TL;DR

• Gay hockey drama Heated Rivalry has become a word-of-mouth hit in Russia.
• Fans risk fines and prison under anti-LGBTQ “extremism” laws for engaging with queer content.
• The show spreads through illegal streams and Telegram groups with tens of thousands of users.
• Russia has ongoing criminal cases targeting LGBTQ “propaganda.”
• Despite danger, fans are sharing coded merchandise, shrines, and secret online posts.

A Forbidden Love Story Ignites — in the Most Dangerous Place to Watch It

In a country where a rainbow keychain can get you detained, Russia has developed a secret, fervent love affair with the gay hockey drama Heated Rivalry. The show — centered on the smoldering, enemies-to-lovers tension between Russian player Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie) and Canadian rival Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) — is exploding across illegal streaming sites and Telegram channels.

But there’s a catch: publicly supporting or even referencing the show can get you fined, jailed, or slapped with charges under Russia’s extremist anti-LGBTQ laws.

Still, the fandom thrives — quietly, creatively, defiantly.

A Romance on Ice Becomes a Political Flashpoint

One fan from Moscow described watching the series as “a protest,” a small act of rebellion against a government that criminalizes queer existence. Russia’s Supreme Court banned the so-called LGBTQ “movement” in 2023, labeling it extremist. The punishment? Up to 12 years in prison for “participation,” and up to four years for repeat “display” of LGBTQ symbols like rainbow flags.

In this climate, even whispering about Heated Rivalry is an act of courage.

Yet fans persist. One viewer keeps a shrine to the characters in her apartment — photos, keychains, quiet devotion tucked away from the state’s watchful eyes. Others post coded images on Telegram or Instagram, hoping only other fans will understand.

Illegal Streams, 45,000 Followers, and an Online Underground

Since HBO Max and Canada’s Crave Media aren’t available in Russia, fans have turned to piracy and encrypted messaging apps. One Telegram group dedicated to the series has over 45,000 followers, with admins rushing to upload episodes mere hours after their U.S. release — often with Russian subtitles ready to go.

When a drone threat temporarily shut down parts of the internet and delayed uploads, admins even apologized. Queer solidarity, Russian edition.

Despite its taboo status, the show boasts an 8.5 rating on Kinopoisk, Russia’s homegrown IMDb.

Criminal Cases Rise as the Government Cracks Down

Russia currently has at least 17 active criminal cases involving LGBTQ “extremism,” according to advocacy organization Coming Out. Authorities have even launched investigations into streaming executives from platforms like Kinopoisk, Wink, Ivi, and others for allegedly promoting LGBTQ content.

The risks are real. But so is the yearning.

Queer Fans Find Joy, Even in Fear

One 26-year-old gay fan told NBC News the series makes him feel hopeful: “There’s a world out there where you can exist.” He adds that in Russia, “you can’t kiss your boyfriend on the ice.”

Another fan describes it perfectly: consuming queer media in Russia feels like “Russian roulette.”

Even brands are joining the shadow fandom — quietly selling candles featuring character jersey numbers, or editing their products into premiere photos without daring to mention the show by name.

In a country where President Vladimir Putin frames “traditional family values” as untouchable and recently joked about U.S.-Russia hockey showdowns with Donald Trump, fans of a queer hockey romance are subtly queering the national pastime.

Love Still Finds a Way — Even Under Oppression

One man proudly wears a sweater referencing a Soviet-era hockey cartoon only fans of Heated Rivalry would recognize. “If they’ve seen it, they’ll know,” he said.

Women inspired by the show are attending hockey games. Secret merch is circulating. People are ice-skating to the soundtrack on social media. A whole underground culture is blooming in the shadows.

Because even in Russia’s harshest crackdown in decades, queer people — and the people who love queer stories — are refusing to disappear.

Impact on the LGBTQ Community

This fandom is more than entertainment; it’s a lifeline. Heated Rivalry offers Russian LGBTQ people something the state is desperately trying to erase: representation, connection, and hope.

In a country where LGBTQ existence is criminalized, the show provides a mirror — and a reminder that a freer world exists beyond their borders. Yet the risks highlight how authoritarian regimes use anti-LGBTQ laws to isolate communities, silence expression, and instill fear.

Still, the passion surrounding the series proves the opposite: queer culture survives, evolves, and finds cracks in the walls built to contain it. Even underground, the community beats on.