A well-known enforcer has nothing but praise for the show everyone in the hockey world is talking about. Paul Bissonnette made a name for himself in the NHL as a tough guy with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Phoenix Coyotes while also being someone who speaks his mind off the ice.
The co-host of the podcast Spittin’ Chiclets gave his honest take about the show Heated Rivalry. The man nicknamed Biz Nasty loved the show’s social relevance while believing it put hockey even more on the map. The series tells the story of two closeted professional hockey players who begin dating.
Paul Bissonnette called Heated Rivalry’s success “awesome”
It’s a little out of the norm from what outsiders know about hockey, but Biz Nasty has nothing but positivity about Heated Rivalry. Speaking exclusively to US Weekly, Paul called the success of the HBO Max drama “awesome.” He believes the storyline, while unexpected, can open up a lot of people’s eyes for the better.
Paul believes the show’s plot may inspire current athletes who are in the closet to come out. That impact has already begun to show with retired hockey player Jesse Kortuem recently coming out as gay. He credited the show for giving him the courage to share this news.
While the show has generated plenty of praise, its content hasn’t been easy for everyone to watch. Streamer Hasan Piker recently discussed his Heated Rivalry moment with his parents. He says he didn’t realize how intimate some of the scenes between Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams would be causing him and his parent to stop watching after a few frames.
At the end of the day, Paul says there are many things one can take away from the show that can spark positive discussions. He calls it amazing for being created while bringing new fans to the game. A second season of the show has been confirmed, though there is no official release date yet.
TELL US – DO YOU THINK THE SHOW WILL INSPIRE MORE ATHLETES TO COME OUT OF THE CLOSET?
