At a Glance
- “Heated Rivalry” finale scored IMDb’s top rating of 2025
- Bakers are honoring the queer hockey romance with custom cakes and cupcakes
- Viewers praise the show’s rare happy ending for LGBTQ+ characters
- Why it matters: The edible tributes show how the series has become a cultural touchstone for LGBTQ+ joy and visibility
Since the season finale of “Heated Rivalry” aired, fans have turned to ovens instead of ice rinks to celebrate the breakout Canadian romance series. The show, which follows professional hockey players Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov as they go from bitter rivals to lovers, has inspired a wave of themed baked goods across the U.S.
The six-episode drama landed on HBO Max in November 2025 and quickly climbed into the platform’s top 10. Its finale earned the highest IMDb rating of the year, cementing its place as a fan-favorite adaptation of the original novel.
TikTok Trend Turns to Buttercream
TikTok creator Jake Eldridge shared his take on Dec. 24, frosting a vanilla cake with the characters’ jerseys and a central hockey puck. In the video, he jokes, “Santa’s not the only thing coming this week,” nodding to the show’s steamy reputation. Commenters praised the design, with one calling it “one of the Top 3 best hockey cakes.”
Professional Bakeries Join In
A Threads user known as @vanlifegreenie, who works at a bakery, posted on Jan. 3 about a customer request for the couple’s likeness on a cake. The decorator hand-piped the portrait after the client skipped the edible-image upgrade. “Honestly I think this is better,” the baker wrote, adding a shy-face emoji.
Cupcakes Celebrate Queer Romance
Abby Jimenez, author and owner of Nadia Cupcakes, baked multiple batches of “Heated Rivalry” cupcakes. She tells News Of Losangeles she values how the series puts queer romance front and center. “Shane and Ilya’s love story has truly sparked a cultural phenomenon that put us all in a chokehold,” Jimenez says. “Our staff is watching the show along with the rest of the world, we are obsessed, and we enjoy making desserts that celebrate the things we love!”
Flavors Inspired by Characters
Threads baker Sarah (@kaleidoscopebakes) crafted a half ginger-ale-spice, half chocolate-cola layer cake on Dec. 31. The split flavor reflects Shane’s love of ginger ale and Ilya’s fondness for cola. “When I read the books, I knew I had to make a cake inspired by Shane’s love of ginger ale and Ilya’s love of cola someday,” she tells News Of Losangeles. Ending 2025 with this design “felt so fitting.”
Sarah calls the on-screen relationship “queer joy” with a “happy ending,” a narrative she says is still uncommon for gay and lesbian characters. “Despite all of the hardships Shane and Ilya go through, their love is enough to persevere. It’s inspirational and invigorating!” she explains. She adds that the show “created a safe space for myself and many other queer people during a time where the world continuously doesn’t feel safe,” and she believes the characters would love the cake tribute.
Key Takeaways
- The edible tributes highlight the emotional connection viewers feel to the characters’ journey from rivalry to romance
- Fans praise the series for offering LGBTQ+ representation that ends on a hopeful note
- Both home bakers and professional shops are finding creative ways to keep the story alive beyond the screen
