Two fresh faces are set to join the Season 2 lineup of Crave’s popular hockey series, “Heated Rivalry.” Canadian actor Daniel Diemer, recognized for his role as Tyson in the TV series “Percy Jackson and the Olympians,” will take on the character of hockey player Ryan Price. Welsh actor Shaheen Jafargholi will portray his romantic interest, musician Fabian Salah. Jafargholi is also slated to feature in the HBO show “War.”
The characters Ryan and Fabian are the central figures in the third book of Rachel Reid’s bestselling hockey romance series, “Game Changers,” titled “Tough Guy.” The narrative follows professional hockey enforcer Ryan as he moves to the Toronto team and encounters Fabian, an aspiring musician from his past. Despite their shared history, their attraction is palpable, setting the stage for a potential future together that may require Ryan to give up his hockey career.
Writer Jacob Tierney and producer Brendan Brady expressed enthusiasm for the addition of Diemer and Jafargholi to the series, praising their ability to embody the complex and captivating personas of Ryan and Fabian. Season 1 of the show adapted the first two books in Reid’s series, while Season 2 will continue to explore the evolving relationship between Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, the main characters from Reid’s novel “The Long Game,” portrayed by Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie.
Additionally, Season 2 will integrate the stories of Troy Barrett, a hockey player traded to Ilya’s new team, and Harris Dover, a social media manager, from the fifth book in the series, “Role Model.” New cast members include Justice Smith as Harris and Charlie Gillespie as Troy, along with Emily Hampshire from “Schitt’s Creek” and drag queen Priyanka.
The upcoming season of “Heated Rivalry” is scheduled to debut in spring 2027.