‘Heated Rivalry’: Your Guide to All the Couples in the Game Changers Book Universe
Now that we’re in the Heated Rivalry off-season, you may be thinking, “What am I going to do with myself until hockey romance returns for Season 2?” Watching Season 1 for the umpteenth time is certainly an option, but there are also six whole books you can dive into. We highly recommend Rachel Reid’s Game Changers series, which the show is based on, but if you haven’t gotten around to reading it yet, Swooon can help you fill in the gaps.
Reid’s universe includes five couples. We already know two of them, obviously. First and foremost, there’s Shane (Hudson Williams) and Ilya (Connor Storrie), who are the subjects of Reid’s Heated Rivalry and The Long Game. Creator Jacob Tierney assured Swooon that they will always remain the focus of the show, but that’s not to say the other couples won’t come into the picture, à la Scott (François Arnaud) and Kip (Robbie G.K.). (Season 1’s “Hunter” episode covers most of Reid’s first book, Game Changer.)
That leaves three more romances for the show to cover. Tierney teased the arrival of one of them in the upcoming second season, so we thought we’d help out those who haven’t read Reid’s other books. Scroll for everything you need to know about the key players in the Game Changers series, including those who have been cast and those who are still pending. Tell us your favorite non-Hollanov pairing in the comments at the end of the page!
Heated Rivalry, Season 1, Streaming Now, Crave & HBO Max
Heated Rivalry, Season 2, TBA, Crave & HBO Max
Scott & Kip
Book: Game Changer
Other appearances: Heated Rivalry (Scott only), Common Goal, Role Model, The Long Game
Scott Hunter, as we’ve mentioned, is someone who viewers have already become acquainted with. In both the book and show, Scott is the 28-year-old captain of the New York Admirals hockey team, a position that he takes seriously. Scott’s parents died when he was a child, and he’s had to work for everything he has. As a result, he holds himself to a strict standard and always puts his team first — until he meets Kip. Scott has decided to keep his sexuality a secret while he plays in the NHL, so he’s never been in love before Kip.
Kip Grady is a 25-year-old smoothie barista when he meets Scott. An openly gay man, Kip is figuring his life out while he lives with his parents and pays off his student loans. He’s aiming to get a job at a history museum when we meet him in Game Changer. With a crew of close and supportive friends and family, he and Scott come from entirely different worlds, but they’re instantly drawn to each other when Scott becomes a regular at the smoothie shop. After they fall hard and fast, Kip has to decide if their relationship is worth being kept a secret.
Click here for a spoilery plot summary of Game Changer. Scott and Kip’s book and show journeys are slightly different, FYI!
Shane & Ilya
Books: Heated Rivalry, The Long Game, Unrivaled (upcoming)
Other appearances: Game Changer (Ilya only), Tough Guy, Common Goal, Role Model
Shane Hollander… Does this icon need any introduction? We’ll give you one anyway, just in case. Shane is hockey-obsessed. Being the best in his sport has always been his first priority. He’s strict on himself, anxious, and not the most outgoing of guys, and he’s struggling to come to terms with his attraction to men. As the fiercely competitive player dominates the NHL as the captain of the Montreal Voyageurs, he’s also keeping a bombshell of a secret: He’s been hooking up with his rival since his rookie season.
Ilya Rozanov: the man, the myth, the legend. Russian hockey star and Shane enter the draft at the same time, but they couldn’t be more different. Ilya’s confident, loud, and cool without trying, making a reputation as an obnoxious yet charming playboy. Like Shane, he’s keeping his sexuality a secret, though he’s bisexual rather than gay. Ilya puts on an unaffected front, but he’s struggling quite a bit internally. His dad and brother back in Russia are downright awful, and he hasn’t had an easy life.
Click here for a full rundown of Shane and Ilya’s continued journey in The Long Game. Reid is writing a third book about the couple, though, so we don’t know Hollanov’s endgame quite yet!
Fabian & Ryan
Book: Tough Guy
Other appearances: Heated Rivalry (Ryan only), Role Model (Ryan only), The Long Game
On-the-rise musician Fabian Salah knows exactly who he is. He’s a femme-presenting, out gay man, active in the Toronto LGBTQ+ scene, and he’s got a solid group of friends. The multi-instrumentalist and singer hasn’t made it big yet, working at a drugstore in the meantime, but he’s confident in himself. He’s unafraid to go for what he wants, including Ryan. Fabian hates hockey — his parents boarded hockey players in his house when he was a teenager. Fabian’s parents have never outright rejected him, but they aren’t totally supportive of him, either.
Ryan Price is one of those hockey players who lived in Fabian’s house back in the day. At a towering 6’7″, Ryan’s an NHL enforcer who’s been traded numerous times. But as intimidating as he is on the ice, Ryan is deeply anxious and insecure. He’s out as gay to his teammates and doesn’t actively hide it from the public. Ryan’s traded to Toronto, where he’s reunited with Fabian after having a crush on him when they were kids. As Fabian introduces Ryan to the gay scene and brings new joy into his life, Ryan questions whether or not he’s happy in the NHL.
Kyle & Eric
Book: Common Goal
Other appearances: Game Changer, Role Model
Kyle Swift is played by Matthew Finlan in the show. That’s right: The bartender from Episode 3 has his own story! Kyle doubles as a grad student and employee at the Kingfisher bar, where Kip and all of his friends hang out. Speaking of, Kyle has a major crush on Kip, though he knows it’s hopeless once Scott comes into the picture. Like Kip, Kyle is seriously smart when it comes to art and history. He’s mature and self-assured, though he was forced to grow up too fast. When he was 18, he began an affair with an older, married man, which was later exposed to his entire town and drove a wedge between him and his parents. He’s sworn off older men… until he meets Eric.
Eric Bennett, the 41-year-old goaltender for the New York Admirals, is on the verge of a major life change. Not only has he just divorced his wife, but he’s also considering retiring from the NHL. He’s a Harvard grad with a passion for art, and his reserved, elegant personality makes him stand apart from most of his teammates. Eric wants to explore his bisexuality by dating men for the first time, which is where the experienced Kyle comes in. After they cross paths at the Kingfisher, Eric and Kyle become friends, later falling into a friends-with-benefits arrangement.
Troy & Harris
Book: Role Model
Other appearances: Tough Guy (Troy only), The Long Game
Troy Barrett is the newest addition to the Ottawa Centaurs, joining shortly after Ilya does. Troy comes from the Toronto Guardians, where he was best friends with the star player and biggest bully in the league, Dallas Kent. When Kent is accused of sexual assault, Troy publicly calls him out, which leads to the team getting rid of him. Once Troy gets to Ottawa, he’s hit rock bottom. He’s also dealing with a messy breakup from his secret boyfriend, so the introspective winger has walls up when he meets Ottawa’s lovable crew. Troy’s new circumstances inspire him to actively be a better and more open person — as does Ottawa’s bubbly social media manager.
Harris Drover — you guessed it — is said bubbly social media manager. He’s pretty much sunshine personified, unlike Troy. He’s publicly out as gay, is friends with everyone on the team, and always has a smile on his face. Harris was also born with a heart defect, which has resulted in multiple surgeries throughout his life, but don’t mistake him for fragile. The perceptive Harris immediately picks up on the fact that Troy is struggling, so he offers his support and friendship as the player adjusts to his new surroundings.
