From passing the Olympic torch to Saturday Night Live, the surge of Heated Rivalry has created a unique cultural intersection between queer romance fans and mainstream sports media. In this program, we’ll discuss the state of the National Hockey League and its surrounding fandoms before, during and after Heated Rivalry, how Heated Rivalry came to be a cultural phenomenon, and the unique opportunity Heated Rivalry fans have to push for the inclusion in hockey that Shane, Ilya and Scott fight so hard for.