‘Heated Rivalry’: Who Are Troy Barrett & Harris Drover? Get to Know the Characters

Heated Rivalry‘s roster just got bigger! While Shane (Hudson Williams) and Ilya’s (Connor Storrie) romance will center Season 2, another couple’s love story will play out alongside theirs. We’re talking about none other than Troy and Harris, the leads of author Rachel Reid’s Role Model. The characters will be brought to life by Charlie Gillespie and Justice Smith in Season 2.

Similar to Season 1’s Scott (François Arnaud) and Kip (Robbie G.K) — who also have their own book in Reid’s Game Changers series — Troy and Harris fall in love while Shane and Ilya navigate their own relationship. The events of Role Model directly overlap with Shane and Ilya’s The Long Game, the latter of which provides primary source material for Heated Rivalry Season 2. Troy and Harris become major players in Ilya’s life once he becomes the captain of the Ottawa Centaurs.

We know it’s a bit confusing if you aren’t fully versed in Reid’s book universe. That’s why Swooon has gathered everything you need to know about Troy Barrett and Harris Drover below.

Who is Troy Barrett in Heated Rivalry?

Before he appears in The Long Game, Troy has a small role in Reid’s Tough Guy, and he becomes a main character in Role Model. (It’s worth mentioning that The Long Game and Role Model have overlapping timelines.) When we first meet Troy in Tough Guy, he comes across as nothing more than a bully. His best friend, Dallas Kent, is the biggest bully in the professional hockey league. They’re both star players for the Toronto Guardians, but when Dallas is accused of sexual assault, a blindsided Troy immediately calls him out and cuts him off. Their falling out is captured on camera, and Troy immediately gets backlash from fans and the league.

Toronto doesn’t want to get rid of Dallas, their best player, so instead, they trade Troy to the Ottawa Centaurs. That’s where Role Model picks up. Once we start reading from his point of view, it’s revealed that Troy is gay and struggling with keeping his sexuality a secret. On top of that, he doesn’t have the best home life, with an absolutely horrible father. So, when he arrives in Ottawa, Troy is going through it. To make matters worse, his secret actor boyfriend suddenly dumped him.

But now, he has Ottawa’s lovable crew of misfits in his corner. Troy isn’t thrilled to be on one of the worst teams in the league, but slowly but surely, his new captain and teammates break through the walls he put up. Harris Drover, the team’s social media manager, is determined to do just that. Harris and his new circumstances inspire Troy to become a better person and use his platform to speak up for sexual assault victims.

Who is Harris Drover in Heated Rivalry?

Harris’ personality is pretty much the opposite of Troy’s quiet, brooding one. In Role Model, Troy is immediately envious of how open Harris is about his sexuality. Harris grew up on an apple orchard with his family, all of whom he’s still close with. A lifelong hockey fan, Harris is the driving force behind Ottawa’s social media presence, encouraging all of the players to connect with fans via videos. Everyone on the team loves him, and he loves them right back.

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Though he’s all sunshine and bubbliness, Harris has a traumatic past: He’s had to undergo multiple surgeries for a congenital heart defect, which has left him with a scar on his chest. He hates it when other people, including his family, treat him as fragile. Troy, he comes to discover, doesn’t. Harris is drawn to Troy almost immediately. Noticing that he’s struggling, Harris becomes Troy’s closest friend and support system, and it doesn’t take long for Harris to catch feelings.

Who is playing Troy and Harris in Heated Rivalry?

Charlie Gillespie, known for Julie and the Phantoms, is playing Troy. Justice Smith is playing his on-screen love interest, Harris.

Heated Rivalry, Season 2, TBA 2027, Crave & HBO Max