Two fresh faces are set to join the upcoming Season 2 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 portray the character of Ryan Price, a hockey player. Welsh actor Shaheen Jafargholi will take on the role of Fabian Salah, a musician and Ryan’s love interest, who will also appear in the HBO series “War.”
The characters Ryan and Fabian are the central figures in the third book of Rachel Reid’s bestselling hockey romance series, “Game Changers,” titled “Tough Guy.” The narrative follows pro hockey enforcer Ryan as he moves to the Toronto team and encounters Fabian, an aspiring musician he shared a moment with in high school. Despite the years that have passed, their chemistry reignites, but a possible future together may require Ryan to make a difficult decision regarding his hockey career.
Writer Jacob Tierney and producer Brendan Brady expressed their excitement about the addition of Daniel and Shaheen to the series, highlighting the unique energy and complexity they bring to the characters of Fabian and Ryan. The first season of the show adapted the initial two books of Reid’s series, “Game Changer” and “Heated Rivalry.”
Season 2 of “Heated Rivalry” will continue to follow the evolving relationship between 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 in the TV adaptation. Additionally, the upcoming season will incorporate the narratives of Troy Barrett, a hockey player traded to Ilya’s new team, and Harris Dover, a social media manager, from the fifth novel of the series, “Role Model.”
The latest cast additions include Justice Smith as Harris and Charlie Gillespie, known for his role in “Julie and the Phantoms,” as Troy. Furthermore, familiar faces like Emily Hampshire from “Schitt’s Creek” and drag queen Priyanka will also join the ensemble.
“Heated Rivalry” Season 2 is scheduled to premiere in the spring of 2027.