Content warning: This article discusses suicide and depression. Season 2 of Heated Rivalry has officially started filming, and fans are already making their voices heard. ICYMI, the series Heated Rivalry — based on the queer hockey romance series Game Changers by Rachel Reid — shows the journey of two star hockey players who go from rivals to lovers: Shane Hollander, played by Hudson Williams, and Ilya Rozanov, played by Connor Storrie. These two actors made the fandom even more addicting with their distinct, sweet personalities and good looks. One of Storrie’s most notable features is his curls — or they were, since he seems to be taking on a new look for his role as Ilya. And, of course, the internet has thoughts bout Connor Storrie’s buzz cut.
Storrie has not only gotten rid of his curly hair, but has completely buzzed his head. A photo posted yesterday by a Connor Storrie updates account on X shows him, with a fully buzzed head, and Christina Chang, who plays Yuna Hollander, eating together at a restaurant. Since Heated Rivalry has recently begun filming, many fans have guessed that the haircut will mean a new look for Ilya in Season 2, despite him still having curls in The Long Game (the second book in the series). Spoiler alert: Spoilers for The Long Game ahead.
This unexpected look has sparked a lot of online debate about whether it was a good idea. Some fans are mourning the curls, with one person commenting, “gone but not forgotten,” and another saying, “I mean he’s hot anyway, but for Ilya I was hoping longer hair…” While the shock is understandable, because those curls truly looked like a Greek god’s, many fans have defended the new look. Under the original Connor Storrie updates post, one person commented, “YEES! Good! Connor is so hot as usual! And for the people in the back: his Ilya is fantastic, curls or buzz cut, because he’s a fantastic actor.” Another commented, “Why the f*ck is everyone having a meltdown over f*cking hair? He’s still hot and stupidly Slavic passing. Now even more so, dare I say.”
Others are less focused on Storrie and how he looks, and more on what this shift means for Ilya and his mental health. In The Long Game, Ilya faces intense mental health struggles with severe depression, and while he never shaves his head in the book, many think the new haircut will be a result of the character’s mental health issues. Ilya struggles with his mother’s suicide from when he was a child, the recent death of his abusive father, the stress of hiding his relationship and sexuality, and the stress of being a professional hockey player.
While what the buzz cut means for Ilya and Storrie is yet to be seen, we are always in good hands with Storrie and the rest of the Heated Rivalry team. For now, I’m going to rewatch and enjoy those beautiful season one curls again while I wait.
If you or someone you know is seeking help for LGBTQ+ mental health or safety concerns, call The Trevor Project‘s 24/7 Lifeline at 866-4-U-TREVOR (866-488-7386). You can also reach out for instant message or text message support via TrevorChat and TrevorText, respectively. For additional resources for trans people, call the Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860. In an emergency, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or call 911.