Canadian hockey romance Heated Rivalry has won a prestigious Peabody Award.

The Crave and Bell Media production, distributed by HBO Max in the U.S., became a surprise hit when it debuted in November 2025.

On Thursday, it was named one of 11 winning TV shows in the entertainment field.

In a news release, the Peabody Awards jurors said Heated Rivalry “balances complex themes of sexuality and emotional connection, inspiring fans and promoting non-toxic masculinity, ultimately making what was arguably the biggest cultural impact in television this year.”

The show, created by Montreal director-screenwriter Jacob Tierney and based on a series of novels by Halifax author Rachel Reid, explores a secret gay relationship between fictional pro hockey players Shane Hollander (played by Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie).