One of the standout revelations of 2025 has been the hit series Heated Rivalry on HBO Max. This captivating Canadian show quickly captured viewers when it premiered over Thanksgiving weekend, drawing them into the intense love story between two young, closeted hockey players, Shane Hollander, portrayed by Hudson Williams, and Ilya Rozanov, brought to life by Connor Storrie.

In recent episodes, audiences have been enthralled as Shane and Ilya engage in secretive rendezvous at hotels, share intimate moments over tuna melt lunches, and edge ever closer to openly expressing their deep-seated feelings for each other.

The latest episode concluded with a dramatic twist as fellow athlete Scott Hunter, played by François Arnaud, made a bold public declaration of his love for boyfriend Kip (Robbie G.K.) after his team’s championship win. This courageous act spurred Ilya to accept Shane’s invitation to spend the summer at his secluded cottage in Canada.

As fans anticipate the unfolding events, questions arise: Will Shane and Ilya relish two weeks of hidden romance? Will their secret tryst come to light? And how faithfully does the HBO Max adaptation follow Rachel Reid’s original novel? Here’s a comprehensive look at the climactic conclusion of Heated Rivalry Season 1 on HBO Max…

Heated Rivalry Season 1 Ending Explained:

The majority of Episode 6, aptly titled “The Cottage,” is set against the picturesque backdrop of Shane Hollander’s retreat. Following an opening scene where Scott Hunter is awarded the league’s MVP, the action swiftly shifts to Ilya, who discreetly joins Shane in his unassuming car at Ottawa airport. Their two-hour journey culminates at Shane’s stunning abode, setting the stage for a blissful getaway.

When the two aren’t in each other’s arms or playfully talking smack, they are finally opening up about their feelings. Ilya reveals that his mother Irina died by suicide when he was twelve and that he’s been thinking about moving to a Canadian team, in the hopes of eventually getting Canadian citizenship. Shane concocts a plan where Ilya could transfer to Ottawa and they could publicly broach a friendship by starting a charity together. Finally, Ilya confesses his love for Shane (in English) and Shane says, “I love you, too,” in return.

Everything is going great until Shane’s father (Dylan Walsh) arrives at the cottage and sees his son canoodling with his sworn nemesis. When Mr. Hollander leaves quickly, Shane panics. Ilya comforts him and suggests they go to Shane’s parents’ nearby house. There, Shane reveals he’s gay — which his parents admit they suspected — and he’s been hooking up with Ilya since their rookie days — which they are stunned by. Both Ilya and Shane reveal they are in love with each other.

After a tender conversation with his mother Yuna (Christina Chang), all seems okay for Shane, but he freaks out when she starts to broach ambitious plans to reach out to the companies he has endorsements with to speed run his coming out. Ilya comforts Shane by calling himself his boyfriend. Mrs. Hollander agrees to pump the breaks on her plans.

Heated Rivalry Season 1 ends with Shane’s parents learning about his affair with Ilya and accepting them both. The final shot of the season is of the two young lovers driving home together, tenderly holding hands as they take on the open road.

How Is the Ending of HBO Max’s Heated Rivalry Different from the Rachel Reid Book?

When DECIDER spoke with Heated Rivalry stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie two weeks back, we asked them what they could tease for book fans about the final episode and they came to a small disagreement about how much it veers from its beloved source material.

“No, I mean, I think it’s very, very true to the book,” Connor Storrie said. “That’s my favorite episode, personally. That’s my favorite part of the entire thing.” 

“There is some difference in Episode 6 versus the end of Heated Rivalry I hope [fans] enjoy,” Hudson Williams said.”But I think the sort of soul of it and the sentiment is very —”

“What are you talking about? I don’t remember that at all,” Storrie said. “We obviously won’t say anything, but I don’t know what he’s talking about.”

Williams whispered that showrunner Jacob Tierney ended the season slightly different and that’s true! Rachel Reid’s book ends with one last scene, the one in which Ilya and Shane officially launch their mental health charity.

Will There Be a Heated Rivalry Season 2?

Yes! Crave, the Canadian channel behind Heated Rivalry, has already renewed the global smash hit for a second season. That said, it’s still unclear if the next season will focus primarily on Shane and Ilya’s story, as continued in Rachel Reid’s The Long Game, or tackle the next romance in the Game Changers series, Tough Guy.

Tough Guy follows Ryan Price, a hockey player whom Shane and Ilya talk about in Episode 4. Does that hat tip to Ryan Price mean we’ll meet him in Season 2?