Former NHL star Paul Bissonnette gushed about the conversations Heated Rivalry has created within the hockey community.
Bissonnette, 40, who cohosts the “Spittin Chiclets” podcast and works as a television analyst for TNT, called the success of the buzzy HBO Max drama “awesome.”
“The fact that it’s had the social relevance that it’s had, obviously a huge thank you to them for putting hockey even more on the map and opening it up as far as eyeballs to a lot more people,” Bissonnette exclusively told Us Weekly while discussing his partnership with the 2026 Kraft Hockeyville campaign.
Bissonnette said he hopes the show — which tells the story of two closeted professional hockey players who begin dating, played by Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie — will help “current athletes who haven’t come out because they’re nervous about it, or even just people in the general public.”
“It’s hard, man, you probably feel like you’re living a double life in some instances,” he continued. “I think people are feeling comfortable coming out after seeing this show.”
Bissonnette has also had conversations with Heated Rivalry’s female fanbase, who are finding the show’s themes relevant to their own lives.
“The word one woman kept using was ‘yearning,’” he said. “That is almost missed in society nowadays. I think that maybe women are feeling a lack of that in today’s society. I don’t know why that has changed over time.”
Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams Sabrina Lantos/HBO Max
Bissonnette added, “There’s just a lot of things that you could take away from that show that create a lot of positive discussion. It’s amazing that it was created and that it’s bringing more attention to hockey, too.”
While Heated Rivalry brings new fans to the game, Bissonnette — a native of Welland, Ontario, Canada — is taking things back to the sport’s roots as an ambassador for the 2026 Kraft Hockeyville campaign, which raises money to help small Canadian communities with rink upgrades.
Heated Rivalry breakout star Hudson Williams has been on the receiving end of messages from closeted athletes since his show became a pop culture sensation. “It’s definitely the people who reach out, somewhat anonymously, who are like, ‘I’m still a professional player still, and I’m still in the closet,’” Williams, 24, told Andy Cohen on […]
“For some of these communities in Canada, that’s the focal point of their town,” Bissonnette explained. “They’re not highly populated, so a lot of their core memories end up deriving from the local arena. A donation can help fix up the boards or a locker room or the glass or whatever it is. Maybe a new Zamboni. Whatever it might be to help create memories for kids coming up at their local rinks, that’s why I wanted to get involved.”
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To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the campaign, one winner from each of Canada’s 13 provinces and territories will receive $50,000 for rink upgrades. The winning community will receive $250,000 in arena upgrades and the opportunity to host an NHL preseason game. The runner-up will receive $100,000 in arena upgrades.
“Canada should continue to make it resourceful and allow as many kids to play as possible,” Bissonnette said. “Until at least a certain age, right? Give them that opportunity.”
The nomination stage is currently underway and lasts until March 1. Individuals can visit https://hockeyville.kraftheinz.com/home to submit stories about why their community should be the next Kraft Hockeyville.
