Two fresh faces are set to join the second season 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. Meanwhile, Welsh actor Shaheen Jafargholi, known for his role in the HBO series “War,” will portray musician Fabian Salah, Ryan’s love interest. The duo plays the lead roles in Rachel Reid’s acclaimed hockey romance series, specifically in the third novel titled “Tough Guy.”
The novel narrates the tale of Ryan, a professional hockey enforcer who gets traded to Toronto and encounters Fabian, an aspiring musician he shared a nearly intimate moment with during high school. Despite the passage of time, their chemistry sparks once again. However, their potential future together may require Ryan to bid farewell to his hockey career.
According to a press statement by writer Jacob Tierney and producer Brendan Brady, Daniel and Shaheen embody the distinct energies of their characters in Rachel Reid’s world. They bring a mix of boldness, complexity, and intrigue to the roles, impressively capturing the essence of Fabian and Ryan. Season 1 of the series adapted the first two books in Reid’s series, “Game Changer” and “Heated Rivalry.”
The upcoming season will continue to follow the love story of hockey rivals-turned-lovers Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov from Reid’s novel “The Long Game,” with Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie reprising their roles. Additionally, the new season will intertwine the narratives of Troy Barrett, a hockey player traded to Ilya’s team, and Harris Dover, a social media manager, from the fifth book in the series, “Role Model.”
New cast additions include Justice Smith as Harris and Charlie Gillespie as Troy. Emily Hampshire from “Schitt’s Creek” and drag queen Priyanka are also part of the new ensemble. The second season of “Heated Rivalry” is scheduled to premiere in spring 2027.