The cast of the breakout sports drama Heated Rivalry reunited on Thursday night at the 47th Annual GLAAD Media Awards, where the show took home the honour for Outstanding New TV Series. Stars Connor Storrie and François Arnaud joined series creator Jacob Tierney at the Beverly Hilton to accept the award, marking a significant milestone for the production that has become a global streaming sensation since its late 2025 debut. ‘Heated Rivalry’ Actors Connor Storrie and Francois Arnaud Spark Dating Rumours With Dinner Outing; Fans React, ‘Just Let Them Be!’.

Connor Storrie and Francois Arnaud at 47th GLAAD Media Awards

The win underscores the critical and commercial impact of Heated Rivalry, which follows the decade-long secret romance between two rival professional hockey stars, Ilya Rozanov (Storrie) and Shane Hollander (played by Hudson Williams).

Accepting the award alongside executive producer Brendan Brady and fellow cast members Robbie GK, Nadine Bhabha, and Christina Chang, the team was recognised for providing what GLAAD described as "fair, accurate, and inclusive representation" of the LGBTQ+ community.

Team ‘Heated Rivalry’ at GLAAD Media Awards 2026

 

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While Hudson Williams was unable to attend the ceremony in person, his presence was felt as the cast celebrated the show’s success in humanising queer experiences within the high-stakes, often traditional environment of professional sports.

From 'Cult Classic' to Global Hit

Based on the popular Game Changers novel series by Rachel Reid, the show was originally a Canadian production for Crave. It quickly expanded its reach after being acquired by HBO Max for international distribution, eventually becoming the most-watched original series on its home network.

Director Jacob Tierney, who also developed the series, has been praised for maintaining the emotional depth and explicit nature of the source material. Speaking on the red carpet earlier this year, Arnaud noted that while the "steamy" elements initially drew audiences in, the "heartbreaking" emotional journey of the characters is what ultimately resonated with viewers.

‘Heated Rivalry’ Season 2 Details

The GLAAD win comes during a busy period for the Heated Rivalry team. The series recently expanded its international footprint, launching on Lionsgate Play in India last month. ‘Heated Rivalry’ Renewed for Season 2: Hit Queer Sports Drama Series Locks April 2027 Release.

Fans of the "Hollander-Rozanov" saga have more to look forward to, as a second season has already been commissioned. Production is scheduled to begin this August, with a release targeted for April 2027. Meanwhile, Tierney is set to pivot to historical drama, recently announcing a new project for Netflix focused on the relationship between Alexander the Great and Aristotle.

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(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 06, 2026 03:44 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).