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When Heated Rivalry premiered in late 2025, the Canadian sports romance attracted tonnes of fans worldwide. Written and directed by Jacob Tierney and adapted from Rachel Reid’s Game Changers novels, the series centres on rival hockey stars Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov as they balance their careers with a private, long-term relationship.
As interest in the series has grown, so has curiosity about its real-world settings. According to reports, shortly after the season one finale aired on December 26, online searches for cottages in Ontario’s Muskoka District surged by more than 110 per cent. Local tourism officials noted an unusual rise in winter bookings, with data indicating a strong 2026 season. While most of the interest has come from Canadian travellers, about 15 per cent of new bookings are from the United States and other international countries, highlighting the growing enthusiasm for the series.
From scenic lakehouse cottages and premier hotels to elegant restaurants and historic landmarks, here are all the Heated Rivalry filming locations fans can visit.
Located on Augusta Street in Hamilton, Ontario, Ciao Bella is a key filming location in Heated Rivalry. Featured as an upscale Italian restaurant, it’s where Shane Hollander, one of the main characters, has lunch with his parents in Episodes 1 and 4. The restaurant is a real-life dining spot that serves fresh pasta, pizza, and cocktails.
Dundurn Castle, located on York Boulevard in Hamilton, Ontario, is a picturesque 19th-century estate featuring a 40-room neoclassical mansion. It was built between 1834 and 1835 for Sir Allan Napier MacNab. The location appears in episodes 2 and 4 of Heated Rivalry, where the site's trails and grounds were used to represent both a park in Moscow for Ilya's jog and, in a separate scene, a Montreal location for Shane's run.
In Episode 3 of Heated Rivalry, Relay Coffee Roasters in downtown Hamilton turns into a New York City smoothie bar called "Straw+Berry," the spot where Kip and Scott first cross paths. Scott’s jog through NYC is also filmed along King William Street, with Relay Coffee anchoring the scene.
Located in the Dundas neighbourhood of Hamilton, Ontario, The Winchester Arms is a long-standing British-style pub known for its live music, hearty fare, and classic pub atmosphere. In Heated Rivalry, it appears in Episode 3 as the laid-back hangout where Kip and his friends gather to watch Scott’s hockey games. The pub also sets the scene for a dinner between Kip and his friend Elena.
A private home at 66 Weirs Lane in Dundas was used throughout Heated Rivalry as the setting for Ilya Rozanov’s luxurious home, appearing mainly in Episode 4. The property’s interiors and exteriors helped establish his grand private life. Its gym was also used in Episode 1 for the scene where Ilya and Shane ride on their stationary bikes, standing in for a hotel facility.
Built as the Canadian National Railway Station between 1929 and 1931, LIUNA Station is a historic landmark. The premier event venue serves as a major filming location for the series. Its grand lobby and interior banquet spaces were used to shoot the high-end hockey fundraiser gala scene featuring characters Kip and Scott in episode 3.
Le Tambour Tavern, a steakhouse at 345 James St N in Hamilton, Ontario, serves as an important filming location in Heated Rivalry. The tavern provides the backdrop for several dramatic moments between Shane and his girlfriend, Rose, including pivotal dinner scenes that deepen the tension in their relationship.
Mansion, also known as Mansion Hamilton or The Mansion, is a nightclub on King Street East in Hamilton, Ontario. It doubles as an elite Montreal club in the show. Appearing in Episode 4 as "Ciel" it serves as the backdrop for a tense encounter between Shane and Ilya, the iconic club scene when the Russian band t.A.T.u.'s “All the Things She Said” plays and the two rivals lock eyes across the room.
The Sheraton Hamilton Hotel appears in multiple episodes of Heated Rivalry, standing in as a recurring hotel setting for the main characters. One notable scene features Ilya in his room watching Shane’s post-game interview on television.
Trocadero Tavern, a historic, family-owned restaurant in Hamilton, Ontario, is transformed into a Russian setting in Heated Rivalry. In Episode 5, it provides the backdrop for a tense, emotional family dinner following the funeral of Ilya Rozanov’s father, which is also one of the series’s more pivotal dramatic moments.
The Pink Tunnel, a graffiti-covered walkway near Shamrock Park in Hamilton, Ontario, was the backdrop of one of the most important moments from the show. In Episode 5, following his father’s funeral, Ilya stands in the tunnel, which acts as a Moscow underpass, and makes a phone call to Shane, confessing his love to him.
McMaster University, a prestigious, research-intensive public university in Hamilton, Ontario, also features in the hit TV series. In Episode 1, the exterior doors of the Burridge Gym double as Saskatchewan, marking Shane and Ilya’s first meeting. The David Braley Athletic Centre and the university’s Pulse Fitness Centre are also featured, including the workout montage scene in Episode 4, making the campus an important backdrop in the series’ early chapters.
FirstOntario Concert Hall is originally a premier, 2,100+ seat performing arts venue in downtown Hamilton, Ontario. In Heated Rivalry, the location appears in Episode 2 as the venue for the fictional Major League Hockey Awards. Shane and Ilya share the stage here to present an award.
"The Cottage" in Heated Rivalry that fans are now beelining to get a glimpse of, is the Barlochan Cottage on Lake Muskoka, Ontario. This was the primary filming location for the season 1 series finale, doubling as Shane’s summer cottage in Quebec. Designed by Trevor McIvor Architect Inc. and completed in 2020, the 2,500-sq-ft, four-season private residence was chosen for its modern yet understated design, with floor-to-ceiling glass and charred wood overlooking a secluded lakeside setting. The property provides the perfect backdrop for some of the series’ most heartfelt moments between Shane and Ilya.
Beyond Hamilton and Muskoka, several other locations in Ontario help bring the world of Heated Rivalry to life.
Sleeman Centre in Guelph acts as the backdrop for all hockey rink scenes, including Major League Hockey (MLH) games, All-Star matches, Olympic sequences, and crowd shots from the stands.
In Toronto, the Park Hyatt Toronto appears multiple times; its Presidential Suite doubles as Scott’s apartment, while its Joni Restaurant hosts the Episode 1 after-party set in Las Vegas following the MLH Awards.
The SoHo Hotel Toronto is featured as Shane’s hotel room after the MLH draft, and the rooftop pool and bar at Lavelle stands in for a Tampa hotel during the All-Star Game.
Meanwhile, a private mansion at 88 Rocmary Place in Vaughan is used as Ilya’s Russian home, including the lavish party hosted by Russian diplomats.
1. Where was Heated Rivalry filmed?
The series was primarily filmed across Ontario, including Hamilton, Muskoka, Toronto, Guelph and Vaughan.
2. Was Heated Rivalry filmed in Muskoka?
Yes. Barlochan Cottage on Lake Muskoka served as Shane’s summer cottage in the series finale.
3. Which city was used for most filming scenes?
Hamilton, Ontario, was a major filming hub, doubling for cities like Moscow, Montreal and New York.
4. Where were the hockey scenes filmed?
All hockey rink scenes were filmed at Sleeman Centre in Guelph, Ontario.
5. Can fans visit Heated Rivalry filming locations?
Many locations such as restaurants, pubs, hotels and public landmarks are accessible to visitors.
