How Many Actors Actually Auditioned for Ilya Rozanov’s Role in ‘Heated Rivalry’?

 

In the competitive world of prestige television casting, roles can take unexpected turns, as Canadian actor Kaden Connors experienced during the auditions for Crave’s hit hockey romance series Heated Rivalry.

Connors originally auditioned for the lead role of charismatic Russian hockey star Ilya Rozanov, the part that ultimately went to American actor Connor Storrie. Instead, producers saw potential in Connors for a different character and cast him as Sasha, Ilya’s former lover and close friend from his past in Russia.

In recent interviews during the show’s press tour, Connors confirmed he received the breakdown for Ilya and went the extra mile by translating English audition scenes — including the memorable “Tuna Melt” sequence — into Russian with help from a friend, then memorizing and performing them with coached pronunciation. His dedication impressed the team, even if they envisioned a different direction for the lead.

“When they saw my audition, they were interested but thought, ‘Let’s plug him in as Sasha,’” Connors recalled. “It just made sense.”

The pivot worked. Sasha, a character created for the series and not present in Rachel Reid’s original Game Changers novels, has become a fan favorite for his complex, “slithering” dynamic with Ilya. Connors has expressed interest in reprising the role in future seasons.

Importantly, Connors emphasized there is no off-screen tension with Storrie. “It’s the name of the game,” he said, noting that he himself had previously booked a role that Storrie had auditioned for — a common occurrence in the industry.

The casting process for Heated Rivalry involved multiple rounds and chemistry reads, with producers seeking actors who could handle the linguistic demands and intense physicality of the hockey-world drama. Storrie’s standout self-tapes and chemistry with co-star Hudson Williams (Shane Hollander) ultimately secured him the role of Ilya.

The series has been a breakout success, elevating its relatively unknown leads and sparking widespread fan enthusiasm. Season 2 is in development, drawing inspiration from subsequent books in Reid’s series.