Heated Rivalry began as a simple streaming show and quickly became a global obsession, with viewers swooning over its romance, rich storytelling, and the actors’ impressive performances. Based on the romance novel of the same name, which is now also the bestselling romance book in the US, the series follows the story of two hockey rivals, Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, whose rivalry slowly turns into love.

After a strong first season, fans are eagerly waiting for season two. While the wait will be almost a year, there is hype around a special episode in the meantime, hinted at by none other than Bell Media’s Justin Stockman

Even to HBO’s surprise, the success of Heated Rivalry Season 1 paved the way for a second season, which was officially renewed on December 12, 2025; however, Season 2 is not expected to arrive until February 2027. But in the meantime, fans may have an extra episode to obsess over. Justin Stockman, Vice President of Content Development and Programming at Bell Media, which owns the show's streamer Crave, has hinted at the possibility of a standalone special episode.

"We’re going to see what’s feasible. If [Jacob] can find a way to make the source material work in a way that gets us something sooner or something special, I’m sure he will," Stockman told Toronto Star.

"I would love to have this back for the holidays next year, but that likely is not going to happen. We can’t rush the process. We won’t be able to repeat the magic if we push him [Jacob]," Stockman continued while talking to the outlet. Since the news broke out, many fans have speculated how this episode could be based on Rachel Reid’s 'epilogue prologue,' referenced in the book. This section spoke about Shane and Ilya hosting a dinner at Shane’s house with his teammate and best friend, Hayden Pike, along with Hayden’s wife, Jackie. 

With the author currently working on a third book centered on Shane and Ilya, more stories and potentially more seasons or episodes seem likely. For now, however, nothing has been confirmed, leaving fans to revisit Rachel Reid’s Game Changers novels, rewatch the series, or share heartfelt stories about the show’s impact.

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Heated Rivalry's influence and the impact it created are unmatched. So much so that it even inspired a former hockey player, Jesse Kortuem, to publicly come out.

Former defenseman and center Jesse Kortuem has struggled for years to speak openly about his identity. He shared how it was difficult for him to fully embrace both his identity and his career as a player. However, Kortuem recently revealed that the hit series Heated Rivalry inspired him to share his story. 

"Never in my life did I think something so positive and loving could come from such a masculine sport," he said in his Instagram post.

Speaking to Out, Kortuem spoke about the show’s success and described it as something positive coming from a traditionally masculine sport. So, until a special or Season 2 arrives, these heartwarming stories will help fans to wait for more and better. 

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Do you think a special episode of Heated Rivalry will happen? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.