple posts a photo together and opens up about their relationship on social media, on their own terms.
The book ends with Shane and Ilya getting married and on the same page about wanting children. And in an epilogue, it's revealed Shane joined Ottawa, meaning the newlyweds will consistently play on the same team for the first time.
Will Season 2 of 'Heated Rivalry' Be Based on 'The Long Game'?
Good question.
A synopsis or premise is not yet available for "Heated Rivalry" Season 2, but creator Jacob Tierney has confirmed that the next run of episodes will continue Shane and Ilya's story.
“We’re following Shane and Ilya. That’s not gonna be a shock," he previously told Entertainment Weekly.
And in a video announcing Season 2 for HBO Max, Storrie told viewers, "Start reading 'The Long Game' if you want spoilers."
When Does Season 2 of 'Heated Rivalry' Come Out?
Now for the bad news.
While the Season 2 renewal news dropped less than a month after the show's premiere, it's likely to take much, much longer to bring that sequel to fans.
Speaking with Variety, Tierney confirmed that Season 2 will not drop this time in 2026.
“It can’t be same time next year, because this time last year I’d written five of these, and this time this year I’ve written zero of them,” Tierney said. “So it’s going to be a little bit later, but it’s still going to be soon.”
He added that his goal is balancing quality with timeliness.
“We understand that everybody’s goal is to not do two years between seasons,” he said. “And at the same time, I don’t want to put out a rushed s---- second season just because the show is very popular. But we’re very aware that our creative partners are enthusiastic and don’t want to wait too long. We’re getting back to work!”
What Happens to Shane and Ilya After 'The Long Game'?
While there are six books in Reid's "Game Changers" series, only "Heated Rivalry" and "The Long Game" spotlight Shane and Ilya.
Reid acknowledged that the ending of "The Long Game" left the two beloved characters at an "interesting point," and she confirmed to TODAY.com that she is working on ideas for more stories.
"They never leave my head. I think my other characters do, but those guys stay with me," Reid said.
"I do have story ideas. Some of them I’m working on, I’m trying to figure out what to do with them, but there’s going to be something," she aded. "You’ll see something for sure."
