Actors and creators attend the Prime Time conference in Ottawa
Hudson Williams met Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the Canadian Media Producers Association Prime Time conference in Ottawa on January 28, 2026. The moment took place during a red carpet event where the actor and Carney spoke about the international success of the series Heated Rivalry. After taking photos together, Williams helped the Prime Minister put on a white fleece and briefly posed with him again for the camera.
The Prime Minister praises the creators and the message of Heated Rivalry
During the event, Carney also met Hetead Rivalry actor Sophie Nélisse and creators Jacob Tierney and Brendan Brady. He later gave a surprise speech to delegates, where he praised the creative team for keeping the original tone and story of the series. He highlighted their decision to continue producing the show in Canada after trying to take it to Hollywood, finally bringing the series to Canadian streamer Crave. He also congratulated them for creating a story that connects with viewers both in Canada and other countries. In addition, Carney expressed that the show reflects values that are important to Canadian culture and creative freedom.
“Congratulations on creating a story that has struck a chord with so many across this country, around the world. Because of you, cottage season will have a whole new meaning this summer,” The Prime Minister said.
The series gains global attention and prepares for a new season
Heated Rivalry follows two professional ice hockey players whose rivalry turns into secret sexual encounters until the two men start a romance. Williams stars alongside Connor Storrie in the lead roles as Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, respectively. The series became widely successful after being picked up internationally by HBO Max and has helped launch both actors’ careers into the mainstream. The Canadian Prime Minister revealed that he has watched five episodes and praised the show for exploring masculinity and inclusion. Meanwhile, the production team is preparing scripts for a second season, following the strong response from audiences worldwide to the first installment.