After months of speculation and countless fan casting suggestions, “Heated Rivalry” Season 2 finally has its Troy and Harris—Charlie Gillespie and Justice Smith. 

Crave announced Friday that Smith will portray Harris, the social media manager for the Ottawa Centaurs, and Gillespie will be Troy, a forward for the team. Their romance is played out in Rachel Reid’s “Role Model,” part of the “Game Changers” series that serves as the inspiration for the TV series. 

“Rachel Reid has given us two beautifully layered characters in Harris and Troy who you can’t help but root for,” said a statement from executive producers Jacob Tierney and Brendan Brady. 

“From the start of the casting process, we knew we were looking for actors who could create something truly special together and bring that same depth and heart to the screen. Justice and Charlie do exactly that. They immediately connected with the vulnerability and resilience at the core of these characters, bringing an instinctive understanding of who Harris and Troy are.”

Jacob also serves as creator and co-writer in the series. 

Gillespie and Smith join Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, who play hockey rivals Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov. Season 1 of the series ends with Ilya making plans to be traded from the Boston Raiders to the Centaurs so he can be closer to Shane, who is captain of the Montreal Metros. 

In “Role Model,” Ilya becomes captain of the Centaurs and helps Troy—also recently traded—become more comfortable with his new team while separating himself from a toxic past and learning more about himself in the process. 

Season 2 of the series will also adapt portions of Reid’s “The Long Game,” which focuses on Shane and Ilya’s relationship after the latter’s move to Ottawa and how they navigate a more serious relationship all while trying to avoid it becoming public. 

Also expected to appear in Season 2 are François Arnaud and Robbie G.K. as Scott and Kip, whose romance was first explored in Season 1. “Heated Rivalry” is expected to return to screens in spring 2027.

About the writer

Danielle Haynes is the co-founder and co-editor of Booked & Screened, covering book-to-screen adaptations, film and TV development.