TL;DR

• Hockey player Jesse Kortuem says Heated Rivalry helped inspire his coming out.
• Actor Hudson Williams surprised him with a heartfelt video message.
• Kortuem’s coming-out post went viral after he described hiding his sexuality for years.
• Episode 5’s queer romance storyline was pivotal for him.
• Kortuem hopes his story inspires struggling LGBTQ youth in sports.

Hollywood Meets the Hockey Rink: ‘Heated Rivalry’ Star Stuns Player Inspired to Come Out

When Queer Sports Fiction Becomes Real-Life Courage

In a heart-tugging crossover between Hollywood and the hockey rink, Heated Rivalry star Hudson Williams delivered a surprise message to Minnesota hockey veteran Jesse Kortuem—after the athlete revealed the queer-led sports drama was a turning point in his decision to come out publicly. And yes, sweetie, the moment was as wholesome, emotional, and gay-as-a-Zamboni covered in glitter.

Kortuem posted earlier this month about the silent weight he’d carried as a closeted young player—afraid his teammates and coaches wouldn’t accept a gay boy on the ice. Growing up with three older brothers and a locker room culture that didn’t exactly scream “rainbow-friendly,” he said he lived in a “constant state of dichotomy,” loving the game but fearing his truth. For years, he believed being gay and being a hockey player simply couldn’t coexist.

That all shifted when he attended an event with the Cutting Edges Hockey Club, a queer-inclusive team where he finally felt peace. But it was Heated Rivalry’s unapologetically queer storyline that cracked something open, he said. The show centers on a fiery romance between rival NHL players Shane (Williams) and Ilya (Connor Storrie), and features a secondary storyline about closeted player Scott Hunter falling for smoothie-shop employee Kip. Episode 5—where Scott puts it all on the line in front of fans—hit Jesse in the heart like a puck to the chest, but in a good way.

A Viral Coming Out—and an Unexpected Hollywood Hello

Kortuem’s emotional Facebook post went viral, catching the attention of fans, teammates, LGBTQ advocates—and eventually, The Drew Barrymore Show. Invited to share his story, Kortuem recounted how seeing queer joy in a sport he once believed too rigid for self-expression “changed everything.”

Then came the surprise.

A video message from Hudson Williams popped up on-screen. The actor thanked Kortuem for watching the show and for his bravery in sharing his truth: “It means a lot that the show could play a small part in a positive thing in your life,” Williams said, adding that Kortuem “sounds like a really cool guy.”

Kortuem was floored—“Wow, that’s incredible… I’m overwhelmed,” he replied, trying not to tear up on national TV.

Queer Representation on Ice: Why It Matters

Kortuem didn’t skate in the NHL, but he played in multiple leagues as a defenseman and center—spaces where LGBTQ athletes have historically been expected to stay silent. Seeing a queer player get his happily-ever-after in Heated Rivalry made him feel, for the first time, like that kind of story could happen in real life too.

He shared that after he came out publicly, someone reached out to say his story gave them the courage to come out to their own family. “And they accepted me,” that person told him—proof, Kortuem said, that one voice can create a ripple of hope.

What he wants now is simple: to be that voice for someone else. “It’s about giving that kid hope that doesn’t think he can go on any longer,” he said. Maybe it’s a player in Fargo getting bullied on the ice, maybe it’s a college athlete terrified of losing their spot if they come out. Kortuem wants them to know there’s a place for them in the sport—and in the world.

A Win for Queer Athletes Everywhere

This story is the exact queer sports energy the world needs. Representation isn’t just about characters kissing under stadium lights—it’s about real people feeling seen, safe, and inspired. Jesse Kortuem’s courage, amplified by a show daring enough to tell queer stories on the ice, proves that visibility saves lives.

And Hudson Williams showing up to cheer him on? That’s the kind of assist every LGBTQ athlete deserves.