Missed the chance to get your hands on the Shane Hollander Team Canada Fleece from the popular series, “Heated Rivalry”? You’re not alone. The Team Canada zip-up fleece worn by Hudson Williams’ character, Shane Hollander, in the show’s second episode caused a frenzy among fans as soon as it debuted.
The highly anticipated fleece was released for sale on the Province of Canada website at 12 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Within just 10 minutes, it completely sold out, according to a statement from Province of Canada to CBC News via email on Wednesday.
Priced at $356 Cdn, the fleece is expected to be shipped to customers in October. Ten percent of the net profits from the sales will be donated to You Can Play, a non-profit organization focused on promoting LGBTQ+ inclusion in sports. The NHL and NHL Players’ Association have also pledged to match donations, up to a total of $50,000.
The creators of “Heated Rivalry,” Jacob Tierney and Brendan Brady, chose You Can Play as the beneficiary of the donations due to the organization’s commitment to inclusivity, aligning with the show’s themes.
Although not official Team Canada merchandise, the fleece has been highly requested by fans since the show aired. In response to the demand, the apparel company announced the release of the fleece in January.
Since its debut in November, “Heated Rivalry” has seen a 400% increase in viewership on Crave, becoming the top debut show on the streaming platform, according to Bell Media. Additionally, outside Canada, the series has become the highest-rated non-animated show ever acquired by HBO Max, as reported by Variety.
Recently, the show made waves at the Canadian Screen Awards, winning a record-breaking 16 awards, including Best Drama Series and Best Lead Actor in a Drama for Hudson Williams, who dedicated his award to his American co-star, Connor Storrie.
Kuwalla Tee, the brand behind the original fleece design used in the show, is also promoting a restock of its “OG Sherpa Fleece” this week. The brand had previously raised concerns about the use of its design in the marketing of the new fleece but reached an agreement with Province of Canada to credit them on social media.
The fleece worn on the show was crafted by Canadian costume designer Hanna Puley. Williams also gifted a fleece to Prime Minister Mark Carney at an event they both attended. The product description on the Province of Canada website acknowledges the inspiration from the show’s costume piece and extends special thanks to Hanna Puley and the ‘Release the Fleece’ community.