Fans were right about David Tomlinson’s character, but there’s a slight update. Heated Rivalry finds its Dallas Kent with a twist, confirming season 2 casting after leaked photos Fans were right about David Tomlinson’s character, but there’s a slight update. By Nick Romano :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/NicholasRomanoauthorphotoadc9b60763e34711935cbf7b3d768d24.jpg) Nick Romano Nick Romano is a senior editor at with 15 years of journalism experience covering entertainment. His work previously appeared in Vanity Fair, Vulture, IGN, and more. EW's editorial guidelines September 16, 2026 3:00 p.m.

Fans were right about David Tomlinson’s character, but there’s a slight update.

Heated Rivalry finds its Dallas Kent with a twist, confirming season 2 casting after leaked photos

Fans were right about David Tomlinson’s character, but there’s a slight update.

By Nick Romano

Nick Romano

Nick Romano is a senior editor at ** with 15 years of journalism experience covering entertainment. His work previously appeared in Vanity Fair, Vulture, IGN, and more.

EW's editorial guidelines

September 16, 2026 3:00 p.m. ET

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Hudson Williams as Shane Hollander on ‘Heated Rivalry’ season 1. Credit:

Sabrina Lantos/HBO Max

- Actor David Tomlinson was spotted on the *Heated Rivalry* season 2 set, sparking speculation among fans.

- Turns out everyone was partially right: Tomlinson is playing the Dallas Kent figure on the show.

- Five other actors were confirmed for various roles, including Troy Barrett’s toxic father.

One of the big villains of the *Heated Rivalry* world has been cast in season 2, after the online rumor mill swirled around a certain face spotted on set.

David Tomlinson (*Fellow Travelers*) was seen in photos leaked from the set through paparazzi and bystanders. Many in the fandom assumed he would be playing Dallas Kent, a character tied to the story of Troy Barrett (Charlie Gillespie).

Canadian streamer Crave and the show’s U.S. distributor, HBO Max, have since confirmed Tomlinson in the role, though the character is now called Cody Kent on the TV series.

Lauren Chan, David Tomlinson, and Michelle Mylett join ‘Heated Rivalry’ season 2.

Luther Cherry; Denise Grant; Karolina Turek

Cody Kent is Troy’s former close friend and teammate who was accused of sexual assault, an event that sparked a massive, publicized falling out between the characters and led to Troy’s trade from the Toronto Guardians to the Ottawa Centaurs.

Other new cast members confirmed alongside Tomlinson are Brendan Morgan (*The Handmaid’s Tale*) as Zane Boodram, Gerry Dee (*Mr. D*) as Coach Cooper, Michelle Mylett (*Letterkenny*) as Lisa, Lauren Chan (*The Devil Wears Prada 2*) as Gen, and Nick Stahl (*Let the Right One In*) as Curtis Barrett.

Owner of ‘Heated Rivalry’ cottage was hesitant about agreeing to season 2

‘Heated Rivalry’ TV universe guide: Meet the new characters and the books they come from

Some of these folks are also in Troy’s orbit. Cooper is the coach of the Guardians, while Curtis is Troy’s homophobic, toxic father. Zane is a member of the Centaurs (an alternate captain), Lisa is the wife of Centaurs player Wyatt Hayes (Robert Naylor), and then Gen works with Harris Drover (Justice Smith) on the Centaurs promo team as a professional photographer.

Brendan Morgan, Gerry Dee, and Nick Stahl join ‘Heated Rivalry’ season 2.

Megan Vincent; David Leyes; Paul Archuleta/Getty

Season 2 continues filming in Canada ahead of a planned launch in spring 2027.

Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie return to the roles of Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, the all-star hockey players now trying to navigate their new relationship behind closed doors. Ilya moves to Canada to play for the Centaurs so he can be closer to Shane, as each grapples with the anxieties of their situation.

Gillespie and Smith landed the coveted newcomer roles of Troy and Harris, whose love story will play a prominent role on season 2.

Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie) and Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) on ‘Heated Rivalry’ season 1.

Sabrina Lantos/HBO Max

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Returning from season 1 are François Arnaud and Robbie G.K. as “Skip” (a.k.a. Scott Hunter and Kip Grady), Sophie Nélisse as Rose, Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova as Svetlana, Christina Chang and Dylan Walsh as Shane’s parents, Callan Potter and Benjamin Roy as Shane’s Montreal teammates, and Kamilla Kowal as Hayden’s wife, Jackie.

New to season 2 are Naylor’s Wyatt Hayes, Daniel Diemer as Ryan Price, Shaheen Jafargholi as Fabian Salah, Emily Hampshire as Vanessa, Edvin Ryding as Luca Haas, Priyanka as Tarek, and Sabrina Jalees as Farah.

The previous round of casting also confirmed Kevin Zegers as Centaurs coach Wiebe, Paul Gross as Commissioner Roger Crowell, and Milla Jovovich as Dr. Galina Molchalina.

*Heated Rivalry *season 1 is streaming on Crave in Canada and on HBO Max in the U.S. and other territories.

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Published: September 16, 2026 at 10:57PM on Source: MORNING MAG

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