‘Heated Rivalry’ Stars Hudson Williams, Connor Storrie Named Olympic Torchbearers for Milan-Cortina 2026
Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie of 'Heated Rivalry' will carry the Olympic torch in Italy ahead of Milan-Cortina 2026's Feb. 6 opening ceremony next month.
Overview
Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, co-leads of the hit hockey-romance 'Heated Rivalry,' were named torchbearers for the Olympic flame en route to Milan's Feb. 6 opening ceremony.
The Milan-Cortina 2026 torch relay, which begins in Greece, was reported in Trieste and will pass through 13 more Italian cities before finishing at Milan's San Siro.
Organizers have not revealed the actors' specific relay segments; neither Williams nor Storrie will compete at the Games despite portraying Olympic-level players on screen.
'Heated Rivalry,' adapted from Rachel Reid's 'Game Changers' novels, became HBO Max's No. 1 series, secured international distribution and has been renewed for a second season.
Williams and Storrie's rising profile — runway appearances and award-show presentations — reflects the show's cultural impact and likely influenced their selection as torchbearers.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources present this story neutrally, focusing on factual event details (torchbearer selections, dates, broadcast info) and relying on source content about the show's premise. Editorial language is minimal—terms like 'hit' or 'captivated' are descriptive, not evaluative—and no major viewpoints are omitted or emphasized.
Sources (8)
FAQ
'Heated Rivalry' is a hit hockey romance series based on Rachel Reid's 'Game Changers' novels, featuring the fictional story of Canadian player Shane Hollander and his Russian rival Ilya Rozanov in a decade-long secret relationship. It became HBO Max's No. 1 series, was renewed for a second season, and has international distribution.
Hudson Williams plays Shane Hollander, a Canadian hockey player, and Connor Storrie plays Ilya Rozanov, a Russian rival, in 'Heated Rivalry.' Storrie, born February 22, 2000, is an American actor known for this breakout role.
The torch relay begins in Greece, was reported in Trieste, passes through 13 more Italian cities, and finishes at Milan's San Siro for the February 6 opening ceremony. Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie are torchbearers, but their specific segments are not revealed.
Their rising profile from 'Heated Rivalry's' success, including runway appearances, award-show presentations like the Golden Globes 2026, and the show's cultural impact portraying Olympic-level hockey players, likely influenced their selection.
No, neither Williams nor Storrie will compete in the Milan-Cortina 2026 Games, despite portraying Olympic-level hockey players in the series.
History
5 sources