In Their Own Words

by P1n3appl3_p3n

Summary:

Instead of being outed by a video from Hayden Pike, what if Ilya and Shane were allowed to release their relationship the way they wanted?

Chapter 1: Card 1: The Rivals

Transcript of In Their Own Words, an Ottawa Centaur Hockey Original

Featuring: Shane Hollander-Rozanov, Ilya Rozanov-Hollander, Harris Drover

Posted 19:00, July 30, 2021

Card 1: The Rivals

A mid-range shot of Shane Hollander-Rozanov, sitting on a gray couch situated in front of a massive stone fireplace. The background is blurry but a viewer can make out the rough shape of woods and a lake to his left through floor to ceiling windows. He’s wearing a plain dark gray quarter zip with a Nike swoosh, his hair pulled up into a ponytail. His freckles are visible along with a healthy tan. From off camera, Harris Drover speaks to him.

HARRIS: First thing he said to you?

SHANE: [Smiles wryly.] I can’t quite remember. I introduced myself, and then he said something about beating us in the game. At juniors our first year playing, I mean. I think it was, “You will not be so nice when we win.”

Full body shot of Ilya Rozanov-Hollander sitting on the same couch in a dark blue sweater, his bare feet resting on top of each other. His hair is shaved short on the sides, the top longer and curly.

HARRIS: First thing he said to you?

ILYA: I’m Shane Hollander.

[Harris and crew laughs. Ilya shrugs and smirks at the response.]

ILYA: It’s how people meet, yes?

Full body shot of Ilya and Shane standing on the ice at Ottawa’s arena, leaning against hockey sticks. Ilya is wearing a practice jersey, badged with the Centaur’s logo, a C on his shoulder, and an 81 on the sleeve. He has on gray joggers. Shane stands next to him, his practice jersey with a 24 on the sleeve and an A on his shoulder, in black joggers. They look slightly sweaty.

SHANE: I’d heard of Ilya, of course.

ILYA: Who hadn’t?

SHANE: [Rolls his eyes.] Mostly his ego. He’s not changed much, in that way.

ILYA: We are best in the world and there is no need to pretend we aren’t.

HARRIS: And Ilya, what was your first impression of Shane?

ILYA: Weak backhand. He had a few more goals than me at the time, but I was not worried.

SHANE: Don’t run out of compliments, now. Save a few for later.

ILYA: He was the only one who could have been drafted higher than me. My only competition so I watched his tape a lot.

[Shane smiles at Ilya, and he slings an arm around Shane’s shoulders.]

ILYA: I know I joke a lot, but he’s ridiculed good at hockey.

SHANE: [Whispers.] Ridiculously good.

ILYA: Yes, that.

HARRIS: Do you want to reshoot that?

ILYA: No. Everyone knows English is not my first language.

HARRIS: Okay.

ILYA: But anyway, he’s my favorite player to watch.

SHANE: He’s mine too, has been for a long time.

HARRIS: Since the start?

SHANE: I had to get over losing to him the first time we played, but yeah. Pretty much right away. [He elbows Ilya.] I won the Calder though.

HARRIS, VOICEOVER: Shane and Ilya first met during a cold week in Saskatchewan in 2008. Six months later, they entered the 2009 National Hockey League Draft. Much of the conversations surrounding them were not if they would go high, but who would be number 1 and who would be number 2. Ilya won that particular argument, picked by the Boston Raiders before Shane learned he was headed to the Montreal Metros. Though the two would see each other often during the season, it wasn’t a friendship, at the start.

MONTAGE. A video: Teenage Shane in his Team Canada jersey, flying down the ice on a breakaway with the puck. A video: An equally young Ilya in his Team Russia jersey, sliding around the net and shooting the puck past the glove of the Team USA goalie before skating to his teammates for an on-ice celebration. A video: Shane greeting the hockey commissioner in a suit, his parents behind him. A photo: Ilya shaking hands with the Boston managers on stage with a Raiders hat in his hand, “PICK 1” still on the projection screen behind them. A photo: The 2009 National Hockey League Draft Class posing for a photo, holding their new team jerseys and their fingers up with a 1, 2, or 3 for their draft position.

David Hollander sits in a nondescript cafe, his hand partially curled through the handle of the mug. He’s wearing a brown sweater, his hair silvering at the temples.

DAVID: Shane came back from practice during Juniors one day and said he met Ilya. He seemed more annoyed by him than anything, but I could also see - interest, I suppose. No one in Canada at his age had been as good as Shane for a few years. Ilya was something new.

Yuna Hollander sits at the top of the lower bowl of Ottawa’s arena, in a tan knit sweater with a scarf draped over her neck, her jet black hair gathered in a neat updo and shining in the arena lights. She holds a thermos of coffee between her hands, resting on her jeans-clad knee.

YUNA: Shane would make sure he watched all of Ilya’s open practices. It was just us in the stands, and the Russian team on the ice. [She laughs.] We were not the most inconspicuous.

Shane and Ilya on the couch in front of the fireplace. They are turned slightly into each other, Shane with his right knee bent, his foot tucked under his left leg, barely touching Ilya’s thigh.

SHANE: Ilya came and watched all of Canada’s practices as well. We played against each other, said something brief in the handshake line. We ran into each other after the draft in the hotel gym. But really, it wasn’t until our first photoshoot together that we ever talked seriously.

ILYA: I was asked to do the shoot alone and I said no, it would be better with Hollander.

SHANE: It was awkward, just staring at each other while they took photos of us pretending to face off, and we busted up laughing. So they gave up on that and did a bunch more of just him and just me. And that night, we hung out.

ILYA: It was very revealing.

SHANE: [Laughs.] I mean, we weren’t immediate friends, but we realized we had some things in common.

HARRIS, VOICEOVER: The press machine of the NHL jumped into action with two new, young faces representing the next generation of hockey. In the next few years, any time there was an opportunity, Shane and Ilya were paired off against each other. Rumors of a rivalry, largely manufactured, began to spiral out of control for Shane and Ilya.

MONTAGE. News clippings and social media posts flash on the screen. “Rozanov and Hollander neck and neck for the points race”, “Rozanov chirps Hollander until Hollander breaks”, “Russia vs. Canada, NHL Edition”.

Shane and Ilya on the couch.

SHANE: [Counts off each event on his fingers.] The All-Star Game. Games - all of them.

ILYA: The CCM ads, the Nike ad -

SHANE: Every time we played, we had to have media availability together.

ILYA: The Sportsnight ad.

SHANE: That coffee commercial.

ILYA: [An aside to Shane.] Is something I still miss, Duncan’s.

SHANE: [An aside to Ilya.] You just miss the sugar.

ILYA: Of course.

SHANE: The awards every year.

ILYA: Every single interview.

SHANE: [Obviously quoting reporters.] “Do you feel pressure to outperform Rozanov? Who do you think will score more goals tonight, Shane?”

HARRIS: You sound frustrated.

SHANE: It’s part of the job, sure. But not everything I did on the ice was about beating Ilya, or comparing myself to him. I mean, I wanted to be better of course, I wanted to win every time. But I compared myself to my expectations, and Ilya was just always there, but sometimes in the background. If I beat him, good. If not, well, he was my equal. It was okay. At least, that's how I felt after a few years.

ILYA: The thing at the awards ceremony, with the pictures.

SHANE: [Groans.] Oh that was awful.

HARRIS, VOICEOVER: Through the years, there was clear messaging; Ilya was the Russian bad boy. He ended up in the papers for fast cars or sightings with women in clubs and on dates. By 2017, Ilya had a cup under his belt and a reputation on the ice as a distracting menace with a goal count that frequently had him at the top of scoring in the league. Not one to avoid fights, he was known for verbal and physical play that annoyed opponents.

MONTAGE. A video: Ilya and Shane presenting an award together in suits on stage. Their movements are stiff as they avoid eye contact. They pose together for a selfie, then Shane opens an envelope and leans forward to speak into the microphone. A video: Ilya Rozanov in a documentary about his cars, showing the orange Astin Martin from his collection. A video: Clearly inebriated Ilya at a bar, lifting his glass in salute to the camera, his arm wrapped around a brunette woman. A video: Ilya dropping gloves and swinging at Toronto’s Nathan Drollic. A video: the Boston Raiders Stanley Cup parade in 2014, Ilya toasting the crowd with a beer from the back of a fire truck.

Hayden Pike sits in a lawnchair on a well-manicured lawn, wearing board shorts and a blue Hawaiian shirt with palm trees and hockey sticks on it. His feet are bare and slid into sandals, his hair is cut short.

HAYDEN: Rozanov is a menace to play against. Never stops talking, never stops scoring. You can’t rest for a single minute he is on the ice, because he will take any distraction and use it.

Scott Hunter sits in a bar in a vintage hockey sweater from the New York Admirals, a glass of beer on the hightop table in front of him. His hair is longer, tucked behind his ears.

SCOTT: Rozanov will have full conversations with you on the ice. Ask about your significant others, bother you about your age - or maybe that was just me - and then steal the puck from you and take off. He is unpredictable, rarely does anything the same way twice, at least not with the same team.

HARRIS, VOICEOVER: Shane, meanwhile, was the boy next door, who bought a home for his parents and dated a wholesome movie star. He played an overall clean game, avoided fights when he could, and had a high hockey IQ that was always three steps ahead of his opponents. While it took him longer to receive his first Stanley Cup, he scored two in back to back seasons and was aiming for a third in 2017. The path to that goal was straight through Boston’s Raiders - and Ilya.

MONTAGE. A photo: Shane visiting children in the hospital. A video: Shane ducking under a defensive man's swing. Three photos: Paparazzi shots of Shane with actress Rose Landry outside a bar, inside a restaurant, and walking down the street. Two videos: Shane hoisting the cup in front of the Montreal Metros on the ice after winning in 2015 and 2016.

Scott Hunter in the bar.

SCOTT: Shane is - technically perfect, probably. Could go in training videos, his movements are so crisp. It is hard to rattle him because it feels like he’d practiced each combination of events a thousand times and knows just what comes next.

Shane and Ilya on the couch.

SHANE: We are very different people in some ways, with very different play. And it was obvious they were trying to pit us together, and sometimes it felt xenophobic. Oh, here’s this Russian bad boy beating a poor Canadian good boy.

ILYA: I did do many of the things I was photographed doing.

SHANE: So were many of our teammates.

ILYA: You were quite boring, though.

SHANE: Well, except for all the sneaking around we were doing, sure.

Chapter 2: Card 2: The Lovers

Summary:

HARRIS: How did you guys start getting involved?

SHANE: [Laughs.] No comment.

ILYA: Well -

SHANE: No. Comment.

Transcript of In Their Own Words, an Ottawa Centaur Hockey Original

Featuring: Shane Hollander-Rozanov, Ilya Rozanov-Hollander, Harris Drover

Posted 19:00, July 30, 2021

Card 2: The Lovers

Yuna Hollander in the arena.

YUNA: Shane knew from a very, very early age that he wanted to play hockey. He was obsessed. Since he was an only child, I probably had a little more time and attention than was good for him, though it all worked out. He wanted to play hockey, and I love hockey, and it just - you worry you won’t connect with your child, that you won’t have a common language to share with them. And Shane and I did. I would have done anything to keep that sacred. If he was going to play in Kingston, I was following him down the 401. If he was going to play for the Raiders - I would have been in Boston all the time. We got lucky he was in Montreal.

HARRIS: How was his transition to the NHL?

YUNA: Shane has always held himself to a high standard. He was ready to put in the hard work. I think the travel was hard on him, at first. The end of the first season, he was always hungry. But overall, he worked hard to make sure his entry to the NHL was as easy as possible.

Shane sits on the bench at Ottawa’s arena, in a plain black hoodie and jeans, his hair damp. Harris sits next to him, angled towards him, in a blue button down top, khakis and a thin black puffer jacket, his legs crossed.

SHANE: Some parts of the league were easy from the start. I knew what I was doing on the ice. The room - it went okay. I made friends with Hayden and JJ. Even though I was so young, people listened to me. The coaches listened.

But there are very clear expectations that most - not all, for sure, but most - people have about hockey players. [He pauses, considers, then speaks haltingly.] If you get hurt, you skate through it. If you’re sad, you don’t tell anyone. If you’re anxious, you pretend you’re not, that it’s totally fine that your play is slumping. And if you’re gay - you definitely don’t tell anyone. You keep track of where your eyes are in the room. You keep track of how many times you look at another man, because if you’re not careful you’ll go over the number you have in your head as “acceptable”.

HARRIS: What was the hardest part about being gay and playing in the NHL?

SHANE: For a long time, I didn’t really realize I was. Which was just ridiculous, you know? I had this thing going with another man, and I was dating women who were lovely but I just wanted to be friends with them, and -

HARRIS: You didn’t want to name it.

SHANE: I’m going to sound very dumb when I say I didn’t know what to name it. It wasn’t that I was unaware of gay people, or that I didn’t know them, but - that wasn’t me, because that wasn’t the label I gave myself. I was a hockey player who was supposed to be interested in girls, and even though I wasn’t interested, I was supposed to keep trying until I found a woman I had something in common with. Someone I wanted to be with. And I saw Ilya, the only person I really let myself be something with, so infrequently at first that it was easy to [waves hand] pretend it wasn’t something I needed to address in myself.

HARRIS: How did you address it?

SHANE: Therapy, honestly. And before that, I started talking to Ilya so much that it became unavoidable. [He laughs.]

Shane and Ilya on the couch.

HARRIS: How did you guys start getting involved?

SHANE: [Laughs.] No comment.

ILYA: Well -

SHANE: No. Comment.

HARRIS: Okay, so how would you describe your early relationship?

SHANE: Very, very secret.

ILYA: We told no one, for a very long time. No one knew I was bisexual, just always expected there to be women. So I was not worried if we were seen. But Shane was - nervous. He wasn’t even in my phone as Shane.

HARRIS: What was his name?

ILYA: Jane.

SHANE: He was Lily in my phone.

HARRIS: Did you go on dates, or do things together?

ILYA: No. [Giggles.]

SHANE: [Glares at Ilya before turning back to the camera.] We saw each other when we could, whenever we played, or had events to go to.

ILYA: It was what took us long to get to dating, probably.

HARRIS: And how long had you been involved?

[Shane and Ilya look at each other. Shane shrugs, then both men laugh.]

ILYA: On and off, eleven years.

HARRIS: So that was…

ILYA: 2010.

SHANE: Sometimes I still go - gosh, eleven years.

ILYA: [Imitating Shane’s accent.] Gosh.

SHANE: Shut up.

ILYA: But dating is four years.

HARRIS: 2017.

SHANE: After the season was over, yeah.

HARRIS: What was the run up to the playoffs like for you in 2017?

SHANE: I was leading in points…

ILYA: By two.

SHANE: Ilya’s dad died in March, and so he had to go back to Moscow. We had been talking a little bit more, which was, like, every few weeks instead of every month. But when he was in Russia, we were talking daily.

ILYA: I called and talked in Russian and he had no idea what I said. He was very helpful.

SHANE: I listened. And you did talk in English on those calls!

ILYA: Some.

SHANE: Then there was the accident.

ILYA: Worst day of my life.

SHANE: You almost crashed in a plane!

ILYA: Was not as bad.

A VIDEO: Live footage from the Boston Raiders at Montreal Metros, April 12, 2017. An announcer: Hollander and Rozanov battle for the puck behind the Raider’s net! And it’s Hollander, heading up the ice and - oh! Rozanov pokes the puck off Hollander’s stick! And they’re back at the boards, scrabbling, and it’s - Hollander with the puck again! He wheels up the ice, Rozanov chasing behind, past the red line, and -.

A VIDEO: A silent arena, Metros and Raiders players on the ice in a loose semicircle around the benches as they watch center ice. Shane Hollander, surrounded by medical personnel, is strapped to a backboard. Two players are just beyond the medical staff - Ilya Rozanov and the Metros’s Hayden Pike. The medical staff lift the spinal board and carry him off the ice to the muted applause of the crowd and sticks tapping the ice. Pike skates off but Rozanov looks as if he’s going to follow the backboard before he visibly shakes his head and turns back to his bench.

Hayden Pike on a well-manicured lawn.

PIKE: We play a really physical sport, but I’d been playing with Shane for years, and he had never been hurt. It wasn’t expected. And I saw Rozanov standing over him, and for a second I wasn’t sure what to think. Was he going to make fun of Shane? He was friends with Marlow, so maybe he’d asked him to hit him hard? So I skated over, but Ilya was just asking over and over again if he was okay. I probably should have put it together then, but - I didn’t.

HARRIS: What would you have put together?

PIKE: Shane and I roomed together a lot on the road, and he was a pretty by-the-books guy - didn’t really like clubs, or the bars, or whatever. But in Boston, like clockwork, he disappeared for hours. [He shakes his head.] I had no idea what was going on. But I didn’t always think about it a lot. I had a few kids in there and was distracted. Rozanov even visited him in the hospital.

Ilya sits alone on the couch.

ILYA: 2017 was the difference because I had lost reason to go back to Russia. I watched Shane get hurt. And then, Scott kissed his boyfriend on the ice and I wanted to be that.

HARRIS: Shane has talked about how long it took him to accept he was gay. What was your experience like?

ILYA: I am Russian. There, it is not safe. So even if I wanted to be with Shane, and I wanted to be out, I do not think I would have been risky if I had to go back to visit my family. And I still think, how lucky. Not that my dad died, because that is a sad thing and he lost who he was at the end. But lucky because if he had to die, that he did then. That a lot changed very fast. If it had been not together, I would have been more slow in making this choice.

HARRIS: Once you felt safe, was it easier to be open about your sexuality?

ILYA: I was never unsure. I liked men, I liked women. It was who I am. I just did not think I would tell others.

HARRIS: Did your family know?

ILYA: It was not acceptable. My brother knew and called me terrible names. I do not talk to him anymore.

HARRIS: And your father?

ILYA: No. He would not understand.

HARRIS: That sounds lonely.

ILYA: It was very, very lonely. I had Shane, and that helped. But telling others about me, and him, was the best.

David Hollander in the coffeeshop.

DAVID: I found them spending time together at his cottage the summer after they started dating. It was very surreal.

HARRIS: How was it surreal?

DAVID: All I had heard from the time they both went to the draft was how much of rivals they were. And Shane didn’t say much about Ilya - now, looking back, I realize it was because he was trying to avoid insulting him. But he didn’t talk much about Ilya at all, really. He focused on his game and I was sure he didn’t think about Ilya past the points race or the games they played against each other in.

HARRIS: What was it like, meeting Ilya as Shane’s boyfriend instead of Ilya as Shane’s competitor?

DAVID: He really, really cares about Shane. He spends time listening to him, and teasing him, and gets Shane out of his head, which can be very hard to do. And they have the same job. It’s a hard one so it’s nice they understand that for each other.

Yuna in the arena.

YUNA: I didn’t know what to think when I met Ilya with Shane. I had seen him a few times, spoke to him a few times, but - meeting him in my living room was very different. He was quieter than I thought. I had seen him trash talk on TV, and - I know it’s so ridiculous, but when he was polite, I was surprised. Shane is very protective of him. They are a pair I didn’t see coming but now, I can’t see them with anyone else. And for how much Shane loves hockey, it’s good he found someone who likes it as much.

HARRIS, VOICEOVER: In 2018, when Ilya Rozanov announced that he was not resigning with Boston and was instead moving to the Ottawa Centaurs, the news was met with shock and confusion. Ottawa was in a state of perpetual rebuilding, and hadn’t won a cup in its entire 30 years. Boston was a perennial playoffs contender, still hungry for another cup in the Rozanov era. But beyond one interview stating he was looking for a new adventure, Rozanov himself was relatively close-lipped about the choice.

MONTAGE. A photo: July 2018 front page of the Boston Globe Sports Section, with ‘TRAITOR’ across Ilya’s media day photo from fall 2017. A video: Ilya stepping into a press conference for the Ottawa Centaurs in a suit. A video: Ilya on the ice at Ottawa’s arena, wearing a blank practice jersey with just the Centaur’s logo. A photo: Ilya, facing away from the camera with his name and number visible on the back of his hockey sweater, shaking hands at the Centaur’s 2018 Fan Appreciation Day in October 2018.


Shane and Ilya on the couch.

SHANE: We saw each other when we could, whenever we played or during summer, but once we started dating exclusively, it wasn’t enough.

ILYA: All the time apart stopped the idea of a real relationship at first. And being scared.

SHANE: But after that summer, we started to figure out how to be a couple. And an hour long drive on off days was much easier to live with than only a day or two a month, maybe.

ILYA: People said many things about why I left Boston, but I moved for Shane.

Notes:

A quick note: Ilya is very, very aware of how he sounded when he said it was good his father died. He covers it with a comment about being sad his dad “lost who he was”, but that is obviously not how Ilya really felt since he felt his father was easier to deal with while experiencing dementia. These are media-trained men, for as much as Ilya doesn’t care to always show it. He doesn’t want his relationship reveal to the love of his life to sound crass.

Chapter 3: Card 3: The Husbands

Summary:

HARRIS: What do you hope this experience will be like for you?

ILYA: I know better than to think it will be easy. It will be a bit different, because not only am I in love with man, but he plays beside me. I do not plan to make out on ice with him - except when we win cup, I cannot promise not then - but we will have names on our back that remind everyone. I will talk about him, because I can now. And if that is not for you - there are many worse teams you can cheer for. Like the [beep]. I hear they do not have Shane Hollander to score all their goals anymore.

Transcript of In Their Own Words, an Ottawa Centaur Hockey Original

Featuring: Shane Hollander-Rozanov, Ilya Rozanov-Hollander, Harris Drover

Posted 19:00, July 30, 2021

Card 3: The Husbands

ILYA, VOICEOVER: I did not think my forever home would be in Canada. I was born in Moscow. My mother was very beautiful person. She was warm and loving, but - sad. My father was a demanding man. I was not close to my brother. My first strings to Russia were cut when I lost my mama.

MONTAGE. A photo: A woman sits in an opulent living room, a baby in her arms, angled towards the camera. A photo: A young boy with brown curly hair in an oversized jersey, the same woman next to him, her hands on his shoulder. A photo: Ilya as a teenager, with a backpack on and carrying a large hockey duffel.

Ilya sits in the locker room at the Centaur’s practice facility in front of his locker. The nameplate above says CAPTAIN R-H 81. He wears a pair of track pants and a black t-shirt, a black cap over his curls.

ILYA: We started the Irina Foundation to remember people like my mother, who died of suicide. And we do hockey camps with coaches who are everything - gay, bisexual, straight - because all kinds of love is not good or bad. It’s just love. We did this so kids can see no matter who I love, I can play hockey. For kids like Shane and I. Or Troy. Or even Scott Hunter. [He smiles and winks.]

Scott Hunter in a bar.

SCOTT: Rozanov just wandered up to me at an All-Star Game and told me I was going to be a coach for his hockey camp. I was nervous - I hadn’t really seen him take much of anything seriously, outside of scoring a ridiculous amount and harassing everyone on the ice. But Hollander was involved, and I figured he would either keep Rozanov on track or kill him for me, so I accepted.

Hayden Pike on a well-manicured lawn.

When Shane told me he was starting the charity, I didn’t really know what to think. I had no idea when he’d even been talking to Rozanov, not only came up with a whole organization. I figured it would be symbolic, or something, and they’d have others involved too. But the charity is something they both take very seriously, and they make it an inclusive place. Everyone is welcome. Jackie and I are so proud of Shane. And Rozanov, I guess.

A VIDEO: Shane stands on the ice in Montreal, surrounded by children in hockey gear. He’s wearing his skates and a pair of tailored gray pants, a blue “COACH” long sleeve zip up jacket and a whistle. He explains to the crowd of children in French how to run the drill they are about to try. Ilya stands in the back, his arms crossed and a grin on his face. Ilya leads the children in clapping and cheering for “Coach Shane”, and Shane waves them off with a grin before skating over to a group by the net.

Ilya in the Centaur’s locker room.

ILYA: My mother died before my life really started, but I think she would be proud. I am successful, and I am happy. I am trying to pay back in her name. I found love in a way she sadly didn’t.

HARRIS: The foundation is a wonderful idea to keep her memory alive.

ILYA: It was Shane’s at first. He always wished he could have met her.

HARRIS: You’ve had a positive impact by bringing attention to mental health, by ensuring the camps and events you sponsor are inclusive. Now you’re coming out. What impact do you hope it would have?

ILYA: More than anything, coming out is freedom. I am bisexual. Maybe people say I could have hidden it. Except I cannot. I love this person, I love our life. I have no choice but to be husband of Shane. I am tired of hiding. Eleven years is long time. I want to be selfish and play the best hockey I can and then hold my husband’s hand.

HARRIS: What do you hope this experience will be like for you?

ILYA: I know better than to think it will be easy. It will be a bit different, because not only am I in love with man, but he plays beside me. I do not plan to make out on ice with him - except when we win cup, I cannot promise not then - but we will have names on our back that remind everyone. I will talk about him, because I can now. And if that is not for you - there are many worse teams you can cheer for. Like the [beep]. I hear they do not have Shane Hollander to score all their goals anymore.

HARRIS, VOICEOVER: It’s been a short month since the ink dried on Shane Hollander’s contract, and only two weeks since Shane added a second part of his name - Rozanov. While Shane’s move to Ottawa sparked a thousand sound bites, articles, and podcasts, the news that he was marrying what many considered his fiercest rival was a more well-kept secret.

MONTAGE: A video: Shane Hollander shaking hands with Centraur’s owners at the end of a press conference, waving to the press as he leaves. A photo: Le Journal de Montréal front page spread with Shane Hollander’s three press photos with the Stanley Cup in 2015, 2016, and 2020, draped in black bunting. A video: Shane and Ilya at their wedding in a backyard, holding hands with their dog Anya at their feet. As they turn to kiss, the yard full of people erupts in cheering and catcalls. The video freezes so family and friends can be easily seen, including many Centaurs players and coaches, Yuna and David Hollander, Hayden Pike and his family, and Rose Landry.

HARRIS, VOICEOVER: Even to Shane and Ilya, the past several weeks have felt surreal when they look back at how far they’ve come.

MONTAGE: The sound of a clock ticking as photos and videos flash on the screen and Shane and Ilya age backwards. A photo: Shane and Ilya lean against each other on a tan couch with Hayden standing behind them, giving Shane rabbit ears. A video: Shane, Yuna Hollander, and Jackie Pike singing to Ilya, who has a cake in front of him with a hockey player candle stuck in it. A photo: Ilya and Shane crouching down next to four children on a pontoon boat, various ages, their faces blurred. A photo: Shane and Ilya sitting in front of a giant Christmas tree in matching pajamas, leaning against each other. A photo: David and Yuna with Ilya between them, their arms wrapped around his waist in front of a lake, smiling. A photo: Shane and Ilya on opposite sides of a puck drop. A video: Shane and Ilya celebrating a goal at an All-Star Game as teammates. A photo: A blurry image of Shane laying on a couch in front of a wall with the Boston Raiders flag, a bare chest under his cheek. A photo: Shane and Ilya, leaning against a wall in the bowels of a nondescript arena, facing each other with suits on, both looking at the camera with expressions of surprise.

Shane and Ilya on the couch.

ILYA: When I came to Ottawa, I had loved him for a long time. The life I was living, it was boring. So lonely. And I wanted to see Shane so often. I couldn’t stop thinking about him, and then - he was single, I was single. My need to return to Russia was gone with my father’s death. Scott Hunter was out and he was so happy. And so - [he pauses, then shrugs helplessly with a smile] I wanted to be happy.

[Shane reaches over and weaves their fingers together.]

SHANE: I asked him to come with me during the summer. I was still recovering, but I was going up to my cottage.

ILYA: When Shane says jump, I jump. Our teammate always says he is wife guy. I am husband guy.

SHANE: “Our teammate” still sounds crazy to me.

ILYA: But awesome.

SHANE: Yeah. [Grins.]

HARRIS: You said he stayed with you at your cottage. What was that like?

SHANE: Yeah, sorry. We started planning the Irina Foundation that summer, and him moving to Ottawa when his contract was over. I was greedy. I wanted all the time with him I could have.

ILYA: But still not thinking about coming out.

SHANE: Not then. It didn’t seem like a thing we could do.

ILYA: And my last season in Boston we only had a bit more time together than before. But when I was traded, I moved in for month.

SHANE: I didn’t think, even then, that I could have this out loud. Ilya is the only person I have loved like this. I tried - I tried to be straight. I tried to date women. I ended up with one of the best friends a man could ask for, Rose. But I couldn’t deny who I was. And Ilya is - everything. A partner who loved me even on my worst days. He’s been by my side, a rock, an aggravating opponent who won’t let me play anything but the best hockey I can.

HARRIS: Was your choice to sign with Ottawa due to him?

SHANE: Yes. For our lives together. But also - people said many things about our last series. It was unkind, and untrue, and I -

HARRIS: You refer to the accusations you tripped to let Ilya’s team win?

SHANE: [Sharply.] Yes.

[Ilya wraps a loose arm around Shane.]

SHANE: I didn’t expect a lot from the press, but the fans - and others - all forgot at once that I did my best for ten years to score more than every other player whenever I could on the ice.

ILYA: It was awful and stupid. I can beat Shane without him helping.

SHANE: [Sarcastically.] Thanks babe.

ILYA: [Shrugs.] We play and are in love for years. Playing against the best, like Shane, makes me play my best hockey. Shane won the cup after we are dating. But because we look like friends, now one mistake was suspicious. He trips, and no one remembers. Can you imagine every time we play if we are married?

SHANE: As long as I can remember, we even just breathe in the same space, it’s news.

A VIDEO: Live footage from the Montreal Metros at the Ottawa Centaurs, February 2, 2021. An announcer: And this isn’t something you see everyday - the captains Hollander and Rozanov have been standing at the blue line chatting for several minutes. Hard to tell what they are discussing, but it looks like a good old fashioned catchup.

A VIDEO: Shane and Ilya sit at a table in front of press at the All Star Game in Atlantic Division team jerseys and baseball caps for their individual teams.

A reporter from behind the camera: Hollander, question for you. How does it feel to beat Rozanov as the fastest skater? You were on the bench talking afterwards. What did he say to you? Was there some trash talk there?

Shane: Ah, I think he’s still accepting defeat, but it wasn’t too bad. Roz and I have played against each other a long time and we’re friends. Anything we say is just joking.

Ilya: [Leans over towards his microphone to make his voice louder.] It was basically tie anyway.

Shane: [Leans even closer to his microphone.] So I won and that’s all that matters.

The press laughs.

Shane and Ilya on the couch.

HARRIS: What do you hope people know about you two, not as Shane and Ilya the hockey players, but Shane and Ilya the couple?

ILYA: We are very happy.

SHANE: I think we are still the people that you have seen on your TV or in interviews for years. Ilya is an aggravating [beep] at home too. He’s serious and silly and annoying and rational, which I don’t think enough people see. Sometimes people forget he’s been a captain of two NHL hockey teams for almost a decade. But he’s so endearing and the best person to get me out of my head. I’m more serious -

[Ilya snorts.]

SHANE: And he’s cute.

ILYA: I’m handsome.

SHANE: I stand by the cute, but l'll also allow handsome.

ILYA: Shane is secretly very funny. He is reliable and supportive and the first person I want to call every day. And very sexy.

SHANE: [Sighs, looks off camera.] I’m sorry.

ILYA: They can edit. But just beautiful person inside. Really in love with hockey, so I guess I am happy I also like hockey. So competitive but also the worst poker player you met. What you see is what you get. Also, he is learning Russian.

HARRIS: Can you say something for us, Shane?

SHANE: Ya nemnogo govor’yu porusski. Ya tebya lyublyu.

ILYA: Ya lyublyu tebya v lyubom sluchaye.

Ilya and Shane playing one on one in the Ottawa arena, in their Centaur practice jerseys without pads. The camera is set up on the home bench, Harris in his black puffer coat to the side. Ilya skates by with the puck quickly, followed by Shane who bumps him in an attempt to steal it back.

HARRIS: [Turns toward the camera and speaks to the lens.] This is what it is like for them. I told them, just shoot the puck around for a minute or two.

[From behind him there is the clang of a puck against metal, then Ilya crowing.]

ILYA: 3-2!

SHANE: [Beep] off.

[Shane takes back off down the ice, off camera with Ilya in pursuit, the sound of their skates and sticks and panting easily heard.]

HARRIS: I just wanted some nice background footage, but these two just don’t…

[A slap shot, then Shane cheers.]

SHANE: Don’t get distracted Rozanov.

HARRIS: Let’s just sit down.

Shane and Ilya on the ice, leaning against their sticks, slightly sweaty.

HARRIS: What comes next?

ILYA: Stanley Cup.

SHANE: That doesn’t sound too bad.

ILYA: Shane has more, but if I win the next three with him, I can be okay he has more at end of our careers.

SHANE: The Centaurs have been just awesome at welcoming me. Not as Shane, Ilya’s husband, or Shane, hockey player, but Shane as in who I am.

ILYA: This team is special.

SHANE: It really is. We are people first here. I’m excited to show what that kind of room atmosphere can do for success on the ice. Ilya and the guys had a great season last year. I’m here to contribute to what they’ve already built.

ILYA: And live together.

SHANE: [Nods.] And I just wanted to live with my husband.

ILYA: Yes, a definite bonus. Now we can -

SHANE: Nope.

ILYA: I just going to say hold hands!

SHANE: Uh-huh.

Notes:

In this world, Shane gets help for his disordered eating, and it ends up turning towards things he can’t and can control. Acceptance of being gay was one of those things he discussed often in therapy.

Chapter 4: #HollanderRozanov

Summary:

The hockey world liveblogs their reactions.

Ottawa Centaurs @ottawacentaurs
Join us Friday, July 30 at 7 p.m. EST/19:00 for a new episode of “In Their Own Words”. We’ll give a hint about who tells us like it is: 🐐².

velss @qansjare
IT’S FINALLY FRIDAY

hollanderslut @handle
I’ve been a very good girl can I have early?!

Yehi Dudu @dudumtl
This is diabolical.

PuckedOut @trippin40
Okay, so we know that the episode tonight is going to be Ilya and Shane. No one else in the Centaurs are goats - yet! What do we expect is going to be the topic?

Ilya’s Fangirl @beezymo90210
I mean, it’ll be the trade, right?

starry night ⭐ @rossybida
I’m expecting ten minutes of “we weren’t really enemies, JK guys!”

velss @qansjare
But we already know they are friends. They talked about it when they talk about their charity. So maybe it’s why they started the Irina Foundation?

starry night ⭐ @rossybida
Maybe Shane is getting the C.

Ilya Rozanov Quotes @rozanderanalyst
In the words of Ilya Rozanov: Fuck off.

🏒Metro Magic Man | Shane Hollander Updates @hollzybab3
In the words of Shane Hollander: It’s the night for the man with the most points, and I’m just pleased it’s me and not Rozanov.

🇨🇦 | Fuck Yes Canada @metromanz
okay, let’s decide the drinking game

𑣲 · su @paneodksai
a shot when they say “captain”

Christina 🥳🥳 @illespeneen
we’ll all be drunk in five minutes

JJ’s Woman @tslovetaylor
a drink whenever they say stanley cup

Multifan Montreal @imetroca
Wait the whole phrase, or does just ‘cup’ count?

JJ’s Woman @tslovetaylor
whole phrase! my man shane has five million cups!

rozanov can eat me 🏒 @gkuler43
your man has three

JJ’s Woman @tslovetaylor
better than rozanov

secretlivesofmetrowives @gkuler43
a shot whenever they say friend

Centaur Central @feddiesrozanov
again we will be so drunk

secretlivesofmetrowives @gkuler43
fine, whenever they say ice

JJ’s Woman @tslovetaylor
ooh that’s a good one

JJ’s Woman @tslovetaylor
a drink whenever they use each other’s first name

rozanov can eat me 🏒 @gkuler43
tbf i’m not sure rozanov even knows hollander has a first name, yet alone that it’s ‘shane’

Ottawa Centaurs @ottawacentaurs
We’re so excited to bring you this episode of, “In Their Own Words”. If you’re following along at home, use the tag #hollanderrozanov!

in my centaur ᵉʳᵃ @boyaquarium
shhhhhh down in front its starting #hollanderrozanov

🏒Metro Magic Man | Shane Hollander Updates @hollzybab3
MY MAN IS SO HOT

Ilya Rozanov Quotes @rozanderanalyst
Do I add that to the quotes? I’m adding that to the quotes

Ilya Rozanov Quotes @rozanderanalyst
“You will not be so nice when we win.” #rozanovsays

prolly illya @russikisa
omg i’m so funny

me likey 🏒 @ikenect
“It’s how people meet, yes?”

in my centaur ᵉʳᵃ @boyaquarium
fuuuuuuuuuuuuck our team just got so much hotter

Charlizzzz @charlizheron
they need to just be….always sweaty

Centaur Doomposter 🏹 @doomiecentaur
SHANE HOLLANDER HAS AN A, we are so stacked in leadership

🏒Metro Magic Man | Shane Hollander Updates @hollzybab3
I know they’re joking around, but I wonder if Shane is ever tired of how much shit Rozanov gives him. Like, they’re doing the introduction of him to the team, but he can’t say one nice thing? #hollanderrozanov

Ilya Rozanov Quotes @rozanderanalyst
Shane has two more Stanley Cups, one more MVP, the Calder. He’s fine.

Ilya’s Underwear 🩲 @ilyaupdates
It’s who Ilya is. I don’t know why people keep policing relationships on here.

Turnpike❣️ @haydpike32
There was so much discourse about this when the Irina Foundation was started. Like, you saw the video of Shane comforting Ilya. They are friends. Just stop.

monica @cityofotwa
Love when Ilya compliments anyone! It’s so rare, you know they’re well-earned. #hollanderrozanov

🕖 for hockey @cocotelli
awww shane correcting him and then ilya saying it’s fine because he’s a russian #hollanderrozanov

Ilya’s Fangirl @beezymo90210
“He’s my favorite player to watch.” “He’s mine too.” I’m going to kms. #hollanderrozanov

🏒Metro Magic Man | Shane Hollander Updates @hollzybab3
THE MUTUAL PRAISE #hollanderrozanov

Ilya’s Underwear 🩲 @ilyaupdates
The Calder burn. Hollander is always so proud he beat Roz there.

Centaur Doomposter 🏹 @doomiecentaur
“my only competition” and now we get TWO of the best scorers in the NHL right now STANLEY WILL BE OURS

🏒Metro Magic Man | Shane Hollander Updates @hollzybab3
MY MAN IS SO HOT

JJ’s Woman @tslovetaylor
a drink whenever they use each other’s first name

rozanov can eat me 🏒 @gkuler43
So apparently they do use the names and also Ilya used Shane’s first. Whoops. #hollanderrozanov

𑣲 · su @paneodksai
drinking game stats 🍻 names - 2 captain - 0 cup - 0 ice - 0 #hollanderrozanov

velss @qansjare
omg babies #hollanderrozanov

hollanderslut @handle
Oh cheer up baby Shane, you’re gonna win the calder! #hollanderrozanov

prolly illya @russikisa
first in the draft, thats my man

Yehi Dudu @dudumtl
Hollander was obsessed with being as good as Rozanov.

🏒Metro Magic Man | Shane Hollander Updates @hollzybab3
Yuna Hollander, raising Shane right! #hollanderrozanov

starry night ⭐ @rossybida
…..and here comes the “we were best friends” story 🙄

secretlivesofmetrowives @gkuler43
they were hanging out in ~checks calendar~ 2010?!

Ilya’s Underwear 🩲 @ilyaupdates
At least the rival thing was true at the start of their careers.

prolly illya @russikisa
and then i was like hanging with this boring canadian is better than being alone, i guess

CanadianTuxedo @diplopoma
I need someone to find those pictures stat

Centaur Doomposter 🏹 @doomiecentaur
THEY WERE DESTINED TO BE FRIENDS

m. @mvtjoys
oof they really didn’t like the rivals storyline

Nellie @nellierfc_5
[I Can Count gif] look i can do it too hollander

Ilya’s Underwear 🩲 @ilyaupdates
They must have talked about this a lot amongst themselves. They both seem pretty irritated.

Ilya Rozanov Quotes @rozanderanalyst
Every.Single.Interview. #rozanovsays

monica @cityofotwa
Ooooo shane you burn them baby

Shane Hollander’s Ghost @hollandaaar
“I compared myself to my expectations” YOU TELL THEM KING 👑

✷Sunny Dayz✷ @chaosandtacos
wait i thought that nhl bit was cute

JJ’s Woman @tslovetaylor
a drink whenever they use each other’s first name

rozanov can eat me 🏒 @gkuler43
So apparently they do use the names and also Ilya used Shane’s first. Whoops. #hollanderrozanov

𑣲 · su @paneodksai
drinking game stats 🍻 names - 2 captain - 0 cup - 0 ice - 0 #hollanderrozanov

𑣲 · su @paneodksai
drinking game stats 🍻 names - 4 captain - 0 cup - 0 ice - 2 #hollanderrozanov

Sarah First of Her Name @sarah039
Okay that description is the best ever. “He was known for verbal and physical play that annoyed opponents”. That should go on his Hall of Fame description. #hollanderrozanov

Turnpike❣️ @haydpike32
HAYDEN MY LOVE

Turnpike❣️ @haydpike32
Sorry @jackie_harding

Jackie Pike @jackie_harding
He’s very loveable!

bluebella @blueberryberry
OMG are you watching queen?!

Jackie Pike @jackie_harding
Of course! We love Shane and Ilya!

starry night ⭐ @rossybida
SCOTT HUNTER 💙💚❤️🧡💛

Ilya Rozanov Quotes @rozanderanalyst
“Scott Hunter was confused about where his net is. Is so sad when hockey players get old and retire.” #rozanovsays

🏒Metro Magic Man | Shane Hollander Updates @hollzybab3
OMG I love my king getting the kudos he deserves

🇨🇦 | Fuck Yes Canada @metromanz
these in their own words shows never have guests they must have been super desperate to get hollander welcomed

m. @mvtjoys
this feels more like a melodrama than hockey team PR

🏒Metro Magic Man | Shane Hollander Updates @hollzybab3
“Shane is TECHNICALLY PERFECT” you heard it here #hollanderrozanov

Ilya’s Underwear 🩲 @ilyaupdates
FINALLY someone calls the media treatment of Ilya for what it is.

🏒Metro Magic Man | Shane Hollander Updates @hollzybab3
I hadn’t really made the connection between Shane being Asian-Canadian, and probably facing Asian stereotypes, with Ilya facing stereotypes as a Russian. I hope they talk about that more. #hollanderrozanov

Ilya Rozanov Quotes @rozanderanalyst
“You were quite boring.” #hollanderrozanov

Nellie @nellierfc_5
WHAT THE FUCK

𑣲 · su @paneodksai
What the HELL does he mean “all the sneaking around we were doing”?

Christina 🥳🥳 @illespeneen
does that mean something else in hockey?

JJ’s Woman @tslovetaylor
NOPE

Multifan Montreal @imetroca
THIS WASN’T ON THE BINGO CARD

rozanov can eat me 🏒 @gkuler43
WAS ROZANOV EATING HOLLANDER

Jellya @jizzzycoster
Ooof. I love what Yuna Hollander says about staying connected to her son through hockey. ❤️‍🩹 #hollanderrozanov

velss @qansjare
I LOVE Yuna and all but BRING BACK THE BOYS AND MAKE THEM EXPLAIN #hollanderrozanov

JJ’s Woman @tslovetaylor
a drink whenever they use each other’s first name

rozanov can eat me 🏒 @gkuler43
So apparently they do use the names and also Ilya used Shane’s first. Whoops. #hollanderrozanov

𑣲 · su @paneodksai
drinking game stats 🍻 names - 2 captain - 0 cup - 0 ice - 0 #hollanderrozanov

𑣲 · su @paneodksai
drinking game stats 🍻 names - 4 captain - 0 cup - 0 ice - 2 #hollanderrozanov

𑣲 · su @paneodksai
drinking game stats 🍻 names - 4 captain - 0 cup - 1 ice - 2 #hollanderrozanov

JJ’s Woman @tslovetaylor
secret relationship means AT LEAST a handle of vodka?!

Ilya’s Fangirl @beezymo90210
Awwwwwww i love this story for Yuna but also WHERE ARE HOLLANDER AND ROZANOV #hollanderrozanov

🏒Metro Magic Man | Shane Hollander Updates @hollzybab3
SHANE YOU BETTER EXPLAIN #hollanderrozanov

🕖 for hockey @cocotelli
Omg is this going where i think it is #hollanderrozanov

Ilya’s Underwear 🩲 @ilyaupdates
HOLY FUCK

Centaur Doomposter 🏹 @doomiecentaur
CENTAURS, MOST GAY HOCKEY TEAM CONFIRMED

CanadianTuxedo @diplopoma
*QUEER

Centaur Doomposter 🏹 @doomiecentaur
same diff

CanadianTuxedo @diplopoma
NOPE

starry night ⭐ @rossybida
SHANE HOLLANDER SPEAK YOUR TRUTH MAN 💙💚❤️🧡💛

monica @cityofotwa
Oh my baby

Shane Hollander’s Ghost @hollandaaar
Where is the hockey

✷Sunny Dayz✷ @chaosandtacos
stfu

Sarah First of Her Name @sarah039
Can someone please give Shane a hug and tell him it’s totally normal in rigidly heterosexual spaces to not be able to clearly name your queerness?

bluebella @blueberryberry
Hey it worked before @jackie_harding plz make sure Shane gets all the hugs he needs

🕖 for hockey @cocotelli
GAY

METROSAREBACK @ninnyshow32
I’m going to need to watch this several times to have any sort of meaningful statements about this. Holy shit. #holladerrozanov

Jellya @jizzzycoster
SHANE HOLLANDER BRAVE

hollanderslut @handle
I’m still going to be a slut for him but I’m adding Ilya.

Yehi Dudu @dudumtl
The absolute pain that Shane Hollander probably went through, hiding his sexuality to the point he couldn’t name it, while carrying a dynasty hockey team on his back is just insane. This dude has to be SO strong mentally. #hollanderrozanov

PuckedOut @trippin40
While this doesn’t appear to have too much hockey in it tonight, I’m hoping they’re going to get back to the upcoming season. #hollanderrozanov

PuckedOut @trippin40
In the meantime, this means we now have more out members of the NHL player community. Hollander has confirmed he is gay, and they’ve alluded to him being in a relationship with Rozanov. #hollanderrozanov

Ilya’s Fangirl @beezymo90210
ILYA BISEXUAL CONFIRMED

Ilya Rozanov Quotes @rozanderanalyst
“NO ONE KNEW I WAS BISEXUAL” #rozanovsays

starry night ⭐ @rossybida
BI AND GAY

velss @qansjare
11 YEARS

CanadianTuxedo @diplopoma
THESE MOTHERFUCKERS

Shane Hollander’s Ghost @hollandaaar
Brb changing my username

✷Sunny Dayz✷ @chaosandtacos
LILY (ILYA) AND JANE (SHANE)

Sarah First of Her Name @sarah039
Having to keep their relationship secret for MORE than a decade is just insane. They were so good at hiding it.

bluebella @blueberryberry
They have been dating since I was 10 YEARS OLD. Their relationship is older than my PERIOD

Shane. @tenejen
Jesus this story is so bleak

G3M1N1 @soobzin
Heartfelt story, immediately followed by mocking Shane’s accent. How does Shane put up with this man? #hollanderrozanov

prolly illya @russikisa
Mom dies, dad dies, plane almost crashes, but his worst day is when the love of his life was taken out on a stretcher. Make it hurt less.

Centaur Doomposter 🏹 @doomiecentaur
I have no words

m. @mvtjoys
So they’re avoiding saying that they were just meeting up and fucking before 2017 right

CanadianTuxedo @diplopoma
yes

bellybutton ring @rizernation
yes

Nellie @nellierfc_5
YES

✷Sunny Dayz✷ @chaosandtacos
yup

Nellie @nellierfc_5
love story - roasting - love story never change #hollanderrozanov

Ilya Rozanov Quotes @rozanderanalyst
Holy fuck his face.

monica @cityofotwa
i didn’t pay attention to Rozanov at all during the accident but he looks devastated #hollanderrozanov

m. @mvtjoys
hayden pike confirming they were sleeping together their entire careers wtf

🏒Metro Magic Man | Shane Hollander Updates @hollzybab3
SHANE HOLLANDER THE METRO MAGIC MAN #hollanderrozanov

starry night ⭐ @rossybida
[Man in Clown Costume Tiptoeing Around gif] shane hollander sneaking out of a hotel in Boston to get his back cracked by rozanov

secretlivesofmetrowives @gkuler43
all the puck bunnies in the world and rozanov chooses shane tells you that there’s something else hollander’s leading the NHL in

Ilya’s Underwear 🩲 @ilyaupdates
It really sounds like Ilya’s relationship with his whole family except his mom was really bad.

prolly illya @russikisa
Okay if his dad and brother were trash it makes sense he was upset that Shane got hurt, that’s his only person

rozanov can eat me 🏒 @gkuler43
Okay this is so hard to listen to. He sounded so incredibly lonely. #hollanderrozanov

G3M1N1 @soobzin
Jesus was Rozanov okay all those years? #hollanderrozanov

✷Sunny Dayz✷ @chaosandtacos
at dawn we ride for Moscow and find his brother

Ilya’s Fangirl @beezymo90210
Reading between the lines I am imagining David Hollander finding Shane in bed with Ilya at the cottage.

velss @qansjare
UGH his parents talking about their relationship

JJ’s Woman @tslovetaylor
I am so glad that Shane and Ilya have Shane’s parents.

Sarah First of Her Name @sarah039
Shane’s parents being surprised that Ilya is not a poorly housebroken boyfriend is very amusing to me.

🏒Metro Magic Man | Shane Hollander Updates @hollzybab3
I mean, at this point it’s pretty clear that Shane and Ilya were both making decisions to get themselves closer together geographically. The trade to Ottawa makes so much more sense, since that’s Shane’s hometown. #hollanderrozanov

bluebella @blueberryberry
He left Boston and the chance of winning more cups for Shane

Shane. @tenejen
This had better have a happy ending.

🕖 for hockey @cocotelli
Let me speak to you very slowly #hollanderrozanov

Ilya’s Underwear 🩲 @ilyaupdates
Don’t worry, after the volcano opens in the center of Montreal, they have to seek shelter at the cottage and get to spend a summer together.

Centaur Doomposter 🏹 @doomiecentaur
Does anyone have a whiteboard marker?

CanadianTuxedo @diplopoma
there may be no hope for humanity

Ilya Rozanov Quotes @rozanderanalyst
“I moved for Shane.” #hollanderrozanov

𑣲 · su @paneodksai
I forgot the drink count, but use enough liquor to make yourself forget the absolute fucked up life story Ilya just shared.

secretlivesofmetrowives @gkuler43
AND I SAY AGAIN WHAT THE FUCK

Nellie @nellierfc_5
HUSBANDS?

Ottawa First Line @jopopoon
These title cards are TAKING ME OUT. The lovers? The HUSBANDS?!

Ilya Rozanov Quotes @rozanderanalyst
“All kinds of love is not good or bad. It’s just love.” #rozanovsays

🏒Metro Magic Man | Shane Hollander Updates @hollzybab3
WHAT THE HELL the nameplate says Captain R-H DID THEY HYPHENATE #hollanderrozanov

Ilya’s Underwear 🩲 @ilyaupdates
CAPTAIN ROZANOV-HOLLANDER

Centaur Doomposter 🏹 @doomiecentaur
This year is going to be INSANE

🏒Metro Magic Man | Shane Hollander Updates @hollzybab3
From losing his home in Russia to finding his home with SHANE HOLLANDER

JJ’s Woman @tslovetaylor
I GUESS THEY REALLY KNOW EACH OTHER’S FIRST NAMES

rozanov can eat me 🏒 @gkuler43
Mr. Hollander I’m sorry I didn’t understand your game. #hollanderrozanov

bluebella @blueberryberry
Scott Hunter not trusting Rozanov is pure gold

🕖 for hockey @cocotelli
Hayden Pike being so reluctant to say something nice about Rozanov 😂

Sonny Delmar @sdelmar
Shane’s best friend Hayden trying hard to place nice

Sarah First of Her Name @sarah039
COACH SHANE is so adorable. Ilya’s heart eyes are easy to spot. How did NO ONE know?!

Jellya @jizzzycoster
BE FREE YOU SEXY RUSSIAN MAN

Ilya Rozanov Quotes @rozanderanalyst
“My mother died before my life really started, but I think she would have been proud. I am successful, and I am happy.” #rozanovsays

CanadianTuxedo @diplopoma
That’s it. I’m a Rozanov fan.

🏒Metro Magic Man | Shane Hollander Updates @hollzybab3
Oooooof the slander.

PuckedOut @trippin40
In the midst of announcing he comes out, Ilya Rozanov tells the audience that they can cheer for a worse team if they aren’t fans of him and Shane Hollander being married. He name drops the Metros but it’s bleeped. #hollanderrozanov

Centaur Central @feddiesrozanov
NEW MORTAL ENEMIES INCOMING

bluebella @blueberryberry
Rose was at the wedding! #hollanderrozanov

🕖 for hockey @cocotelli
OUR LADY ROSE LANDRY

Sonny Delmar @sdelmar
Nothing says staying friends after the breakup like going to the wedding of the next significant other #hollanderrozanov

G3M1N1 @soobzin
Pretty sure following the timeline that Rose was the newer partner.

prolly illya @russikisa
slutty pic in there of Ilya’s bare chest

G3M1N1 @soobzin
we are sex positive here

Sonny Delmar @sdelmar
ROSE LANDRY MENTION

✷Sunny Dayz✷ @chaosandtacos
he knew he was going to leave Boston a year before his contract was up?

Sarah First of Her Name @sarah039
Shane saying he didn’t think he would ever be able to be loud about his love for Ilya, when that’s the only person he’s loved romantically, is so heartbreaking.

bluebella @blueberryberry
omg ‘ilya is everything’ crying brb #hollanderrozanov

Shane. @tenejen
GET BEHIND ME SHANE

✷Sunny Dayz✷ @chaosandtacos
WE ALSO RIDE FOR MONTREAL

G3M1N1 @soobzin
Wow when Shane lays it out like that Montreal really let him down. #hollanderrozanov

🇨🇦 | Fuck Yes Canada @metromanz
I can own we did him dirty

prolly illya @russikisa
“Can you imagine every time we play if we are married”’ I didn’t think about how much they would get trashed if they had a bad game against one another.

m. @mvtjoys
I am going to miss them chirping each other like that

Jackie Pike @jackie_harding
Bold of you to assume it will ever stop

bluebella @blueberryberry
queen you dropped this 👑

🕖 for hockey @cocotelli
THEY ARE HAPPY 😭

Sonny Delmar @sdelmar
Shane calling Ilya a shit and getting beeped is so on brand

METROSAREBACK @ninnyshow32
Back for one thing: they deserve their happiness. Still hope we beat them on the ice a few times.

Jellya @jizzzycoster
They deserve this so much.

CanadianTuxedo @diplopoma
Shane learning Russian is pretty impressive. It’s so different from English and French.

m. @mvtjoys
they really forgot they were being interviewed

secretlivesofmetrowives @gkuler43
Poor @harrisdrovercens

Ilya’s Underwear 🩲 @ilyaupdates
Shane just said they are who they always have been, and if this competition part is true, they are still very competitive at heart.

Nellie @nellierfc_5
I want to have a private hockey competition between Shane and Ilya too

Ilya Rozanov Quotes @rozanderanalyst
Pretty much love how Shane is constantly on guard for Ilya to say too much about their sex life, and by doing so accidentally gives away a little too much.

monica @cityofotwa
They like shutters, they be bangin

Rose Landry @roselandry_1
Our romantic relationship was short and lovely, but spending time with Shane gave me one of the best gifts I could ever receive - a friend that I will have for the rest of my life. All my love to Shane and Ilya, and we better be having dinner together soon.

Hayden Pike Official @haydenpikeofficial
My wife Jackie and I want to send all of our love to my best friend Shane and his husband, a guy on the Centaurs, for sharing their truth. I watched Shane fall in love with Mr. Shane over the course of years, and I have never seen him as happy as he is now. 1/2

Hayden Pike Official @haydenpikeofficial
Shane is my friend, my kids’ uncle, and I love him like a brother. I am going to forget that for three periods every time we play, but we will get beers afterwards. You can maybe even bring the Russian dude you live with along sometimes. Love you man. - Hayden Pike 2/2

Zane Boodram @zboodram
I stand with the Cap and our new AC! Love is love and these guys are the real thing. Looking forward to a year when Roz isn’t spending his off days in the car to Montreal for Shane. I have a new BBQ recipe with their names on it.

Wyatt Hayes @wyatthazy
Love Roz, Love Hollander. Super happy that they can live their lives in the public now. Super pumped to have Shane on the team and also not trying to score on me anymore. Now lets go get the cup.

Harris Drover@harrisdrovercens
Thank you Shane and Ilya for letting me tell your story, and for being so open and willing to talk about hard subjects. You both are incredible humans and you deserve to share that with the public together. 🌈

Troy Barrett @troy_barrett87
Welcome to the club! We don’t have hats but we do have fashion sense. At least you do, Roz. We’ll help you Shane.

Brandon Wiebe @brandonwiebecoach
I’m pumped to see what a Hollander-Rozanov line is going to do in 2021-2022. No part of a player’s sexuality has any impact on how hard they can shoot the puck, and these two can shoot it pretty hard. Go Cens!

Centaur Central @feddiesrozanov
I counted and all 15 or so of the current active members from last year’s team, plus four of the incoming trades, all posted something in support of the Hollander-Rozanovs. (Rozanov-Hollanders?) This team is something special. ❤️🏹

Ottawa Centaurs @ottawacentaurs
A STATEMENT: The Ottawa Centaurs are proud to announce that in addition to Captain Ilya Rozanov-Hollander and Alternate Captain Zane Boodram, Shane Hollander-Rozanov has accepted the position of Alternate Captain for our 2021-2022 campaign for the Stanley Cup. 1/3

Ottawa Centaurs @ottawacentaurs
Shane was selected due to his experience. He was the captain of the Montreal Metros when they won the Stanley Cup in 2015, 2016, and 2020. He has been top of the league in scoring all ten years he has played pro. 2/3

Ottawa Centaurs @ottawacentaurs
Let’s go Cens! 2021-2022 is looking awfully bright. 3/3

Notes:

I personally love Hayden Pike's passive-aggressive statement the most. Hope you enjoyed as well!

Hayden Pike Official @haydenpikeofficial
My wife Jackie and I want to send all of our love to my best friend Shane and his husband, a guy on the Centaurs, for sharing their truth. I watched Shane fall in love with Mr. Shane over the course of years, and I have never seen him as happy as he is now. 1/2

Hayden Pike Official @haydenpikeofficial
Shane is my friend, my kids’ uncle, and I love him like a brother. I am going to forget that for three periods every time we play, but we will get beers afterwards. You can maybe even bring the Russian dude you live with along sometimes. Love you man. - Hayden Pike 2/2