NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman reveals why he binge-watched 'Heated Rivalry', thinks it's a “wonderful story”

Gary Bettman, commissioner of the NHL, has a new, unexpected title on his watchlist. The 73-year-old head of the National Hockey League (NHL) confessed that he binge-watched the popular sports show “Heated Rivalry”—and he enjoyed it.

In an interview with The Hockey News, Gary Bettman said the first season of Heated Rivalry was 'wonderful,' referring to the buzz around the show, which had already become a phenomenon with its LGBTQ+ hockey storyline.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman praises Heated Rivalry’s storytelling and realism

Gary Bettman felt that Heated Rivalry was 'very compelling' and that although the content was 'a little spicy,' it could appeal to younger viewers.

“I thought the storyline was very compelling. And a lot of fun, because I could see where they were picking at things we (as a league) had done in the past, whether or not it was being in Sochi or the All-Star Game in Tampa. It was very well done," he shared.

The show centers around hockey players Ilya Rozanov of the Boston Raiders and Shane Hollander of the Montreal Metros. Even though it is a fictional story, the depiction of queer players within the NHL by Heated Rivalry has struck a chord within the hockey community. A gay player, Jesse Korteum, a former pro hockey player, recently came out, thanking the show for helping him build the courage to do it.

The series has also been linked with sparking interest in the 2025-26 season of the NHL league, particularly among younger audiences. Bettman confirmed the impact of the series by pointing out its significance in increasing the culture of hockey.

Though the NHL receives praise for Heated Rivalry, the organization still receives criticism for not reinstating the hosting of the games known as "Pride nights" and the specialized shirts associated with that theme. Bettman explained that the NHL’s decision was not related to the inclusion of the LGBTQ+ community.

“It wasn’t about Pride jerseys or Pride night; it was about the fact of bringing things into the game that might not be embraced by the players wearing the jerseys," he added. "It could be heritage nights—we don’t allow it—it could be political causes. It could be in times of conflict between countries and national origins. It was becoming a distraction, not just for the Pride jerseys, but for a variety of other things. It’s a misrepresentation of what we did to suggest that it was about Pride jerseys; it was about the whole issue of what you put on the ice and how, when players don’t embrace the cause, whatever it is, then you create a distraction, and it doesn’t fulfill the purpose in terms of embracing Pride nights.”

Bettman reiterated that the league is always dedicated to performing its good deeds in support of the

Also read: NHL Olympic Update: Gary Bettman, National Hockey League Players’ Association review ice conditions

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