HBO Max launches in Switzerland, bringing queer ice hockey romance Heated Rivalry along with it

Cassie Mammone

13/1/2026

Translation: Katherine Martin

HBO Max has come to Switzerland, bringing audiences the Canadian hit series Heated Rivalry. Portraying a romance between gay ice hockey players, it’s a moving love story that’s captivated countless fans.

After launching on the Canadian streaming platform Crave at the end of November, Heated Rivalry quickly became a surprise hit. Now that it’s been just short of a month since the sixth and, for the time being, final episode was broadcast, the series is being brought to Switzerland by HBO Max. Although it won’t quite be out in time for the launch of the new platform, it’ll be streaming from 6 February (article in German).

My fellow editor Luca has already answered the key questions about the newly launched platform in this article:

What’s Heated Rivalry about?

The series centres around two ice hockey players – Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) from Canada and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie) from Russia. On the ice, they’re fierce rivals battling for pole position. In private, however, they’re having an intimate love affair – one with the potential to ruin their careers in one fell swoop.

The series is based on the novel of the same name, the second book in Rachel Reid’s Game Changers series. The six-volume series tells the stories of queer ice hockey players, with the plot surrounding Hollander and Rozanov forming just one part of it.

Why is the series so worth watching?

As a fan of queer romances, I immediately knew I’d watch the series. As it turns out, I loved every second of it.

Heated Rivalry gets off to a very intense start. Hollander and Rozanov get straight down to business, with their sex life taking up a considerable amount of screen time, particularly at the start. After all, sex sells. In fact, there’s a grand total of 14 sex scenes spread across the six episodes.

Over the years, however, their relationship goes from being primarily physical to something else entirely. The attraction between the two young men becomes emotional as well as sexual. But because of their work as ice hockey players and public image as bitter rivals, they’re unable to pursue their connection. Tensions arise – and the audience is drawn in too.

I don’t want to reveal anything else about the plot; it’s worth watching Shane and Ilya’s love story for yourself. It starts off with loads of sex, then ends up emotionally charged.

The series also sheds light on many ways that homophobia exists within society, including family rejection and industries that fail to welcome queer lifestyles. It’s a sad reality that some people currently working as professional athletes are unable to be open about their sexuality. Even in Swiss football, for example (linked page in German).

The critics love it too

Although it’s mostly been going viral for its sex scenes, the buzz around Heated Rivalry isn’t just happening on the internet. On the database website IMDb, the series has an average rating of 9.1 out of 10 stars, with over 60,000 votes (the last two episodes have even achieved ratings of 9.9). The series has also stood up to scrutiny from critics, garnering a recommendation rating of 98 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes.

Watson.ch says: «Heated Rivalry is a remarkable series. Viewers get excited about the characters, the trajectory from rivals to lovers is perfectly executed, and the ice hockey rivalry adds to the tension.»

The show is primarily targeted at a female audience – something that’s been the case with gay romances for decades. As the Hollywood Reporter puts it: «Who knew? It turned out to be exactly what female viewers have been longing for all along.»

Heated Rivalry’s success might even have a real-life impact on the sport of ice hockey. When the Hollywood Reporter asked a spokesperson for the professional National Hockey League about the hit series, they said: «There are so many ways to get hooked on hockey and, in the NHL’s 108-year history, this might be the most unique driver for creating new fans.»

A second season’s already been announced. In Switzerland, you’ll be able stream Heated Rivalry on HBO Max from 6 February.

Header image: Accent Aigu Entertainment, Bell Media

Cassie Mammone

Freelance Editor

cassie.mammone.freelance@gmail.com

I wrote my first text about video games when I was eight years old. I haven't been able to stop since. The rest of my time is spent on my love for 2D husbandos, monsters, my cats and sport.

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