The Cabin Owner Who Needed 'Soul Searching' Before Letting HBO Back In
A Toronto doctor's remote cabin in Muskoka, Ontario, became one of the most talked-about locations in HBO Max and Crave's hockey drama Heated Rivalry — and letting the cameras back for Season 2 was not a snap decision.
Michael Kutryk, who owns the cabin featured in the Season 1 finale, told HGTV he needed to do "a little bit of soul searching" before agreeing to host the production again (HGTV). Kutryk said he could not bring himself to be difficult or squeeze the production when they returned to ask about Season 2.
"I did a little bit of soul searching about allowing them to come back," Kutryk told HGTV. "I could not bring myself to be difficult and squeeze them" (Variety).
Heated Rivalry follows hockey stars Shane Hollander, played by Hudson Williams, and Ilya Rozanov, played by Connor Storrie, who hide a secret romance behind a fierce on-ice rivalry. The series is based on Rachel Reid's Game Changer novels. Season 1's finale, titled "The Cottage," brought the two characters to Kutryk's remote family cabin for a pivotal scene (Variety).
Kutryk first learned the show existed by accident. He was at work when he heard nurses talking about a new series — and realised they were discussing a show filmed at his own cabin (HGTV). He then listened to the Game Changer audiobook. His jaw dropped, he said, at its explicit content, which left him wondering what exactly the crew had been filming on his property (Variety).
When the production called to ask how much he wanted for the Season 2 return, Kutryk told them they had scratched his table. He named what he called a reasonable price. The production team, he said, was shocked and appreciative (Variety).
HBO greenlit Heated Rivalry Season 2 in December 2025, with an expected release in April 2027. The new season will draw on two of Reid's follow-up novels, The Long Game and Role Model, continuing Hollander and Rozanov's story (The National Desk). Cabin filming is confirmed to continue for the new season (Screen Rant).
In early August, the production team posted on social media asking fans to respect the Season 2 filming process and give the crew space (ABC News).
Kutryk described himself as a private person. The cabin, he said, is his retreat — built to get away from the world. He does not know how much longer he will continue to share it (Variety).
For now, the cabin that became a fan-favourite location is back in front of the cameras. Whether it returns for a third time is something its owner has not decided.
