Heated Rivalry jerseys being sold by Ottawa Senators

In what is being described as a “grassroots, fan-focused initiative,” the Ottawa Senators are jumping on the steamy, hockey series bandwagon.

Heated Rivalry, the story of two gay professional hockey players who develop a romantic relationship, has taken the world by storm. People have quickly consumed the six-episode Canadian-2SLGBTQIA+ TV show.

It puts in the spotlight an unconventional story of Canadian Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Russian Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie), who navigate a decade-long secret relationship in what is considered a traditionally “hypermasculine” space. It mixes slow-building yearning with explicit sexual scenes.

Its popularity was enough for the Ottawa Senators to take note and sell specialized jerseys with Hollander and Rozanov on the back. The net proceeds are going to Ottawa Pride Hockey, an organization aimed at growing the sport to be more inclusive for all people.

Ian Mendes, vice-president of communications for the Sens, told CityNews in an email that the organization sees power in organic initiatives.

“This was a fan-focused initiative, and we wanted this to be promoted primarily on their channels,” he said. “This all came together very quickly. We notified Ottawa Pride Hockey of our donation first thing on Sunday (Jan. 18) morning.”

The Sens have an existing relationship with the organization, which said in a statement on social media that it is “grateful for the support.”

“The buzz around Heated Rivalry, and the positive response to the jerseys released by the Senators, prove there is value and demand to make hockey more inclusive,” Ottawa Pride Hockey said.

The organizers said they were caught off guard by the gesture, saying they were made aware of the initiative after the jerseys launched.

Mendes said in his email that this was because the initiative was put together quickly.

Although happy to receive the proceeds, Ottawa Pride Hockey said more work is needed within the hockey culture with regard to 2SLGBTQIA+ acceptance.

“We also commit to holding the Senators and NHL accountable when actions fall short of community expectations,” the statement reads. “This includes the recent signing of goalie James Reimer. The NHL sets the tone of hockey culture at the highest level. We remain guarded towards the NHL’s commitment to inclusivity.”

Specialized jerseys with nods to Heated Rivalry can be seen in the Sens Shop at The Canadian Tire Centre. (Ottawa Pride Hockey)

Reimer came under fire in 2023 for choosing not to wear a Pride hockey jersey when he played with the San Jose Sharks. At the time, he cited in a statement that the team’s decision to wear the jerseys counters his religious beliefs.

“In this specific instance, I am choosing not to endorse something that is counter to my personal convictions, which are based on the Bible, the highest authority in life,” Reimer wrote.

He was the second NHL player that season to refuse to take part in warmups with Pride-themed jerseys, with Philadelphia’s Ivan Provorov also declining. Reimer did not play at the Pride night game that year.

Ottawa Pride Hockey said people initially assumed the jerseys were not real, which it says showcases a deep distrust within the queer community.

“Moving forward, we hope to see the NHL embody change at the systemic level, to ensure that hockey is representative of the diversity of the entire community,” it said.

Mendes noted that the Ottawa Senators’ annual Pride game will be hosted on April 2.

“We understand our role in uplifting communities in Ottawa – including the LGBTQ+ community,” he said. “We are constantly looking at ways in which we can work with the LGBTQ+ community beyond just that night.”