Heated Rivalry stars to carry torch at Winter Olympics

The breakout actors of Heated Rivalry, the hit gay hockey drama that has rapidly become a cultural phenomenon, are set to take centre stage at the 2026 Winter Olympics as official torchbearers.

Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie - who play rival hockey stars Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov in the acclaimed series - will join the Olympic Torch Relay ahead of the Milano Cortina Games, with the relay concluding at the opening ceremony on 6 February in Milan. Their involvement was confirmed by HBO Max and the Games’ organisers this week, though exact dates and locations along the relay route have yet to be announced.

Heated Rivalry, produced originally for Canada’s Crave, has enjoyed an explosive rise since its November 2025 debut. Its depiction of a secret, years‑long romance between two elite hockey players has drawn widespread praise and attracted a global fanbase. The show has already been renewed for a second series, with filming expected to begin in summer 2026.

Both Williams, 24, and Storrie, 25, have seen their profiles skyrocket, going from working as waiters shortly before being cast to becoming overnight sensations, with appearances on major US talk shows and high‑profile red‑carpet events including the Golden Globes earlier this month. 

The series - adapted from Rachel Reid’s Game Changers novels - has been credited with sparking broader conversations around LGBTQ+ visibility in ice hockey. Its international success has inspired fan communities across North America and beyond, and even prompted real‑life players to speak openly about identity and inclusion.

Williams and Storrie’s role in this year’s Olympic festivities marks a symbolic convergence of sport, entertainment, and representation. While their characters once competed in the fictional portrayal of the 2014 Sochi Olympics, the actors will now take part in the real‑world Games - not on the ice, but as two of the 10,001 participants carrying the Olympic flame across Italy.

The torch, which began its journey in November, is currently travelling through northern cities including Venice and Trieste before reaching Milan for the opening ceremony.