Jacob Tierney teases major epilogue moment in Heated Rivalry season 2

Heated Rivalry season 2 will adapt a key epilogue moment, with Shane Hollander’s coming out set to unfold onscreen

Showrunner Jacob Tierney has confirmed that Heated Rivalry season 2 will bring one of the book series’ most significant moments to the screen — Shane Hollander coming out to his hockey team. 

The revelation came during Tierney’s appearance on the Loon Call Podcast, where he discussed the upcoming adaptation of Rachel Reid’s novel The Long Game.

Tierney emphasized that such a pivotal character milestone could not happen off-screen in a television format. “I’m gonna have to do Shane coming out to his team. I can’t do that off-screen… You have to see it. You have to experience it yourself,” he explained, highlighting the importance of visual storytelling for emotionally charged moments.

"Spoiler S2, I'm gonna have to do Shane coming out to his team. I can't do that off screen. I can't have somebody tell you about a thing that is that important that happened, you have to see it. You have to experience it yourself."

i love the fact that it wasn't even a question… pic.twitter.com/dbggeV4cUH

— Sab✨💚 (@SabbiBou) February 9, 2026

In Reid’s original Heated Rivalry book, the scene appears in the epilogue and is largely conveyed in retrospect rather than through fully developed dialogue. However, the TV adaptation aims to expand the sequence, offering viewers a deeper look at team reactions and Shane’s emotional journey. The decision reflects the show’s broader approach of transforming smaller narrative beats from the novels into impactful on-screen drama.

Season 2 is expected to follow the events of The Long Game, continuing the story of Shane and Ilya as they navigate personal challenges and professional pressures. Tierney also hinted that additional moments referenced briefly in the books could receive fuller treatment in the series.

The first season earned praise for its character-driven storytelling, raising expectations for the next installment. With production focusing on major emotional arcs and fan-favorite scenes, the upcoming season is shaping up to be a packed continuation that could further strengthen the show’s growing audience.

While a premiere date has not yet been announced, anticipation remains high as fans await the return of the hockey romance drama.