Heated Rivalry Season 2 casts Justice Smith and Charlie Gillespie as Harris Drover and Troy Barrett

For months we’ve known that production on Heated Rivalry Season 2 was expected to begin sometime this fall, and today, Crave has given us our first official update on what’s next. The Canadian streamer has announced the first new cast members joining the next chapter of the beloved LGBTQ+ hockey drama.

Alongside the returning Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie as Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, respectively, Crave confirmed that Justice Smith (I Saw the TV Glow, Now You See Me: Now You Don’t) and Charlie Gillespie (Julie and the Phantoms, One Night Only, Splitsville) have been cast as Harris Drover and Troy Barrett.

In a statement released alongside the announcement, Jacob Tierney and Brendan Brady shared why Justice Smith and Charlie Gillespie felt like the right choices for Harris and Troy. “Rachel Reid has given us two beautifully layered characters in Harris and Troy who you can’t help but root for. From the start of the casting process, we knew we were looking for actors who could create something truly special together and bring that same depth and heart to the screen. Justice and Charlie do exactly that. They immediately connected with the vulnerability and resilience of these characters, bringing an instinctive understanding of who Harris and Troy are.”

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While Heated Rivalry follows Shane and Ilya’s love story, fans of Rachel Reid’s Game Changers series know the books are deeply interconnected. Season 2 is expected to draw primarily from The Long Game (Book #6), but Harris and Troy’s introduction shouldn’t come as a surprise. Their romance unfolds in Role Model (Book #5), which takes place alongside the events of The Long Game, much like Season 1 incorporated elements from Game Changer (Book #1) to introduce Scott (François Arnaud) and Kip (Robbie G.K.).

Season 1 didn’t limit itself to adapting Heated Rivalry (Book #2) alone. By weaving Scott and Kip’s story into the series, it expanded the world beyond Shane and Ilya while also adapting key moments that helped move their relationship forward. Harris and Troy serve a similar purpose in the later books. As Troy develops a friendship with Ilya and begins confronting what it means to live openly as a gay hockey player, his journey becomes closely intertwined with Shane and Ilya’s own. Bringing those stories together on screen feels like a natural continuation of the adaptation’s approach.

Without getting too deep into spoiler territory, Harris is the social media manager for Ottawa’s hockey team. After multiple open-heart surgeries, he’s chosen to meet life with optimism, empathy, and an unwavering belief in the good in people. Troy, meanwhile, arrives in Ottawa after being traded in the wake of a league-wide scandal involving his former best friend, whose abuse allegations leave him carrying an enormous amount of guilt, fear, and emotional baggage. Reserved and guarded, Troy has spent years convincing himself that keeping people at arm’s length is the safest way to survive—including hiding the fact that he’s another gay player in professional hockey.

If you’ve read Role Model, you already know why so many fans were eager to find out who would play Harris and Troy. Their relationship is built on patience, trust, and the belief that people can grow when they’re given the space to be themselves. Harris encourages Troy to stop hiding, while Troy gives Harris the kind of unconditional love he’s spent so much of his life offering to everyone else. It’s easy to see why they’ve become one of the most beloved couples in the Game Changers series.

Of course, the casting announcement has already sparked some discussion among readers. Harris is explicitly described in Rachel Reid’s novels as stocky and rugged, and for many fans, that physicality is an important part of who he is. It’s understandable that readers who were hoping to see that kind of body representation brought to the screen may feel disappointed by the casting of Justice Smith, whose physical appearance doesn’t fully align with the way Harris is described in the novels.

We understand those reactions. Meaningful representation comes in many forms, and body diversity is still something we’d love to see more of in LGBTQ+ stories on television. At the same time, we’re choosing to trust the creative team and wait to see how they approach Harris’ story before rushing to conclusions. Adaptations inevitably make changes, and what matters most is whether they preserve the heart of these characters and the relationship that has resonated so deeply with readers.

Besides, Justice Smith joining Heated Rivalry also means another openly queer actor is stepping into the world of Rachel Reid’s stories, something we’re always happy to see in LGBTQ+ productions. Authentic representation matters both on and off screen, and we’re excited to see another queer actor become part of a series that continues to put LGBTQ+ stories front and center.

Beyond that, both Smith and Gillespie have shown they can balance vulnerability, humor, and emotional honesty—qualities that are absolutely essential for Harris and Troy’s relationship. As with Shane and Ilya, everything comes down to whether these two can make us believe in the relationship. We’re hopeful they’ll capture everything that has made this couple such a favorite among Game Changers readers.

Now comes the hard part: waiting until Spring 2027. If Justice Smith and Charlie Gillespie capture even a fraction of what makes Harris and Troy so special on the page, we’re probably not ready for what’s coming.

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Season 1 of Heated Rivalry is available to stream on Crave (Canada), HBO Max (U.S. & Other Regions), Sky (New Zealand, UK), and Movistar Plus+ (Spain). Follow us on X and Instagram for all queer stuff!

Featured Image: Image Courtesy of Crave and HBO Max.