'Heated Rivalry' wins Peabody Award for presenting non-toxic side of masculinity

"Heated Rivalry" leads Connor Storrie, left, and Hudson Williams arrive at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party, in Los Angeles on Sunday, March 15, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Invision, Evan Agostini

Canadian hockey romance “Heated Rivalry” has won a Peabody Award.

The American awards honour excellence in storytelling that reflects social issues.

Jurors say the show “inspired gay athletes to come out, boosted hockey sales and dispelled Hollywood’s limiting beliefs about the value of diverse stories.”

The series, which was created by Jacob Tierney, debuted on Crave and HBO Max in November and quickly gained a fan base.

The show tells the love story of rival hockey stars Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, and it’s based on a series of romance novels by Nova Scotia’s Rachel Reid.

Canadian comedian Nathan Fielder’s HBO show “The Rehearsal” also nabbed a Peabody for its second season, which explored aviation disasters and conceived of ways to help pilots and co-pilots speak more openly.

• READ MORE: An Instagram DM changed everything for Rachel Reid, Jacob Tierney and ‘Heated Rivalry’
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• READ MORE: ‘Heated Rivalry’ actor who plays Shane Hollander hits back against ‘hateful’ fan engagement

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 23, 2026.

Nicole Thompson, The Canadian Press

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