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‘Heated Rivalry’ Drives Hockey Boom as Creator Sets Six-Episode Season 2 for Spring 2027

Bell Media is using a Sphere Abacus-backed distribution push to turn the Crave hit into a global export.

Overview

  • Queer and community leagues report sharp growth, with New York’s Pride Hockey Alliance logging 85,000–135,000 views on recent posts and a flood of new-player inquiries, and peers in Boston, Chicago and D.C. citing similar spikes.
  • London’s Streatham RedHawks say the club sold out the last three weekends and lifted ticket sales about 15 percent since the show’s UK rollout.
  • Google reports all-time highs for searches like “are there any gay hockey players” and a 10-year high for “hockey players,” reflecting the series’ carryover into broader fandom during the Olympic lead-up.
  • Creator Jacob Tierney reiterates a six-episode format and says Season 2 will not premiere until spring 2027, with plans to continue directing and to keep casting grounded in Canadian talent; HBO Max remains the U.S. distributor.
  • Bell Media credits its distribution strategy and Sphere Abacus partnership for preserving the show’s creative vision and securing international sales, as the property’s cultural reach now includes a sold-out Off-Broadway parody musical in March.