Concordia alumni behind the hockey romance Heated Rivalry

Long before Heated Rivalry set off a global wave of fan frenzy, the groundbreaking hockey romance was already a Concordia success story. Alumni from the university helped shape the series at nearly every level — from editing and casting to acting and sound — making its November 2025 world premiere at Concordia a full-circle moment for the team behind Canada’s latest streaming hit.

Presented by Montreal’s image+nation LGBTQ film festival, the sold-out screening drew an energetic crowd, with many dressed in hockey jerseys. When the lead actors Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie — who play rivals-turned-lovers Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, respectively — arrived with Montreal actor François Arnaud, the auditorium erupted, offering an early glimpse of the global fandom that would soon follow.

“It was surreal!” recalls Heated Rivalry editor Arthur Tarnowski, BA 94. “There was definitely something in the air. The strong, passionate fandom was incredible.”

For Tarnowski, who is accredited by ACE (American Cinema Editors) and CCE (Canadian Cinema Editors), the evening carried extra meaning. “I had my French film class in that auditorium every Monday night when I attended Concordia. It’s always special to come back.”

Powered by Concordia talent

Created, written and directed by Montrealer Jacob Tierney, and based on Halifax author Rachelle Reid’s bestselling Game Changers book series, Heated Rivalry features a cast and crew stacked with Canadian talent — including from Concordia.

In addition to Tarnowski, alumni who contributed across the production included actors Noah Labranche, BFA 20, Andrew Carter, BA 84, and Jonathan Dubsky, BFA 11; Sara Kay, BFA 99, whose Lewis Kay Casting company cast the series; Peter Lopata, BA 95, as supervising sound editor; Sarah Fowlie, BA 93, in production management; and Robert Cotterill, BA 94, as first assistant director.

Cotterill says that working on the series stood out among his many years in Canadian film and television.

“Heated Rivalry was one of the most positive shooting experiences I’ve ever had,” he says. “I’ve worked in Canadian film and TV for a very long time, and I’ve known Jacob since we first worked together 15 years ago. I turned down other work to do Heated Rivalry. Working with Jacob is a real treat because he’s funny, kind and talented, so the whole vibe on the show was very positive.”

Labranche agrees that the show’s distinctly Canadian perspective helped shape its international appeal.

“It’s great to see how a story of love and one that empowers queer voices can feel so uniquely Canadian, while also resonating on a global scale,” he says. “From the beginning, Jacob had a clear vision of what he wanted.”

The first season of Heated Rivalry was filmed in Toronto, Hamilton and Muskoka, while on-ice and locker room scenes were filmed at Guelph’s Sleeman Centre. The second season is slated to shoot in Ontario this summer and is expected to premiere in spring 2027.

Tarnowski, a long-time collaborator of Tierney’s, is proud that Concordians have contributed to the success of the series.

“Jacob was able to get the best out of his team, which is a tribute to his vision, humanity and amazing talents,” Tarnowski says. “Heated Rivalry is a tremendous showcase of Canadian talent, and a great example of the open-mindedness and acceptance of Canada.”