Heated Rivalry rekindles coming-out courage for aging gay hockey fans
The HBO series Heated Rivalry has become a surprising cultural touchstone for older gay hockey fans, reframing coming-out memories around the sport and building renewed community; real-life couples share their stories—getting married on the ice and rediscovering love through hockey—while fans and a longtime blogger reflect on inclusivity in hockey and the show's potential to revive a once-vibrant gay fandom, despite some critics calling the early episodes a slog.