Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie’s Olympic presence very much has a business angle

The 2026 Winter Olympics begin two weeks tomorrow in Italy, which doesn’t seem real to me, what do you mean it’s already almost February and has it really been four years since the last time? But also it was still COVID last time, I don’t remember anything.

I’ve been Gossip Genie-ing the Heated Rivalry kind of hockey at the Olympics over the last few weeks, and we are now one step closer because it was just reported this morning that Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie will be torchbearers during the Olympic Torch Relay, although we don’t know where, exactly, they’ll be running. As torchbearers, they presumably would also have access to the events when the games begin which would make them a bigger draw than any of the actual hockey players on the ice competing in the tournament, which is why probably every hockey broadcast during the Olympics will want a piece of Hollanov.

There is, however, also a business angle to Hudson and Connor’s Olympic presence beyond sport. HBO Max recently launched in several European countries, including Italy, and of course Heated Rivalry is their marquee title right now, having Hudson and Connor as ambassadors the Games is a smart call because it checks so many boxes. After all, Shane and Ilya were at the Olympics too.

But first, at least for Hudson, it’s more fashion week. He was just in Milan and today he was photographed in Paris so I’m curious to see what show(s) he’s been invited to. I also hope he never wears that hat again, it’s disgusting, iykyk.

In other Hudson news, a story about him just ran on CTV News here in Canada. (Full disclosure: CTV News is part of Bell Media and I also work for Bell Media on a show called ETALK.) As has been reported, both Hudson and Connor were waiting tables not even a year ago, just before they booked Heated Rivalry. In Hudson’s case, he was a server at the Old Spaghetti Factory (a Canadian owned and operated restaurant chain) and he has mentioned this in interviews, which is probably very good for business. His store manager was interviewed and an exclusive video of Hudson on his last day was also shared. Also she said that he just came by a few weeks ago with gifts so this is not a situation where he bounced and was never heard from again.