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‘Heated Rivalry’ Fuels Real-World Change as Hockey Player Credits Show for Coming Out

The breakout series is credited with inspiring Jesse Kortuem to go public about his sexuality.

Overview

  • Former player Jesse Kortuem said the HBO Max/Crave hit motivated his decision to come out, calling its portrayal of love in men’s hockey a catalyst.
  • Connor Storrie told TODAY that Season 2 writing is underway and that filming could begin around summer 2026, though the timeline remains unsettled.
  • Crave and HBO Max have officially renewed the viral adaptation of Rachel Reid’s Game Changers novels for a second season.
  • François Arnaud said a prior U.S. streamer pushed for “no kissing until episode five,” prompting creator Jacob Tierney to move the show to Canada to preserve its tone despite a smaller budget.
  • Hudson Williams said closeted professional athletes have privately reached out about how the series resonates with their experiences.