Heated Rivalry strikes a chord in Regina’s LGBTQ2S+ community

Regina chiropractor Kara Haus experienced a bit of "Heated Rivalry" in her own life, as she met her current partner while playing hockey. (Source: Kara Haus)

One of Heated Rivalry’s main plot points centres on hockey pro Shane Hollander coming to grips with the fact that he is queer and in love with his biggest rival.

The storyline is resonating with Regina’s LGBTQ2S+ community. Neal Davis says watching the character navigate those emotions brought back memories of his own experiences.

“I remember what it felt like,” Davis said. “I remember that fear, that butterfly in your stomach when you meet someone you’re attracted to and want to get to know. But also the long, drawn-out wait because you didn’t want anyone to know.”

The show is also connecting with local chiropractor Kara Haus, who met her wife, Dru Black, through hockey.

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While Haus’s marriage has a happy ending, she recalls trying to keep their relationship confidential in the late 2000s.

“As our relationship grew into something, it was a huge secret,” Haus said. “We felt like we were doing something illegal and that we were doing something wrong.”

Haus says she was pleasantly surprised by how the non-heterosexual relationship was portrayed in the series, noting that many television shows and films centred on queer characters often end in adversity or tragedy. Something she admits she once feared could happen in her own relationship.

“It’s been 19 years and nothing has ruined it,” Haus said. “When I’m watching the show, it’s a very feel-good thing to see.”

According to Davis, Heated Rivalry has also acted as a unifying force within the queer community.

“One of the beauties of the LGBTQ-plus community is that we tend to find our own family and stick together for life,” Davis said. “So when you see that camaraderie within the characters in this show, it’s amazing.”

That sense of connection is expected to continue, as the hit series was greenlit for a second season in December.

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