Culture minister calls hockey romance Heated Rivalry a CanCon triumph
Culture Minister Marc Miller says Crave’s Heated Rivalry is a Canadian content success, praising its cast, bilingual themes and international reach.
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By Torontoer Staff
Culture Minister Marc Miller says the Crave original series Heated Rivalry is a CanCon triumph, after watching the first episode and praising its plot and cultural reach. The series, a romance about professional hockey players on rival teams, has drawn large audiences in Canada and abroad.
Based on romance novels by Nova Scotia author Rachel Reid, Heated Rivalry has already been renewed for a second season and is available on HBO Max in the United States. Miller and other federal politicians have visited production studios and publicly endorsed the show as an example of Canadian storytelling doing well internationally.
Why ministers are watching
Miller told The Canadian Press he found the series engaging and that it breaks down stereotypes around professional hockey. He noted the show is written and directed by Jacob Tierney and features Canadian and Quebec talent such as Hudson Williams, François Arnaud and Sophie Nélisse. The score is by Quebec musician Peter Peter.
It seems to have gained immense popularity. It’s happening all over the world, in North America and elsewhere. It’s pretty cool to see. That doesn’t happen to every program with Canadian content.
Marc Miller
How the series positions Canadian culture
Miller pointed to several elements that make Heated Rivalry feel distinctly Canadian: production in Ontario, scenes that highlight both English and French culture in Montreal, and a soundtrack by a Quebec composer. The show has been promoted through fan events across the country, from viewing parties to themed trivia nights.
- Shot largely in Toronto and Hamilton, with Montreal storylines that engage English and French perspectives
- Heavy involvement from Canadian cast and crew, including writer-director Jacob Tierney
- Score composed by Quebec artist Peter Peter
- Strong debut viewership on Crave and distribution on HBO Max in the U.S.
The program’s attention to LGBTQ storylines has also attracted comment from politicians and audiences. Miller said the show tackles issues often treated as taboo in hockey culture, and he praised its resonance with LGBTQ viewers.
It is racy. People have to be ready for that. There’s a lot of people going gaga over it for a lot of reasons that don’t resonate with me, but I like it and so I’m going to keep watching.
Marc Miller
Political interest and production support
Miller and MP Rob Oliphant toured Dark Slope Studios in Scarborough to see the production work on Heated Rivalry. Oliphant, who is the member of Parliament for Don Valley West, praised the show on social media and in interviews for its quality and for reflecting Canadian values around inclusion and human rights.
I’m not only proud of it because it’s a gay theme, I’m not only proud because it’s Canadian, but also because it is really well done. The show reminds its audience what Canada is about. We’re about human rights, we’re about inclusion, we’re about hockey.
Rob Oliphant
Miller said the federal government helped finance the series, contributing roughly three and a half million dollars plus applicable tax credits. He noted that the project had been passed on by several potential buyers before Crave picked it up, and he framed the public investment as yielding strong cultural and economic returns.
The minister also pointed out a lighter cultural nod within the series, noting a line that references the federal Treasury Board. He said that moment made the department look unexpectedly glamorous, a small but welcome piece of local humour.
Fan culture and what’s next
Heated Rivalry set a record for the biggest debut audience of any Crave Original. The show’s popularity has inspired a range of public events, from improv comedy nights to themed dances. Ottawa Tourism has even updated its social media bio to call the city the birthplace of Shane Hollander, one of the show’s central characters, and Ottawa is expected to factor into season two.
Production studio executives told Miller that the project faced initial rejections but later found a successful home with Crave, and the government’s financial support helped make the series possible. The combination of domestic talent, locations and themes has translated into international interest and commercial momentum.
What this means for Canadian television
Miller said he hopes Heated Rivalry will draw more attention to Canadian productions and encourage viewers to look for homegrown stories. The series demonstrates that locally made content, when well executed, can cross borders and start cultural conversations that extend beyond entertainment.
With a second season confirmed and continued political and public interest, Heated Rivalry is likely to remain a reference point for discussions about Canadian content, representation in sport narratives and the country’s growing export of television drama.
The Canadian Press first reported the minister’s comments on Jan. 15, 2026.
Heated RivalryCanConCraveMarc MillerLGBTQhockeyCanadian TV
