When Heated Rivalry premiered, the steamy hockey romance quickly became a breakout hit, building a passionate fanbase eager to spend more time with its characters.
The series — based on the Game Changer novels by Rachel Reid — is already set to return for a second season in April 2027. Creator Jacob Tierney has confirmed the new season will follow the events of The Long Game, continuing the love story of rival hockey stars Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov.
But fans have another question: could the show’s beloved side couple, Scott Hunter and Kip Grady, get their own series?
Rumours of a “Skip” spin-off
In episode three of Heated Rivalry, viewers were introduced to the romance between team captain Scott Hunter (played by François Arnaud) and smoothie barista Kip Grady (played by Robbie G.K.).
The couple — affectionately dubbed “Skip” by fans — quickly became a favourite storyline.
Recently, rumours circulating online have suggested the pair could receive a four-episode limited spin-off series expanding their relationship beyond the events of the main show.
So far, however, no official announcement has confirmed that such a project is in development.
What the cast and creators are saying
While nothing is confirmed, people connected to the series have hinted that the story may not be over.
During an appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, Arnaud suggested fans might see more of Scott and Kip in the future.
“Oh, I’m hearing all sorts of things,” he said. “I’m sure that you will see more of them.”
Arnaud added that he was eager to find out whether the couple’s story continues within the main show or in a separate spin-off.
Meanwhile, Robbie G.K. shared his own hopes while speaking at the GLAAD Media Awards.
The actor said he’d love to see Scott and Kip’s story build toward a wedding.
“I think it would be a fun scene to film,” he said, imagining Kip wearing “a loose-fitting white linen shirt with a deep V.”
Tierney himself has kept details under wraps but hinted there may be more stories to explore in the show’s wider universe.
“We are definitely looking to explore a lot of options for this universe,” he said on the What Chaos! podcast.
Where Scott and Kip’s story ended
Scott and Kip’s relationship unfolds dramatically in season one.
The couple initially split after Kip told Scott he refused to stay closeted, while Scott feared coming out could destroy his professional hockey career.
Their story reaches a major turning point later in the season when Scott publicly comes out in a spectacular moment — pulling Kip onto the ice and kissing him after winning the Stanley Cup.
The scene becomes one of the series’ most memorable moments.
What happens next in the books
The Game Changer novels continue Scott and Kip’s story long after the events depicted in the show.
After coming out publicly, Scott became an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ inclusion in professional hockey.
The couple also appears in later books, including Common Goal, and eventually gets married, while Scott even goes on to buy the gay bar The Kingfisher, which becomes a gathering place for many characters across the series.
Because the novels are deeply interconnected, there is plenty of material that could be adapted for a spin-off.
Will the spin-off actually happen?
At this stage, a Scott and Kip series remains purely speculative.
But given the characters’ popularity — and the depth of storylines still to explore — many fans are hopeful that the Heated Rivalry universe could expand.
If it does, Scott and Kip’s romance might just be the next chapter.
