Key Takeaways
- The popular TV show Heated Rivalry has partnered with a Canadian clothing company to release a replica of the iconic Team Canada zip-up fleece worn by character Shane Hollander.
- The fleece will be produced and distributed by Toronto-based clothing brand Province of Canada, with details on pricing and release date to be announced later.
- The show’s creators have listened to fan demands and are responding to the overwhelming enthusiasm for the fleece, which has become a symbol of the show’s impact on hockey and LGBTQIA+ fans.
- Heated Rivalry has broken viewership records on Crave and HBO Max, with its co-stars set to carry the Olympic flame at the Milano-Cortina Winter Games.
- The show’s popularity has also inspired a Change.org petition to make the fleece an official Team Canada merchandise item, which has been declared a victory with the announcement of the replica release.
Introduction to Heated Rivalry
The TV show Heated Rivalry has taken the world by storm, and one of its most iconic symbols is the Team Canada zip-up fleece worn by character Shane Hollander. Played by Canadian actor Hudson Williams, Hollander sports the white zip-up during the Sochi Olympic scenes in Episode 2, and fans have been clamoring to get their hands on it ever since. The frenzy surrounding the fleece has been so intense that the show’s creators have partnered with a Canadian clothing company to release a replica, answering the demands of fans who have been asking for it since the show premiered.
The Impact of Heated Rivalry
Heated Rivalry is more than just a popular show – it’s an obsession. Based on the steamy hockey romance series Game Changers by Nova Scotia author Rachel Reid, the six-episode series has broken viewership records on Crave, with a 400% growth in viewership since its premiere in late November. The show has also become the top-rated non-animated series ever acquired by HBO Max, and its co-stars, Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, will be among the torchbearers carrying the Olympic flame at the Milano-Cortina Winter Games in February. The show’s impact extends beyond the screen, with fans creating their own versions of the fleece and starting a Change.org petition to make it an official Team Canada merchandise item.
The Fleece Frenzy
The fleece has become a symbol of the show’s impact on hockey and LGBTQIA+ fans, with the official Team Canada account responding to fan comments with a tongue-in-cheek request to "be excited for both" the team and the show. The Change.org petition, which urged Team Canada to release the fleece as official merchandise, has been declared a victory with the announcement of the replica release. The petition argued that the fleece would "[lower] the barrier for new fans, including women, LGBTQIA+ fans, and people who are newer to hockey or the Olympics, to engage in a way that feels welcoming and authentic." The show’s costume designer, Hanna Puley, and a fan who recreated the fleece, Sylvie Bouffard, have spoken about the significance of the fleece, which represents more than just a sweater.
The Partnership with Province of Canada
The partnership between the show’s creators and Province of Canada is a response to the overwhelming enthusiasm for the fleece. The Toronto-based clothing brand will produce and distribute the replica fleece, with details on pricing and release date to be announced later. The show’s executive producers and co-presidents of Accent Aigu Entertainment, Jacob Tierney and Brendan Brady, said in a news release that "fans are the heart of Heated Rivalry, and this is entirely because of them." They added that they have listened closely to what fans have been asking for, and the fleece jacket has been at the top of that list. The release of the replica fleece is a testament to the power of fan engagement and the impact of social media on the entertainment industry.
Conclusion
The release of the Heated Rivalry fleece is a significant moment for fans of the show, who have been clamoring for it since the series premiered. The partnership between the show’s creators and Province of Canada is a response to the overwhelming enthusiasm for the fleece, which has become a symbol of the show’s impact on hockey and LGBTQIA+ fans. As the show continues to break viewership records and inspire fan engagement, the release of the fleece is a reminder of the power of social media and fan culture in shaping the entertainment industry. With the replica fleece set to be released soon, fans can finally get their hands on a piece of the show’s iconic merchandise, and the show’s creators can continue to build on the momentum of their wildly popular series.
