Capitals Stand By Inclusion & Pride As Shows Like ‘Heated Rivalry’ Draw More Fans To The Game: ‘No Matter What, You’ll Be Accepted In This Room’
January 17, 2026
Makes me feel good to be a Caps fan.
19 comments
It’s pretty amazing that one show on a minor network can be such a strong driver. I hope the momentum carries forward, and maybe the NHL notices the impact of indirect marketing. Also, has the NHL purchased advertising time for that show?
Great to see the Caps not cave and keep having pride nights
Hell yeah! Glad the Caps doubled down instead of caving
God I love this team
Proud of the Caps, proud to be a fan, sends a good message about our sport. It is amazing that one show can make a difference. It is a really good show by the way, the best romance I’ve ever seen and saying this as a straight person.
Absolutely love that we’re doing this against the Panthers of all teams!
Holtby was a great ally for the community, often saw him at pride and wearing the colors. Still a top 5 favorite player for me.
Really appreciate this from the team, and I’m sure Silber just grabbed quotes from whoever was made available, but I’m a bit charmed by the idea of McIlrath being one of the players to speak up about pride nights
Looking forward to the inevitable Heated Rivalry/Shorsey crossover.
That’s my team!!!
Proud of this team, thankful for the players who speak out and glad this org continues to have these nights. Now let’s get a w!!!!
At the end of the day, no matter what happens on the ice, we know we’ve got some good people representing this franchise.
TJ Oshie in shambles
I am stumped because I saw an ad for “Heated Rivalry” a week before HBO Max dropped the premiere. It’s HUGE. A liitle Canadian show has become pop culture.
I grew up in the 80’s as a queer dude. I have been a Caps fan for 35 years. I knew of the book series “Heated Rivalry.” I am more more history and sports. Not romance. Just not my thing. “Heated Rivalry” the books are m/m romance written by a woman for women who like men. Many many tropes. But it’s a queer story told by hetero folks
“Heated Rivalry” the show was adapted by Jacob Tierney. who is the force behind “Letterkenney” and “Shoresy.” Tierney is a gay and a Habs fan. He tweaked the show to have more obvious queer elements.It’s a queer show made by a gay man. I watched the first 4 episodes and it was uncomfortable at times.Also “fan ficcy.” I would literally turn off the show, collect myself and power on. That is how I knew that the “Heated Rivalry” crew NAILED IT. All anyone talks about is the sex scenes. I saw more the loneliness, quick glances and utter alienation. Tenderness, caring in a cold world. From Hookup to situationship to actual love. For once, this queer romance has a hopeful ending. Finally!!
Episode 5 is incredible. Episode 6 had moments where I wish I could have had “that.”
Some of the show’s actors have said that closeted players and their agents have reached out to them to thell their stories. All you want is an empathetic ear. Either a friend or the actor who plays Shane Hollander.
“Heated Rivalry” is mega viral among puckheads. I finally was welcomed in away I never thought possible. I never thought this would happen, but I feel at home.
“It’s a community here and we support each other no matter what. I hope everyone would know that, that if they wanted to come out or they wanted to keep it private, just know whatever decision that they would make, that it wouldn’t change how they’re treated in this league or especially in this locker room,” Van Riemsdyk said.
🥹
Damn it, I want the jersey and hate that there’s no way for out of staters can’t get it. Why can’t it be in 2 weeks😭😭😭
19 comments
It’s pretty amazing that one show on a minor network can be such a strong driver. I hope the momentum carries forward, and maybe the NHL notices the impact of indirect marketing. Also, has the NHL purchased advertising time for that show?
Great to see the Caps not cave and keep having pride nights
Hell yeah! Glad the Caps doubled down instead of caving
God I love this team
Proud of the Caps, proud to be a fan, sends a good message about our sport. It is amazing that one show can make a difference. It is a really good show by the way, the best romance I’ve ever seen and saying this as a straight person.
Absolutely love that we’re doing this against the Panthers of all teams!
Holtby was a great ally for the community, often saw him at pride and wearing the colors. Still a top 5 favorite player for me.
Really appreciate this from the team, and I’m sure Silber just grabbed quotes from whoever was made available, but I’m a bit charmed by the idea of McIlrath being one of the players to speak up about pride nights
Looking forward to the inevitable Heated Rivalry/Shorsey crossover.
That’s my team!!!
Proud of this team, thankful for the players who speak out and glad this org continues to have these nights. Now let’s get a w!!!!
At the end of the day, no matter what happens on the ice, we know we’ve got some good people representing this franchise.
TJ Oshie in shambles
I am stumped because I saw an ad for “Heated Rivalry” a week before HBO Max dropped the premiere. It’s HUGE. A liitle Canadian show has become pop culture.
I grew up in the 80’s as a queer dude. I have been a Caps fan for 35 years. I knew of the book series “Heated Rivalry.” I am more more history and sports. Not romance. Just not my thing. “Heated Rivalry” the books are m/m romance written by a woman for women who like men. Many many tropes. But it’s a queer story told by hetero folks
“Heated Rivalry” the show was adapted by Jacob Tierney. who is the force behind “Letterkenney” and “Shoresy.” Tierney is a gay and a Habs fan. He tweaked the show to have more obvious queer elements.It’s a queer show made by a gay man. I watched the first 4 episodes and it was uncomfortable at times.Also “fan ficcy.” I would literally turn off the show, collect myself and power on. That is how I knew that the “Heated Rivalry” crew NAILED IT. All anyone talks about is the sex scenes. I saw more the loneliness, quick glances and utter alienation. Tenderness, caring in a cold world. From Hookup to situationship to actual love. For once, this queer romance has a hopeful ending. Finally!!
Episode 5 is incredible. Episode 6 had moments where I wish I could have had “that.”
Some of the show’s actors have said that closeted players and their agents have reached out to them to thell their stories. All you want is an empathetic ear. Either a friend or the actor who plays Shane Hollander.
“Heated Rivalry” is mega viral among puckheads. I finally was welcomed in away I never thought possible. I never thought this would happen, but I feel at home.
“It’s a community here and we support each other no matter what. I hope everyone would know that, that if they wanted to come out or they wanted to keep it private, just know whatever decision that they would make, that it wouldn’t change how they’re treated in this league or especially in this locker room,” Van Riemsdyk said.
🥹
Damn it, I want the jersey and hate that there’s no way for out of staters can’t get it. Why can’t it be in 2 weeks😭😭😭
https://youtu.be/eJA3-lN6UnA
Good for Jacob Tierney
