Overview
- NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said he binged the six-episode series in one night, called it “a wonderful story,” and noted it is helping bring new fans to hockey, even as the league keeps themed warm-up jerseys off the ice.
- Minnesota-based hockey player Jesse Kortuem publicly came out as gay, crediting the series for encouraging him to share his story after years of staying closeted in team settings.
- Rachel Reid’s Heated Rivalry novel surged after the TV debut, with BookScan tracking nearly 600% growth since late November and Forbes reporting it as the top-selling romance book in the U.S.
- Season 2 is confirmed and being written, with star Connor Storrie indicating filming could begin around summer 2026, while co-star François Arnaud said a potential Scott-focused side project has been discussed but not set.
- Global reach continues to expand with a U.K. rollout on Sky and NOW on January 10, and ancillary releases include the official soundtrack, with a vinyl edition confirmed by Billboard.