Author Rachel Reid Dismisses Fan Criticism as New Cast Members Join Season Two

Rachel Reid, author of the “Game Changer” novels, used an Instagram story to shrug off criticism that emerged after the announcement of Justice Smith and Charlie Gillespie joining the second season of “Heated Rivalry.” The post referenced earlier detractors who had opposed the casting of the series’ lead characters. Smith is slated to play Harris Drover, while Gillespie will take on the role of Troy Barrett, though neither network has provided full character bios.

The new season will also feature returning actors Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams, who rose to prominence in the first season’s storyline about rival hockey stars Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander. Reid’s book series already explores the backgrounds of Harris and Troy within a hockey context. Previously, cast members Hudson Williams and François Arnaud publicly rebuked hateful comments from fans, urging respectful engagement.