The world of queer sports storytelling just got an unexpected fan: NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. In a recent interview with The Hockey News, Bettman revealed he binged the hit series Heated Rivalry in a single night. The show centers on a passionate enemies-to-lovers romance between rival hockey stars Shane Hollander, played by Hudson Williams, and Ilya Rozanov, played by Connor Storrie.
Bettman said, “It’s a wonderful story…The content — particularly for young people — may be a little spicy, so you have to balance that out.” Still, he praised the series as very well done, noting, “I could see where they were picking at things we (as a league) had done in the past.” Bettman said the show helped draw new fans to the NHL during the 2025–26 season, comparing its cultural impact to Taylor Swift’s influence on NFL viewership. The commissioner also addressed the league’s stance on Pride.
While affirming support for LGBTQ+ fans and Pride Nights, he reiterated that themed jerseys, including Pride jerseys, will not return to warm-ups. He said, “It wasn’t about Pride jerseys or Pride night…It was becoming a distraction.”
