Quick Read
- Connor Storrie, 25, star of ‘Heated Rivalry,’ will host ‘Saturday Night Live’ on February 28, 2026.
- Mumford & Sons will be the musical guest, promoting their new album ‘Prizefighter.’
- ‘Heated Rivalry’ is a hit queer Canadian hockey drama renewed for a second season.
- Storrie’s recent activities include being an Olympic torchbearer, attending Paris Fashion Week, and appearing on talk shows.
- SNL previously parodied ‘Heated Rivalry’ in a January 17 sketch called ‘Heated Wizardry.’
NEW YORK (Azat TV) – Connor Storrie, the 25-year-old breakout star of the critically acclaimed queer Canadian hockey drama Heated Rivalry, is set to make his hosting debut on NBC’s iconic sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live on February 28, 2026. This announcement, made during SNL‘s January 31 broadcast, solidifies Storrie’s rapidly ascending profile in Hollywood, coming just weeks after his show garnered widespread acclaim and even inspired an SNL sketch.
Connor Storrie’s Anticipated SNL Debut
Storrie will take the stage at Studio 8H alongside musical guest Mumford & Sons, who are promoting their upcoming album, Prizefighter, slated for release on February 20. This marks Storrie’s first time hosting the long-running program, a significant milestone for the young actor whose career has seen a dramatic surge since Heated Rivalry premiered last month. His appearance continues a season trend for SNL, which has increasingly featured budding first-time hosts, as noted by Variety.
The announcement follows a period of intense media engagement for Storrie. He expressed his excitement on Instagram, writing, “I am literally the luckiest person in the world.” According to The Hollywood Reporter, Storrie and his co-star Hudson Williams have been prominent figures, serving as torchbearers ahead of the 2026 Olympic Games and attending high-profile events like YSL’s Paris Fashion Week show and the Golden Globes, where they presented an award.
The Phenomenon of ‘Heated Rivalry’
Heated Rivalry, which streams on Crave in Canada and HBO Max in the U.S., has quickly become a cultural phenomenon. The series is based on Rachel Reid’s popular Game Changers book series and centers on the evolving relationship between two rival professional hockey players: Canada-born Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) of the Montreal Metros and Russia-born Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie) of the Boston Raiders. The show explores their near-decade-long “situationship” that blossoms into a full-fledged romance.
The show’s immense popularity led Crave to renew it for a second season, with HBO Max confirming its continued distribution. Author Rachel Reid has also announced an upcoming seventh book in the series, Unrivaled, which will further explore Shane and Ilya’s story. The series’ impact is such that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani recently advised residents to stay home during a major snowstorm and read Reid’s books, which the city library offered for free download.
Storrie’s Rapid Rise and Prior Roles
Beyond Heated Rivalry, Storrie’s profile has been steadily building. Prior to his breakout role, he was credited as ‘Young Inmate’ in Joker: Folie à deux, a role that hinted at his potential, as reported by Deadline. His recent activities include appearances on Late Night With Seth Meyers and Today, further cementing his status as a sought-after talent. He also recently signed with CAA and was named the newest ambassador for a French luxury fashion house, according to Deadline.
His selection as an SNL host is a clear indicator of his burgeoning stardom and the significant cultural footprint of Heated Rivalry. The show’s success has been widely discussed, making Storrie a familiar face to audiences even before his hosting duties.
SNL’s Connection to ‘Heated Rivalry’
Notably, Saturday Night Live had already recognized the widespread success of Heated Rivalry earlier in its 51st season. During the January 17 show, a pre-taped sketch titled “Heated Wizardry” directly parodied the popular series. The bit featured host Finn Wolfhard and cast member Ben Marshall as Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, respectively, reimagining their wizarding rivalry as a “heated” behind-the-scenes romance, mirroring the premise of Storrie’s hockey drama.
This sketch, which playfully referenced “an all new story hastily written after the success of a certain other HBO show,” now serves as a prescient precursor to Storrie’s upcoming hosting gig, highlighting how deeply Heated Rivalry has permeated popular culture and caught the attention of mainstream entertainment institutions.
Connor Storrie’s trajectory from a supporting role in a major film to leading a hit series and now hosting one of television’s most iconic shows exemplifies the rapid ascent possible in contemporary entertainment, particularly when a project resonates deeply with a diverse and engaged audience.