Winnipeg Public Library trying to keep up with “Heated Rivalry” phenomenon

Prime Minister Carney poses with ‘Heated Rivalry’ star Hudson Williams on the red carpet as Ottawa is set to play ‘central role’ in the show’s second season.

Winnipeg Public Library branches are having trouble keeping up with demand for a steamy literary series turned red hot television phenomenon.

The city’s libraries have seen an uptick in readers checking out and putting a hold on both the physical copies, e-books and audiobooks of “Heated Rivalry.”

“We have about 140 physical copy requests on it. For the e-book, it’s up to 290 or so requests on it now,” Winnipeg Public Library collections librarian Aileen Clear told CTV News.

“Definitely that has grown, even in just the past couple of days.”

Just a month into 2026, the book has already been checked out over 300 times this year.

The wait list for the audiobook is also topping 150 names.

Before the show aired in November, the library had about six copies in circulation. Clear has added another 14 to keep up with demand. She will likely be buying even more.

The librarian has seen literary crazes like this in the past, like the “Hunger Games” and “Harry Potter” series, both of which had box office-topping film adaptations.

Still, the series’ particularly heated grip on popular culture seems somewhat novel, to put it punily.

“Different library systems have been talking about it. It’s huge in popular culture, so that is different than the norm,” she said.

Embrace of queer love story spans demographics, countries

The television series is adapted from the second book in the “Game Changers” series by Nova Scotia author Rachel Reid. It follow sthe decades-long romance between rival professional hockey players, Canadian Shane Hollander and Russian Ilya Rozanov.

The steamy romance was adapted into an original series for Crave. Since its premiere in November, it’s become a global cultural phenomenon.

According to Deadline, the series netted nine million U.S. viewers and counting through HBO Max, which acquired the series for international viewership. That means the series is skating ahead to pace as the number one acquired scripted series launch in the streamer’s history.

The series’ stars Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams have been similarly embraced. They served as torchbearers in the 2026 Olympics, made a slew of late night appearances and presented at the Golden Globes, to name a few.

Storrie set to host Saturday Night Live on Feb. 28, while the Ottawa-born Williams posed in a leggy embrace with Prime Minister Mark Carney for a glitzy gala by the Canadian Media Producers Association last week.

“Congratulations on creating a story that has struck a chord with so many across this country, around the world. Because of you, cottage season will have a whole new meaning this summer,” Carney said to the sold-out crowd.

Back in Winnipeg libraries, Clear believes the novel has struck a chord with readers of all demographics, thanks in part to its unique pairing of Canada’s national pastime and queer love.

“It’s not too common that a gay hockey romance received so much popularity, so much love and from people,” she said.

“It’s not necessarily pigeonholed in any one group of people who are excited about it, and I definitely think it’s giving more attention the NHL and hopefully it brings about more acceptance of the 2SLGBTQQIA+ plus community in the NHL, as well.”

CTV News and Crave are owned by Bell Media, which is a division of BCE.

- With files from CTV News’ Rachel Aiello