On Sunday night, Canadian hockey series Heated Rivalry swept the Canadian Screen Awards with a record-breaking 16 awards, including Best Drama Series and Best Lead Performer for Hudson Williams.
“I’m honoured to be Canadian and this is fantastic. I want to thank some people; the cast and crew of Heated Rivalry, thank you for being such a warm space,” Williams said as he accepted the award on stage. “Crave, thank you for putting money into our beautiful, straightforward hockey show. HBO, thank you for getting some more eyes on it. Rachel Reid, thank you for creating this universe.”
He continued, “If I could cut this award down the middle, I would — because if these gay, yearning little bottom eyes didn’t have a big sexy Russian to feast upon, my performance wouldn’t be as good. So, to the honorary Canadian Connor Storrie, I share this award with you.”
“We can shoot Canada for Canada and be proud of it… It can resonate across all borders and everyone can appreciate it and love it.”Hudson Williams
Creator Jacob Tierney, who picked up Best Direction and Best Writing for a Drama, told reporters: “The best thing about the success of the show is watching it change people’s lives along the way.”
“It’s very odd to feel like the elephant in the room, when this show is so fucking weird and the success of it is so not obvious in any way,” he continued. “’Nobody wants a fucking hockey show, nobody wants a gay show, nobody wants this much sex.’ It’s bananas. It is weird to feel like this was going to happen. This was not obvious any step of the way. It’s very cool. We’re very grateful.”
PHOTOS COURTESY OF GEORGE PIMENTEL PHOTOGRAPHY.
Heated Rivalry, which follows the love story between two closeted professional hockey players — portrayed by Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie — became an international sensation around the world after its debut last year that started as a little Canadian hockey show on Crave.
“We’re getting the smutty band back together. [Heated Rivalry Season 2] is going to be what you want it to be.”Jacob Tierney
Williams acknowledged the power of Canadian content, saying: “It’s amazing to see just more Canadian content coming out that’s resonating with people and vastly different. It shows we don’t have to shoot somewhere else for Canada. We can shoot Canada for Canada and be proud of it… It can just resonate across all borders and everyone can appreciate it and love it.”
Sophie Nélisse, who plays Williams’ girlfriend on the show, won Best Supporting Performer while Nadine Bhabha won Guest Performance.
When asked about the spice level of season 2 of Heated Rivalry, Tierney confirmed it will be a “similar level of spice.”
“We’re doing it again, kids. We’re getting the smutty band back together,” he said. “It’s going to be what you want it to be.”
Season 2 of Heated Rivalry is set to begin production in Toronto in July.
HERO IMAGE COURTESY OF GEORGE PIMENTEL PHOTOGRAPHY.
