The Shane Hollander Team Canada Fleece from the popular series “Heated Rivalry” sold out within minutes of its release. The fleece, worn by the character Hollander during the Sochi Olympic scenes, was priced at $356 Cdn and is set to ship in October. Ten percent of the profits will be donated to You Can Play, with the NHL and NHL Players’ Association matching donations up to $50,000.
The creators of “Heated Rivalry” selected You Can Play for its dedication to inclusivity, aligning with the show’s values. Despite not being official Team Canada merchandise, the fleece gained immense popularity after the show aired, prompting its release due to high demand from fans.
Since its debut, “Heated Rivalry” has seen a 400% increase in viewership on Crave and has become the platform’s top debut show. It has also become HBO Max’s highest-rated non-animated series ever acquired. The show recently won 16 awards at the Canadian Screen Awards, including Best Drama Series and Best Lead Actor for Hudson Williams.
Kuwalla Tee, the brand behind the original fleece used in the show, is launching a restock of its “OG Sherpa Fleece.” After a dispute over design usage, an agreement was reached to credit Kuwalla Tee when featuring their fleece in marketing materials. The fleece worn on the show was designed by Hanna Puley, and Prime Minister Mark Carney was gifted one by Williams at an event they both attended.
Overall, the success of “Heated Rivalry” and the frenzy over the Team Canada Fleece highlight the show’s impact and the strong connection it has formed with its audience.