Heated Rivalry creator Jacob Tierney on Connor Storrie coming to terms with sudden stardom

The rapid rise of the Canadian hockey romance series Heated Rivalry has not only turned it into a cultural phenomenon but also thrust its young stars into unexpected levels of public attention. Creator Jacob Tierney recently shared insights into how actor Connor Storrie, who plays Russian hockey star Ilya Rozanov, is coping with the show’s meteoric success.

Tierney said Storrie is handling the spotlight in a healthy, offline way but admitted there was a moment it truly hit him how big the show has become. “We just saw Connor on Saturday. He’s very offline in a healthy way and he was like, ‘I think it just hit me how big this show is,’” Tierney recalled.

What surprised Storrie most, Tierney said, wasn’t a red carpet or awards presentation — it was seeing a four‑block‑long line of fans in Los Angeles waiting to get into a Heated Rivalry themed rave event. 

“When you asked him, ‘Was it when you presented at the Golden Globes?’ he was like, ‘No, it was that lineup that really shocked him,’” Tierney added, illustrating just how deeply the show’s fan culture has taken off.

Heated Rivalry was a bold gamble for Canadian streaming service Crave, which took a chance on the adaptation of Rachel Reid’s Game Changers novel series, trusting Tierney’s creative vision even when other studios wanted changes to the story’s tone. The show, which debuted in November 2025, quickly became Crave’s most‑watched original series and found an international audience after being picked up for streaming on HBO Max and other platforms. It has been praised for its emotional depth, high production values, and its candid portrayal of queer romance set within the traditionally macho world of professional hockey.

The series follows two rival players — Shane Hollander, played by Hudson Williams, and Ilya Rozanov, portrayed by Storrie — whose on‑ice rivalry conceals a deep and evolving romantic connection. Critical and audience enthusiasm has propelled both actors into the global spotlight, with Emmy talks, fan events, and international coverage becoming part of their daily realities.

Tierney and cast members have acknowledged the whirlwind of attention that’s followed. Williams has described the experience as “sort of exhausting” in recent interviews, likening the intense fan reactions to “Beatlemania” as the show swept through social media, awards circuits, and fan communities.