Heated Rivalry has announced six more additions to the cast for its second season, including the actor who will embody one of the series’ principal antagonists. Yet there is a twist. David Tomlinson (Cross, Travel Companions), who had already been spotted by fans on set in the days prior, is apparently set to portray a slightly altered variation of Dallas Kent from Rachel Reid’s novels on which the series is based, this version bearing the name Cody Kent.
Heated Rivalry: who is Cody Kent/Dallas Kent?
Dallas Kent is a character tied to the arc of Troy Barrett (Charlie Gillespie), another fresh addition to the cast. He is central to the fifth book of Reid’s Game Changers series, titled Role Model, and he plays for the Toronto Guardians alongside Dallas as his best friend and teammate. At the outset, Troy is portrayed as an arrogant player deeply embedded in the team’s toxic culture. When Dallas is accused of sexual assault, Troy does not defend him; instead, he confronts him in public and accuses him of being a rapist. This stance proves costly for Troy: the Guardians choose to sacrifice him rather than their star, and Troy is traded to the Ottawa Centaurs, where he teams up with Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie).
It soon becomes clear that behind Troy’s abrasive exterior lies a hidden truth: he is gay, deeply closeted, and terrified of being found out. The revelation comes with the involvement of Harris Drover (Justice Smith), the bright and openly gay social media manager for the Centaurs, who changes everything. Gradually, a fascination develops that compels Troy to confront his sexuality and the fear of living a relationship under the public eye. In the meantime, his relationship with Dallas undergoes a profound shift, evolving into rivalry, particularly on the hockey rink. At this point, production has not clarified why the character’s name has been changed to Cody Kent.
The other new additions to the season 2 cast
Roles have also been filled for Gerry Dee (Animal Control), Nick Stahl (Carnivàle), Brendan Morgan (The Handmaid’s Tale), Michelle Mylett (Letterkenny) and Lauren Chan (The Devil W wears Prada 2). Dee will portray Bruce Cooper, the head coach of the Toronto Guardians, a hard-edged figure who constantly reproaches Troy for his actions. The character endures the sting of disappointment as something painful, given his sensitivity to the disapproval of men in authority, especially due to his relationship with his father. Stahl will depict Curtis Barrett, a divisive and toxic man who is openly homophobic. He is a former hockey player who later amassed substantial wealth through a construction company and has always regarded Troy’s hockey talent as something almost belonging to him.
Morgan will play Zane Boodram, a left winger and alternate captain of the Centaurs, born in Trinidad and raised in Canada. He is expansive, affectionate, and always ready to organize parties, barbecues, and evenings with the teammates. Lisa, the character entrusted to Mylett, is the wife of Centaurs player Wyatt Hayes (Robert Naylor). Chan, meanwhile, will portray Gen, a professional photographer who works with Harris on the team’s promotional events.
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