Isabelle is a staff writer at Daily Hive covering all things national and trending. She was an assistant editor at Chatelaine and has written for the Toronto Star, Complex Canada and the RepresentASIAN Project. Got a story tip? Reach her at isabelle@dailyhive.com

The girls (Canada&#8217;s major cities) are fighting over Canadian Heated Rivalry star Hudson Williams, and fans are taking sides online.
If you&#8217;ve been living under a rock, Heated Rivalry is the new Crave Original series that has taken the world by storm.
The TV adaptation of author Rachel Reid&#8217;s international best-selling Game Changers series tells the slow-burning love story of two rival hockey superstars, Shane Hollander (Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie), that spans over a decade.
<div id="attachment_2233190" style="width: 2058px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2233190" class="size-full wp-image-2233190" src="https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2026/01/Upped-my-Canadian-patriotism-by-about-5000000-2026-01-13T160901.601.jpg" alt="heated rivalry" width="2048" height="1365" srcset="https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2026/01/Upped-my-Canadian-patriotism-by-about-5000000-2026-01-13T160901.601.jpg 2048w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2026/01/Upped-my-Canadian-patriotism-by-about-5000000-2026-01-13T160901.601-500x333.jpg 500w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2026/01/Upped-my-Canadian-patriotism-by-about-5000000-2026-01-13T160901.601-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2026/01/Upped-my-Canadian-patriotism-by-about-5000000-2026-01-13T160901.601-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2026/01/Upped-my-Canadian-patriotism-by-about-5000000-2026-01-13T160901.601-1200x800.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" />Crave/Bell Media</div>
The show initially made headlines for the steamy sex scenes, but as more episodes were released, fans came to appreciate the portrayal of LGBTQ+ romance, the story&#8217;s examination of toxic masculinity in the NHL, and, of course, the charismatic lead actors of the show, Williams and Storrie.
Williams, who hails from Kamloops, B.C., has become a source of pride for Canada. In the past few months, the actor has skyrocketed to fame, making viral late-night appearances and attending glitzy red carpets, including the <a href="https://www.vogue.com/article/hudson-williams-connor-storrie-heartthrob-energy-2026-golden-globes" target="_blank">2026 Golden Globes</a>.
<iframe loading="lazy" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SfLq1eE_20A?si=oCrI4Rxy8CCRnztr" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
While the internet&#8217;s boyfriend of the moment makes his rounds in Hollywood, back home, some Canadian cities are taking advantage of the hype around Williams.
Shane Hollander, the character he plays in the show, is from Ottawa, and the city&#8217;s tourism board is definitely using that as clout.
Ottawa Tourism&#8217;s Instagram page <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ottawatourism/" target="_blank">updated its bio</a> to say &#8220;Birthplace of Shane Hollander. 🔥🏒&#8221;
<div id="attachment_2233521" style="width: 1390px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2233521" class="size-full wp-image-2233521" src="https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-14-at-1.28.22-PM.png" alt="hudson williams" width="1380" height="494" srcset="https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-14-at-1.28.22-PM.png 1380w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-14-at-1.28.22-PM-500x179.png 500w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-14-at-1.28.22-PM-1024x367.png 1024w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-14-at-1.28.22-PM-1200x430.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1380px) 100vw, 1380px" />Instagram</div>
It was also seen commenting on a Golden Globes post about Williams, saying, &#8220;That&#8217;s our boy.&#8221;
&#8220;Look at my city taxes, bro 😭&#8221; a post on X joked, sharing a screenshot of the comment.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Look at my city taxes bro 😭 <a href="https://t.co/9riCj3D3K1">pic.twitter.com/9riCj3D3K1</a>
— ottawaisms (@ottawaisms) <a href="https://twitter.com/ottawaisms/status/2010831241407287530?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Another account reposted that, calling on the City of Vancouver and B.C. to stand up.
&#8220;ARE YOU JUST GONNA SIT THERE AND TAKE IT, DO SOMETHING,&#8221; the X user posted, tagging the City of Vancouver, British Columbia, B.C. Premier David Eby, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sims, and the Canucks, for some reason.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
ARE YOU JUST GONNA SIT THERE AND TAKE IT DO SOMETHING <a href="https://twitter.com/CityofVancouver?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CityofVancouver</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BritishColumbia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BritishColumbia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/DavidEby?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DavidEby</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/kensim?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KenSim</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Canucks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Canucks</a> <a href="https://t.co/WzMReiFEkf">https://t.co/WzMReiFEkf</a>
— tee (@24hollanov81) <a href="https://twitter.com/24hollanov81/status/2010863199944593640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Although Williams was born in Kamloops, he went to Langara College in Vancouver to study film and acting and began his acting career in the city. In a recent interview at the Golden Globes, he even chose to <a href="https://vancouversun.com/entertainment/heated-rivalry-star-hudson-williams-donates-money-to-b-c-childrens-hospital-at-golden-globes" target="_blank">donate to B.C. Children&#8217;s Hospital</a> in Vancouver.
Montreal&#8217;s tourism board entered the chat, replying &#8220;Back off. He&#8217;s ours&#8221; to that post. Their stake in the game? Hollander plays for the fictional hockey team, the Montreal Metros, in the show.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none">
Back off. He&#8217;s ours. 😉
— Montréal (@Montreal) <a href="https://twitter.com/Montreal/status/2010914336827720023?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Someone in the replies came to the defence of Williams&#8217; actual hometown, Kamloops.
&#8220;@cityofkamloops COME GET YOUR BOY I SWEAR TO GOD&#8221; it reads.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none">
<a href="https://twitter.com/cityofkamloops?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cityofkamloops</a> COME GET YOUR BOY I SWEAR TO GOD
— den 🏒 (@holluhnov) <a href="https://twitter.com/holluhnov/status/2010882029110386856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
In an email statement to Daily Hive, the City of Vancouver acknowledged the growing &#8220;heated rivalry&#8221; between Canadian cities.
&#8220;The City of Vancouver is aware of the discussion between Ottawa and Montreal over who owns Shane Hollander, the fictional character on Heated Rivalry,&#8221; the response reads.
&#8220;The City would like to remind the public that the real-life actor, Hudson Williams, is a Vancouverite whom we are very proud of. The City of Vancouver will leave the fictional discussion to these two cities.&#8221;
The City of Kamloops has yet to reply to Daily Hive&#8217;s request for comment. However, its tourism board has updated its <a href="https://www.instagram.com/tourismkamloops/" target="_blank">Instagram bio</a> to &#8220;Birthplace of Hudson Williams. 🔥🏒&#8221;
<div id="attachment_2233516" style="width: 1314px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2233516" class="size-full wp-image-2233516" src="https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-14-at-1.46.14-PM.png" alt="hudson williams" width="1304" height="442" srcset="https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-14-at-1.46.14-PM.png 1304w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-14-at-1.46.14-PM-500x169.png 500w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-14-at-1.46.14-PM-1024x347.png 1024w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-14-at-1.46.14-PM-1200x407.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1304px) 100vw, 1304px" />Instagram</div>
In an email statement to Daily Hive on Wednesday, Tourism Kamloops said it has &#8220;absolutely been loving the cheeky banter that has flowed in.&#8221;
&#8220;Our hats off to Ottawa for making their move and kicking this off, we love it! We&#8217;ve got some things up our sleeves for keeping the fun rolling,&#8221; spokesperson Katy Morrison said.
&#8220;We&#8217;re super excited about the spotlight this is bringing to Canada and Canadian tourism in general.&#8221;
Either way, Williams&#8217; success is a win for all of Canada.
Have you been watching Heated Rivalry? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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Canadian cities are having a heated rivalry over ‘who owns Shane Hollander’

Vancouver

Calgary

Toronto

Edmonton

The girls (Canada's major cities) are fighting over Canadian Heated Rivalry star Hudson Williams, and fans are taking sides online.