Jack Innanen Declines Role in Heated Rivalry Season 2 Amid Scheduling Clash

Canadian actor Jack Innanen, 27, has confirmed that he was offered a part in the upcoming second season of the gay hockey drama Heated Rivalry, but he had to turn it down because of a scheduling conflict.

The news first surfaced in April when Innanen said he had spoken with the show’s producers about a possible role. Entertainment Weekly reported that the offer was made, but the actor could not accept it because his commitments to other projects overlapped.

He is best known for his work on the FX series Adults, where he plays Paul Baker, and for the Netflix series Big Mistakes, in which he portrays Max. Both shows are slated to return for new seasons in 2026, and Innanen will be back in the roles.

Heated Rivalry is a Canadian sports‑romance series created, written and directed by Jacob Tierney for Crave. The show is based on the Game Changers book series by author Rachel Reid. It follows the secret relationship between two professional hockey players, Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, who play for rival teams.

Season 2 of the series is scheduled to begin filming in July and is expected to premiere in April 2027. A leaked casting call confirmed that characters Troy Barrett and Wyatt Hayes will appear in the new season. Fans had speculated that Innanen might be cast as either of those roles, but the actor has said that the part he was offered was not one of them.

Troy Barrett is a forward for the Ottawa Centaurs and is a central character in the fifth book of the Game Changers series, Role Model. In the story, Barrett falls in love with the team’s social‑media manager, Harris Drover, after a fallout with friend Dallas Kent.

Wyatt Hayes is a supporting character who also plays for the Ottawa Centaurs. He is portrayed as an ally to his LGBTQ+ teammates and a supportive figure for Ryan Price, who becomes a lead character in the third book, Tough Guy.

Heated Rivalry has been praised for its portrayal of LGBTQ+ athletes and its blend of romance and sports drama. The first season premiered on Crave on November 28, 2025, and was released simultaneously on HBO Max in the United States. The series has won several awards, including a Peabody and a GLAAD Award.

The decision to decline the role does not appear to affect Innanen’s career trajectory. He will continue to appear in Adults season 2 and the second season of Big Mistakes, both of which are expected to air later this year.

While the exact character Innanen was offered remains undisclosed, the actor’s statement confirms that he had to forgo the opportunity due to overlapping filming schedules.

Fans of the show will still see new storylines in season 2, with the return of Troy Barrett and Wyatt Hayes, as well as other prominent characters from the books. The new season is anticipated to bring fresh drama to the hockey rink and to the off‑ice relationships that define the series.

In summary, Jack Innanen was offered a role in Heated Rivalry season 2 but declined because of a scheduling conflict. He will instead return to his roles in Adults and Big Mistakes, while the new season of Heated Rivalry moves forward with its planned cast and production schedule.