Jacob Tierney on creating the chemistry between Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie in 'Heated Rivalry'

'What you remember, what grounds you, is the other person. Your love is what grounds you,' Tierney told the stars

Heated Rivalry creator Jacob Tierney is shedding light on how he built the powerful chemistry between stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, whose on-screen relationship has become a central part of the series’ emotional appeal.

The hockey drama, based on Rachel Reid’s popular novel, follows the complicated romance between two rival NHL players — Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov — played by Williams and Storrie. As the series explores their relationship across years of competition, secrecy and growing affection, Tierney said creating subtle tension between the characters was key to telling their story.

One scene he focused on was the moment the two characters are drafted into the NHL — a life-changing day that also marks a significant turning point in their connection.

“What I wanted to try to capture was, when you think back to the day you were drafted, all you remember was standing next to Ilya. All you remember was seeing him across that room,” Tierney said. “What people were saying to you kind of washed over you and you weren't paying attention to.”

For Tierney, the emotional center of the moment wasn’t the crowd or the announcements, but the characters’ connection to each other.

“But what you remember, what grounds you, is the other person. Your love is what grounds you,” he explained.

Tierney also told the actors that tension should be present even when their characters weren’t physically close, emphasizing the importance of restraint in their performances.

“The other thing that I said to them a lot was, whenever you guys are in a scene together and you're not touching, that requires so much effort,” he said. “You want, I want to feel the idea that you want to be next to the other person. You want to be in physical contact with them and you're not.”

Since its debut, Heated Rivalry has gained a passionate fanbase for its blend of sports drama and queer romance, with viewers praising the chemistry between Williams and Storrie as well as the series’ emotional storytelling. Tierney’s direction, he said, was always focused on making the relationship feel authentic, built not just through dialogue or physical intimacy, but through the quiet pull between two people who can’t stay away from each other.