Heated Rivalry Season 2 Adds Five New Cast Members

The second season of the hit hockey romance series "Heated Rivalry" has expanded its cast with five new actors, including Emily Hampshire and Edvin Ryding. The new additions join previously announced leads Justice Smith and Charlie Gillespie for the upcoming season, which is slated for release in spring 2027.

Hampshire, known for her role as Stevie Budd in "Schitt's Creek," will play Vanessa. Ryding, recognized as Prince Wilhelm in Netflix's "Young Royals," has been cast as Luca Haas, a rookie player on the Ottawa Centaurs. The other new cast members are Robert Naylor as Wyatt Hayes, the team's starting goaltender; Sabrina Jalees as Farah Jalali, an agent; and Priyanka as Tarek. These characters are drawn from various novels in author Rachel Reid's "Game Changers" book series, which serves as the source material for the show.

The new season will continue the story of rival-turned-couple Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, played by returning stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie. Based on Reid's sixth novel, "The Long Game," the season will explore the pair's relationship a decade into their secret romance, as they navigate life together while hiding their feelings from the...