Hockey has long been viewed as one of the most traditional and masculine sports in the world, known for its intense rivalries and its “tough it out” mentality. The culture surrounding hockey has often left little room for difference and vulnerability. The television series Heated Rivalry, on HBO,  challenges this stereotype with a queer love story at the center of professional hockey, sparking conversations about identity and inclusion. Heated Rivalry follows two rival hockey players whose relationship ignites in secret while they compete at the highest level. While the show itself is fictional, the experience isn’t. Historically, there have been a few professional LGBTQ+ hockey players. Not because they don’t exist, but because the environment has made it hard to be open. The show highlights the pressure athletes face to be content and hide themselves, especially where toughness is often valued. One of the most important impacts of Heated Rivalry is the effect on the LGBTQ+ community, for many gay fans and athletes, seeing queer characters represented as strong, skilled, and respected idols. 

     Representation matters, especially in places where LGBTQ+ individuals have often felt excluded and denounced.  Representation is important, even within high schools; everyone has their own groups, and some don’t. This can happen from differences they have, but representation matters in all places because everyone should feel okay everywhere, not hidden. The show’s influence has extended beyond entertainment and gained much popularity and acceptance to the point where real-life hockey games are playing known music from the show and even playing scenes on the jumbotrons! This allowed a real-life NHL player, Jesse Kortuem, to come out as gay. Kortuem states, “I know many closeted and gay men in the hockey world are being hit hard by Heated Rivalry’s success. Never in my life did I think something so positive and loving could come from such a masculine sport.” Despite possible backlash, the HBO/Crave show Heated Rivalry inspired him to be comfortable. This demonstrated how media representations can inspire and influence individuals to live more openly, even in new environments. However, the response to this show has not been completely positive. 

       Some critics argue that the show alone cannot change deeply rooted problems within a professional sports culture. Others have said that heated rivalries in hockey can sometimes spark intensified negative behavior, including homophobic comments being passed as “trash talk.” These reactions show that while there is major progression, there are still barriers to full inclusion. Despite challenges, the viral show started comfortable conversations that were long overdue by humanizing queer athletes and placing their stories in the spotlight. In the end, Heated Rivalry is more than a popular TV show. This is becoming a cultural moment that reflects shifting emotions and the destruction of homophobia in hockey. It breaks the silence surrounding it, proving that even something fictional is powerful and can raise awareness. This is important because one can see how other communities change stereotypes and open up hard conversations. This shows it’s okay to be who you are, even in an environment where it’s hard to be yourself.

Gabriella Dickson , Staff Writer

Sophomore Gabriella Dickson is a staff writer for the 2025-2026 Colonelnews Magazine. She’s a professional overthinker and a part-time writer, and once googled “How to write a byline.”