When does the 'Heated Rivalry' season finale drop on HBO Max?
Heated Rivalry, HBO Max's gay hockey series that has everyone I know losing their minds, is finally — and sadly — coming to an end. But don't worry: It's just the finale of Season 1. We still have at least two more seasons of hockey smut to look forward to.
The Canadian import from streamer Crave, based on Rachel Reid's queer romance novels, burst onto screens in late November and wasted no time earning its cult obsession status. The series delivers on every front: scorching chemistry between rising stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie; refreshingly honest depictions of LGBTQ athletes; polished production and strong performances; and, of course, an abundance of unapologetically horny encounters that have launched a thousand group chats.
The obsession isn't just anecdotal, either. By the second week of December, Heated Rivalry had climbed to become the third most-watched series on HBO Max, Mashable reported earlier this month — a testament to just how hard viewers have fallen for this rink-side romance.
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So if you, like seemingly everyone clogging up your social media feed, are counting down the minutes to the Jacob Tierney–helmed show's finale, you’re in luck.
The final episode of Heated Rivalry drops at midnight tonight — Friday, Dec. 26, 2025 (that’s 12:00 a.m. EST or 9:00 p.m. PT on Thursday, Dec. 25). Consider it a holiday miracle. Frankly, it’s the Christmas present we all deserved.
Christianna Silva is a senior culture reporter covering social platforms and the creator economy, with a focus on the intersection of social media, politics, and the economic systems that govern us. Since joining Mashable in 2021, they have reported extensively on meme creators, content moderation, and the nature of online creation under capitalism.
Before joining Mashable, they worked as an editor at NPR and MTV News, a reporter at Teen Vogue and VICE News, and as a stablehand at a mini-horse farm. You can follow her on Bluesky @christiannaj.bsky.social and Instagram @christianna_j.
