How a Fierce Rivalry Became the Unexpected Catalyst for His Bold Coming Out Story

Despite Heated Rivalry’s overtly queer themes, the show has been embraced by the wider hockey community.

It is, of course, escapism rather than a realistic portrayal of what life would be like for a homosexual player in the American top-tier National Hockey League (NHL).

But Kortuem thinks a popular show with a positive attitude towards gay athletes can only do good.

“It really hit me and a lot of gay athletes; our whole lives we were taught it was not OK to be gay,” he says.

“To see the positive reception – not only from gay people, but straight hockey fans – and watching them cheer on these queer hockey players really resonated, even if these are fictional characters who get this Cinderella story.