Justice Smith and Charlie Gillespie have joined the cast of Heated Rivalry Season 2, adding two new stars to the breakout hockey romance as production moves forward.
Smith will play Harris Drover, while Gillespie has been cast as Troy Barrett. The two actors will join returning stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, who are reprising their roles as Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov.
The casting announcement arrives as anticipation continues to build around the second season of the hit series, which is scheduled to return in spring 2027.
Justice Smith Takes on Harris Drover
Smith is stepping into the role of Harris Drover, a character connected to the Ottawa Centaurs hockey organization.
The actor is known to American audiences for movies and television projects including Detective Pikachu, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves and I Saw the TV Glow. His addition gives the series another recognizable name as it expands its ensemble for Season 2.
Harris is part of the storyline surrounding Troy Barrett, creating a new relationship at the center of the show’s expanding hockey world.
Charlie Gillespie Cast as Troy Barrett
Gillespie will portray Troy Barrett, a hockey player whose story is connected to the Ottawa Centaurs.
The actor is best known for his role as Luke in Julie and the Phantoms, a performance that helped establish him with a young American television audience.
His casting is particularly notable for fans of Rachel Reid’s Game Changers books because Troy is a central character in Role Model, one of the books being incorporated into the television series’ larger storyline.
Season 2 Expands the Heated Rivalry Universe
The new casting signals that Season 2 will broaden the story beyond Shane and Ilya while continuing their relationship.
The series is based on Rachel Reid’s Game Changers book series. Season 2 is expected to draw heavily from The Long Game, while also incorporating characters and story elements connected to Role Model.
That expansion gives the show an opportunity to introduce new hockey players and relationships while keeping the original leads at the center of the series.
Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie Return
Williams and Storrie are returning as Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov.
Their performances helped make the first season a breakout success, turning the Canadian series into an international streaming hit. The show’s popularity also created a large online fan base that has been closely following casting and production updates for Season 2.
The addition of Smith and Gillespie gives the returning stars a larger ensemble to work with as the story moves into its next chapter.
Season 2 Is Coming in Spring 2027
Season 2 is currently in production, with the new cast additions arriving as the series prepares for its return.
The second season is scheduled to premiere in spring 2027 on Crave in Canada and HBO Max internationally. A specific premiere date has not yet been announced.
The return will give viewers another chapter in the relationship between Shane and Ilya while introducing Troy and Harris to the show’s television universe.
Why the New Casting Matters
The casting of Smith and Gillespie is one of the biggest Season 2 updates so far because both actors are taking on prominent roles rather than making minor appearances.
Smith brings an established film and television résumé to the series, while Gillespie arrives with a fan base from his work in Julie and the Phantoms. Their involvement could help broaden the show’s reach as anticipation builds for its 2027 return.
For Heated Rivalry fans, the announcement also provides the first major look at how the series will expand its story beyond its original central couple.
Heated Rivalry Season 2 Builds Momentum
With Justice Smith as Harris Drover and Charlie Gillespie as Troy Barrett, Heated Rivalry is adding two recognizable young actors to an already popular cast.
The new season will continue to feature Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie while introducing a new storyline drawn from Rachel Reid’s larger hockey romance universe.
For viewers who made the first season a streaming success, the latest casting announcement offers another reason to keep Season 2 on the radar ahead of its spring 2027 premiere.