The announcement of two new additions to the cast of Season 2 of the popular hockey romance series, “Heated Rivalry,” has sparked mixed reactions among fans. Crave has officially confirmed that Justice Smith and Charlie Gillespie will be joining the cast for the upcoming season.
Charlie Gillespie, who is from New Brunswick and was recently seen in the film “One Night Only,” will portray Troy Barrett, a forward for the Ottawa Centaurs. Justice Smith, known for his roles in various films and TV shows, will play Harris Drover, the Centaurs’ social media manager.
The characters of Troy and Harris are central to the fifth book, “Role Model,” in Rachel Reid’s “Game Changers” series, on which “Heated Rivalry” is based. The second season of the show will continue to follow the main characters from the first season, Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander, while incorporating the story of Troy and Harris.
Director Jacob Tierney and producer Brendan Brady expressed their confidence in the casting choices, highlighting the actors’ ability to bring depth and authenticity to the characters. However, some fans have raised concerns about the casting of Justice Smith as Harris, noting that it missed an opportunity for more representation of diverse body types on screen.
Despite the mixed reactions, fans are eagerly anticipating the release of Season 2 in Spring 2027. Filming has already commenced, with fans closely following updates on the show’s progress. Director Jacob Tierney has urged fans to respect the cast and crew’s privacy during filming.