The impact was clearly evident on Thursday at the packed Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena, during a preliminary round Olympic hockey match between the United States and Czechia. 

Three mothers in their forties secured last-minute tickets to the event, inspired by the popular HBO Max drama, Heated Rivalry, which depicts two hockey rivals—one Canadian, one Russian—falling in love. Also present were three American college students studying in Italy, eager to discuss the series, a sentiment shared by Olympic hockey enthusiasts from Czechia, Scotland, and other nations. Erin Fox, 24, of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., stated, “I’ve attended a few [New York] Rangers games, and my father played hockey in high school, so I’ve always been familiar with the sport.” She added, “However, I specifically purchased a hockey ticket to watch the women play the Czech Republic, partly because I enjoy the show so much and wished to witness the sport firsthand.” The U.S. secured a 5-1 victory, with captain scoring in the effort.

Heated Rivalry, originally produced for the Canadian streaming service Crave, has become the most-viewed original series on that platform, according to. Furthermore, it holds the distinction of being the highest-rated non-animated acquired series on HBO Max since its 2020 debut. On a global scale, it has ranked as HBO Max’s leading program in Taiwan, the Philippines, Singapore, and Finland; according to, it has also entered the top 10 in Bulgaria, Thailand, and Sri Lanka.

Olympic organizers have swiftly moved to leverage the widespread popularity of Heated Rivalry. In January, Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, the actors portraying the show’s main characters, met with Gary Bettman, the NHL commissioner. Bettman, whose league’s players are competing in the Games for the first time since 2014, stated he watched the entire series in a single night, describing it as a “wonderful story.” The league believes that Heated Rivalry has attracted new enthusiasts to the sport.   

Caution: Spoilers are included below.

The series Heated Rivalry, which premiered on HBO Max in late November and has already secured a second season, depicts a decade-long secret affair between Shane Hollander, a superstar player for a fictional Montreal professional team portrayed by Williams, and Ilya Rozanov, who plays for Boston, portrayed by Storrie. Christina Singer, an aviation engineer from New Hampshire and a fan of the series, commented, “I believe it is certainly initiating a crucial discussion, highlighting that many LGBTQ+ athletes are hesitant to reveal their queer or gay identities.” She added, “And I think that is an area where the NHL, in particular, has significant progress to make.”

Williams has indicated that professional athletes from hockey, basketball, and football have contacted him, or author Rachel Reid, whose works serve as the foundation for the show, “somewhat anonymously” to disclose their closeted status. According to, three NHL teams have opted against a Pride Night format this season. Nevertheless, the NHL has assured that all fans of the series attending its games will receive a “warm welcome.”

The passionate love scenes between Hollander and Rozanov in Heated Rivalry caught some viewers off guard. Eni Filipi, 19, from Czechia, remarked, “It was somewhat surprising for me to watch this show initially, as I expected it to be solely about ice hockey, without any additional special or intense elements.”

Despite the initial surprise, the intimate scenes also garnered approval. Ashley Henderson, an advertising executive from Princeton, N.J., commented, “We frequently encounter passionate heterosexual narratives, so why not a passionate same-sex partner narrative?” She added, “I found it to be a truly refreshing new experience for audiences.” The storyline itself also captivated viewers. Many were moved to tears when a supporting character, New York player Scott Hunter, publicly came out by kissing his boyfriend, Kip, a smoothie shop barista, on television after securing the show’s equivalent of the Stanley Cup. Ann Marie Seybold, a junior at James Madison University currently studying abroad in Florence, stated, “As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, witnessing it on such a broad platform was beautiful.” She concluded, “It was both beautiful and courageous.” 

Adrienne Katz, a New York City-based producer, observed, “Queer audiences are currently highly attracted to it.” She continued, “It’s not a moment of tragedy or anything sorrowful. It encompasses numerous intersecting stories. I believe it caters to every segment of the community. I’m thrilled that it’s a show I can enjoy with my partner.”     

The public kiss between Scott and Kip prompts Rozanov to accept Hollander’s invitation for a summer stay at his Canadian cottage. While the secluded setting was intended for their relationship to progress privately, Hollander’s father unexpectedly finds them together. Subsequently, Hollander reveals his sexuality to his parents, with Rozanov, his supposed rival, present. Hollander’s parents offer their support, a moment that also deeply resonated with viewers. Henderson, who attended the U.S.-Czechia game with two childhood friends, stated, “We are mothers of three. We appreciated the mother’s reaction to discovering their relationship. We found it to be very beautiful.”

When prompted to choose between Hollander and Rozanov, the majority favored the Russian character, often citing his curly hair and Storrie’s successful portrayal of a Russian accent (despite the actor growing up in Odessa, Tex.). Enna McBride, 25, an electrical engineer at Ford Motor Company, replied, “Probably Ilya,” when asked which character she felt a stronger connection to, adding, “I’m chaotic.”

With a, the intense enthusiasm surrounding the series is expected to endure, at least throughout this month’s Milano Cortina Olympics. Elisha Black, a supporter of the Scottish professional team Fife Flyers, encouraged, “Individuals who wish to join us for a hockey game are absolutely welcome.” She continued, “It is irrelevant whether your interest stems from romance novels, television programs, or any other source; we greet you with open arms. We would be delighted to see you at our games. Hockey is a sport for everyone.”