It’s been an extraordinary year for Heated Rivalry. Following a Peabody Award and a Television Academy Honor, the acclaimed hockey romance series swept the 2026 Canadian Screen Awards winning 13 out of the 18 awards it was nominated in at the Scripted Television Awards gala.
The beloved series continues to further cement itself as one of the biggest television success stories of the past year. What started as an adaptation of Rachel Reid’s beloved novel has quickly become a global phenomenon, earning critical acclaim, a passionate fanbase, and now an impressive collection of industry recognition.
One of the night’s biggest winners was creator Jacob Tierney, who won both Best Direction, Drama Series and Best Writing, Drama Series for the emotional and fan-favorite episode “I’ll Believe In Anything.” The episode also picked up awards for Best Photography, Best Picture Editing, Best Sound, Best Production Design or Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Visual Effects, and Best Achievement in Casting, proving just how much of a standout chapter it was for the series.
The series’ music was also recognized, with Peter Peter winning Best Original Music, Drama for the episode “Rookies” and Best Original Music – Original Song for “It’s You” from the episode “Olympians.”
On the acting side, Sophie Nélisse earned Best Supporting Performer, Drama for her portrayal of Rose, a character who quickly became a fan favorite thanks to her warmth, compassion, and emotional depth. Nadine Bhabha also took home Best Guest Performance, Drama Series for her appearance in the episode “Hunter.”
The complete list of Heated Rivalry’s Canadian Screen Awards wins so far includes:
• Best Direction, Drama Series – Jacob Tierney (“I’ll Believe In Anything”)
• Best Writing, Drama Series – Jacob Tierney (“I’ll Believe In Anything”)
• Best Photography, Drama – Jackson Parrell (“I’ll Believe In Anything”)
• Best Picture Editing, Drama – Véronique Barbe (“I’ll Believe In Anything”)
• Best Sound, Fiction – Vincent Riendeau, Martin M. Messier, Joe Scandella, Natalie Fleurant, Simon Meilleur, Eric Med Lagacé, Peter Lopata, Valéry Dufort-Boucher (“I’ll Believe In Anything”)
• Best Production Design or Art Direction, Fiction – Aidan Leroux, Alder Dunlap, James McCrindle (“I’ll Believe In Anything”)
• Best Costume Design – Hanna Puley (“I’ll Believe In Anything”)
• Best Visual Effects – Simon Devault, Philippe Massonnat, Christophe Trepanier, Felix Arsenault (“I’ll Believe In Anything”)
• Best Original Music, Drama – Peter Peter (“Rookies”)
• Best Original Music – Original Song – Peter Peter, “It’s You” (“Olympians”)
• Best Supporting Performer, Drama – Sophie Nélisse
• Best Guest Performance, Drama Series – Nadine Bhabha (“Hunter”)
• Best Achievement in Casting, Fiction – Jenny Lewis and Sara Kay (“I’ll Believe In Anything”)
The awards come just a month after Heated Rivalry received a prestigious Peabody Award, adding yet another major achievement to an already remarkable year. The series has also earned recognition from organizations including the GLAAD Media Awards and ACTRA, proving that its impact extends far beyond the hockey rink.
For fans, the success feels especially meaningful. Heated Rivalry has resonated with audiences around the world through its heartfelt storytelling, emotional performances, and authentic portrayal of love in professional sports. Seeing the cast and crew receive recognition across nearly every aspect of production feels like a celebration of the passion and care that went into bringing Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov’s story to life.
From the writing and performances to the music, costumes, and visual effects, Heated Rivalry didn’t just win at the Canadian Screen Awards, it completely swept the competition.
The celebration is not over just yet for Heated Rivalry. While the series has already collected 13 Canadian Screen Awards during the Scripted Television Awards gala, it is nominated for 5 other major categories at the main Canadian Screen Awards, which will be held on May 31, including Best Drama Series and lead acting nominations for Hudson Williams and François Arnaud. With the show already enjoying an impressive awards recognition, its winning streak could continue
And judging by the show’s continued momentum, this may only be the beginning.
Fangirl and Writer with a huge passion for entertainment.
