Heated Rivalry Sets Record with 16 Wins at Screen Awards

The hockey drama "Heated Rivalry" was the dominant winner at the 2026 Canadian Screen Awards, securing a record-setting 16 awards overall. The series won the top prize for best drama series during Sunday night's televised ceremony from the CBC Broadcast Centre in Toronto, where star Hudson Williams also won best lead performance.

Williams, who portrays hockey player Shane Hollander, thanked his co-star Connor Storrie, calling him an honorary Canadian. He said he wished he could split the award with Storrie, whose performance as rival player Ilya Rozanov he credited for elevating his own work. Storrie, an American actor, was not eligible for the Canadian awards. The show's creator, Jacob Tierney, said the series' ineligibility for major U.S. awards like the Emmys, due to its Canadian production, was acceptable to him.

The Sunday wins capped a strong week for the series, which had already won 13 awards at a scripted television gala on Saturday. Those earlier honors included best direction and best writing for Tierney. Based on the bestselling "Game Changers" book series by Rachel Reid, "Heated Rivalry" follows the secret romantic relationship between two professional hockey...