That\u2019s no small thing, as the show about rival professional men\u2019s hockey players<\/a> who begin a passionate, secret romance features sex scenes not for the prudish.<\/p>\n The NHL, and hockey in general, has had a complicated relationship with the LGBTQ+ community over the years, but it appeared that the show had broken through across the sport\u2019s media landscape.<\/p>\n That includes former hockey players and brothers Dan and Chris Powers, the hosts of the popular Empty Netters podcast. The podcast has seen a jolt in recent weeks due to its glowing coverage of the streaming hit. And in doing so, they became the face of straight men who could appreciate the show without being weird about it. Glowing write-ups in Vulture<\/a> and Rolling Stone<\/a> soon followed.<\/p>\n \u201cTheir support and excitement of Heated Rivalry felt like an important acknowledgment from the hockey community that a queer love story was breaking barriers across demographics,\u201d said The New York Times<\/a>.<\/p>\n Heated Rivalry was a viewership and financial winner for Empty Netters, too. Viewership of their YouTube videos covering the show was 50 times the channel\u2019s average, often reaching around 500,000 views. The podcast also launched several t-shirts and merch featuring the phrase \u201cFrom the closet to the cottage.\u201d Shirts retail for up to $45.<\/p>\n Thursday, Outsports Cyd Zeigler published a post that told a very different story<\/a> about Dan Powers and what he thought about Heated Rivalry when no one was looking.<\/p>\n \u201cI think these losers who made this show are cowards,\u201d Dan wrote in a text message viewed by Zeigler. \u201cThis is the trash they make because it panders, it\u2019s provocative, and it checks inclusivity boxes.\u201d<\/p>\n In other texts, Powers wrote that while the show should make \u201cblue haired twitter happy,\u201d he wouldn\u2019t give it \u201cthe time of day\u201d simply \u201cout of principle.\u201d<\/p>\n Disappointment about the text messages and the implication that Empty Netters\u2019 appreciation of the show was inauthentic and performative spread across social media.<\/p>\n feels both depressing and inevitable, and the thing i find most fascinating about it is the decision and then commitment to performing wild enthusiasm anyhow. you hate this, and yet you understand the very real monetary benefit of championing it [image or embed]<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Kathryn VanArendonk (@kvanaren.bsky.social<\/a>) January 22, 2026 at 9:47 AM<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Emp-1024x271.jpg\")
<\/a>Credit: Empty Netters<\/p>\n
www.outsports.com\/2026\/1\/22\/24\u2026<\/p>\n