Why ‘Heated Rivalry’ Creator Won’t Discuss Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie’s Sexuality
Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams have become two of the most talked-about rising stars in television thanks to their breakout roles in Heated Rivalry, the steamy LGBTQ+ hockey drama that has captured global audiences. Playing rival pro hockey players whose on-ice animosity conceals an intense and clandestine romance, Storrie and Williams quickly generated critical praise for their chemistry. Off-screen, their rapid rise in fame has sparked fascination with their friendship. And while fans want to know more about Storrie and Williams’ sexuality, the show creator explained why he won’t be giving any personal details.
The ‘Heated Rivalry’ creator explained why he’s not sharing personal details about Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie
Heated Rivalry has quickly become one of the most talked‑about television series of 2025. Based on Rachel Reid’s Game Changers novels, the Canadian series created, written, and directed by Jacob Tierney follows rival professional hockey players Shane Hollander (played by Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (played by Connor Storrie). Their intense competition in hockey evolves into a passionate, secret relationship that challenges both their careers and identities in the hyper‑masculine world of pro sports.
Fans continue to create buzz around Heated Rivalry. And they want to know more about Storrie and Williams, particularly when it comes to their off-screen relationship. However, Tierney isn’t going to be the one to spill about the lead actors’ personal lives. During an interview with Xtra in November 2025, he explained how he didn’t want to delve into Storrie or Williams’ sexuality.
“I don’t think there’s any reason to get into that stuff,” he noted. “I’ll tell you something about the casting of both of these roles. You can’t ask questions like that when you’re casting, right? It’s actually against the law. So what you have to gauge is somebody’s enthusiasm and willingness to do the work. And that’s what’s so impressive about both of these guys is they came into this being like, ‘Yeah, we’re here to do this, and we are here to make this story feel authentic and to be as real as possible.’ And they f***ing hit it out of the park.”
Tierney went on to call the chemistry between the actors “insane.”
“We loved both of them separately and then seeing them together, it was just like perfection,” he added.
Hudson Williams says he wants ‘queer people telling queer stories’
Heated Rivalry stars Connie Storrie and Hudson Williams know that fans have questions about their personal lives. Williams addressed this while speaking to Deadline.
“I think there’s never a question for me, when I would dream of becoming in the public eye, that I would want just a level of privacy,” Williams said. “But of course, I agree. I want queer people telling queer stories, but also, there’s the element of Connor and I — we’re best friends, and we love expressing that physically.”
Storrie noted that he wanted to have “a little bit of separation from the character in the show.” Later in the interview, the actor mentioned how he and Williams can relate to their characters and “love this form of love.”
A real-life romance between the actors could be a ‘nightmare for HR’
In December 2025, Connor Storrie told Vanity Fair that he and Hudson Williams had solid chemistry from the start of Heated Rivalry.
“Me and Hudson had the chemistry down before we even started acting,” Storrie said.
“We got comfortable just being inches from each other’s face and invading each other’s personal space,” Williams joked, adding, “A nightmare for HR.”
Williams went on to call the acting “fun and easy” when opposite his co-star. “When we had scenes that had to be emotional like that, I don’t know if it’s ever been easier in my life to feed into it,” he added. Williams also noted that he knows of the online chatter regarding his real-life relationship with Storrie, but he tries to stay out of the conversations.
Fans hoping for Heated Rivalry Season 2 are in luck. The show has officially been renewed, with filming starting in mid-2026.
