Crave’s original TV series, “Heated Rivalry” will have you looking at Canada’s game in a whole new way. The book series turned television show follows the forbidden near decade-long romance between two very talented – and rival -- male hockey players, and the show’s steamy storyline and appealing characters are pulling viewers in. Steamy but emotional, funny yet real, the show’s cast are now international stars. Watch parties have been held in living rooms and packed bars, and thousands of videos have been posted to social media with fans sharing their enthusiasm for the Canadian-made series. ‘Deadline Hollywood’ reports ‘Heated Rivalry is Crave’s most-watched original series, and in the U.S. the show was ranked second on HBO Max’s Top 10 most-watched shows after its debut. Episode 5 of the series has also earned a near perfect score on IMDB.com of 9.9/10 and is in the conversation with shows like ‘Game of Thrones’ and ‘Breaking Bad’ as one of the best episodes of television ever. There’s also a capital connection coming to the series. It’s rumored the City of Ottawa will play a big in season two storyline. “As someone who was born and raised in Ottawa, it’s really nice to be able to see people from all over the world experience the city as well and experience the capital,” says ‘Heated Rivalry’ fan Farrah Sanjari. While the content is cutting edge, there’s mass appeal right down to the clothing. Episode 2 features a white sherpa sweater with red maple leaves on the arms and Canada written in red block letters on the back. “We started a petition,” explains Sanjari. “It is a call for Team Canada or really any organization that wants to go ahead and officially make this fleece in collaboration with ‘Heated Rivalry,’ as well as the costume designer Hanna Puley.” The petition is just north of 3,500 signatures and Sanjari says Canadian brands have started taking interest. “Roots is in the conversation, Tim Hortons has also piped in as well,” says Sanjari. “We’re excited to see where this goes and if we can actually release the fleece.” The goal is to get a replica of the sweater made into official “Heated Rivalry” Team Canada merchandise before the upcoming Winter Olympics.
