Connor Storrie, who stars as Russian hockey player Ilya Rozanov in the breakout romance Heated Rivalry, gave viewers an early update on the show’s highly anticipated second season during his morning television appearance ahead of TODAY’s broadcast. While fans are eager for details, Storrie’s comments suggest that Season 2 is still in the works but moving closer to production.

During his TODAY interview, Storrie explained that Heated Rivalry creator Jacob Tierney is still putting the finishing touches on Season 2’s script, and confirmed that filming could begin sooner rather than later. He told host Craig Melvin, “I think Jacob’s still writing it… I think we’re going to be filming,” hinting at an early summer start even though exact dates have not yet been set.

Craig Melvin, the host, asked if by “soon” Storrie meant this summer to which the breakout star replied: “Yeah, I think about then”.

Storrie also shared insights into why Heated Rivalry has resonated so strongly with audiences, pointing to the emotional depth of the characters and the chemistry between himself and co‑star Hudson Williams, who plays Canadian rival, and love interest, Shane Hollander. He noted that beyond surface‑level drama, “these characters really like each other. They love each other,” underscoring how their connection has helped drive the series’ success.

Heated Rivalry, based on Rachel Reid’s Game Changers novels, became a global phenomenon after its late‑2025 premiere on Crave and HBO Max, combining sports drama with intimate romance and character‑driven storytelling.

The show was officially renewed for a second season last December, with creator Tierney confirming that future episodes will continue following the evolving relationship between Shane and Ilya.