The cultural impact of a groundbreaking television series is being felt powerfully in Calgary, moving far beyond the screen and into local bookstores, bars, and community conversations. The show, Heated Rivalry, based on Canadian author Rachel Reid's Game Changers book series, has ignited an "unbelievable" level of interest in the city.
From Screen to Sold-Out Events
The series, which stars Kamloops-native Hudson Williams and Texan Connor Storrie as rival professional hockey players who secretly fall in love, premiered on Crave from November 28 to December 26. Its success has been rapid and profound, becoming Crave's most-watched original production to date and securing international distribution, including on HBO Max in the United States.
In Calgary, this popularity has translated into tangible excitement. Downtown bar Dickens has scheduled two Heated Rivalry-inspired events for next month, including a gay hockey-themed dance party hosted by LGBTQ+ event producer Detour YYC. Tickets sold out rapidly after going on sale, catching even venue owners by surprise.
"It was unbelievable," said Dickens owner Chris Hewitt. "I don't think anyone really predicted that was going to happen." Hewitt described the series as creating a "lightning rod moment for culture" that people are eager to be part of, citing a widespread feeling of "happiness and hopefulness" emanating from the show.
A Surge in Demand for Inclusive Stories
The phenomenon is also driving readers to local bookstores. Sammie Jolliffe, owner of the romance-focused Forbidden Library in Lake Bonavista, has seen a major surge in demand for the original Heated Rivalry novel and books about gay hockey players. The television adaptation has directly boosted sales of the source material, proving the powerful synergy between the two formats.
Blake Spence, owner of Detour YYC, says the series has "taken the world by storm" by offering an uplifting queer narrative—a relative rarity. "It has a really nice, happy story, which I think we're not used to as LGBTQ people," Spence explained. "We're often used to the stories being sad or traumatic, so it was really nice to see just a lovely romance unfold to the tune of hockey."
Sparking Vital Conversations About Hockey Culture
Beyond entertainment, the show is renewing crucial dialogues about inclusivity and safety in hockey. Spence, who started playing at age five, notes that hockey has long been a "stereotypical masculine environment" often tinged with homophobia, making it an unsafe space for many to come out.
His personal journey led him back to the sport through the Calgary Inclusive Hockey Association in 2015, and he later helped found the Calgary Renegades, another team dedicated to providing a safe, welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ players. "A lot of us had that experience growing up where we felt like we didn't fit in, or we didn't belong, based upon the language that was used and the way people carried themselves," Spence said. "Many of us stopped playing and then re-found the sport again as adults."
The success of Heated Rivalry and the community response in Calgary highlight a growing appetite for diverse stories and more inclusive spaces in traditionally rigid cultural arenas. With author Rachel Reid announcing a new book in the series for September 2026, this cultural moment shows no signs of slowing down.
