The Muskoka lake house that became a fan pilgrimage site after starring in “Heated Rivalry” is returning for Season 2, but its owner says the decision took real deliberation before he agreed to hand his property back over to the HBO production.
Michael Kutryk, a Toronto doctor, told HGTV he needed “a little bit of soul searching” before letting the crew film at his cabin again. The property appeared in the Season 1 finale, “The Cottage,” as the remote retreat where Shane Hollander, played by Hudson Williams, brings hockey rival-turned-love-interest Ilya Rozanov, played by Connor Storrie, for a private getaway. That single episode transformed Kutryk’s lakefront home into one of the most searched filming locations tied to the show, based on Rachel Reid’s “Game Changers” book series.
Kutryk said the production initially secured his cabin for the first season on a shoestring budget, agreeing to “almost nothing” in exchange for access. When the crew called about returning for Season 2, he weighed pushing for a larger fee against the goodwill he felt toward a show he watched grow into a hit. “I know they need it, and I realize I could be difficult and try to squeeze them, but I couldn’t bring myself to do that,” he said. He named what he called a reasonable price, telling producers only that they had scratched his table during the first shoot. “They were shocked and appreciative,” he said. “I actually didn’t even get them to replace my table.”
The show’s popularity has already reshaped Kutryk’s relationship with the property beyond the production itself. After “Heated Rivalry” premiered on Crave in December before moving to HBO Max, he began fielding requests through Airbnb and eventually rented the cabin out from spring through fall after receiving what he described as an offer too good to pass up. Season 2 filming began August 10 and is expected to run through early December, with additional shooting planned around Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa.
Kutryk remains uncertain how much further he wants to open up the property once the new season airs. “This is my retreat,” he said. “I built this to get away from the world, so I don’t know how much longer I’ll continue to share it.”
