Work Text:
NOVEMBER 2018
Shane Hollander Updates 🏒⛸️ | @shanehollandernews
Article from The Independent (United Kingdom) about the Irina Foundation launch event 📰
everydayindependent.co.uk/sport/irina-foundation-hollander-rozanov-2018-b2922700.html
The Irina Foundation: Hollander and Rozanov Find Common Ground
By Trent Crimm
For almost a decade, the names Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov have been inseparable. Their rivalry is unlike anything the ice hockey world has ever seen - or is likely to see again. Between them sit three Stanley Cups, close to a thousand goals, and a roll call of individual honours longer than the telephone book. Fans have watched as they pushed each other relentlessly toward the summit of the sport, always competing to be the very best.
How that dynamic might shift following Rozanov's recent trade to the Ottawa Centaurs has been a matter of public fascination ever since his July move was confirmed.
This week, that question resurfaced in unexpected fashion. Next month marks the tenth anniversary of their first meeting at the World Junior Hockey Championships in Saskatchewan, and on Tuesday a packed Montreal press room gathered to witness ice hockey's most compelling pairing come together once again. Only this time, they were not facing off on the ice, but standing side by side behind a shared podium, announcing a joint charitable initiative: The Irina Foundation.
…
[Subscribe to read more]
Gigi | @hollanderfan99
compelling pairing? come together?! not this british guy shipping hollanov on main
sammy | @ilyaspuck
why does he keep saying ~ice~ hockey all the time?
vincenzo | @bostonhasmyheart replying to @ilyaspuck
idk man brits are weird. he also said "telephone book" like it's 1988 not 2018
jamie tartt forever | @nelsonroadfaithful
what is trent crimm doing writing about ice hockey? I've never seen him mention a sport that isn't football
vincenzo | @bostonhasmyheart replying to @nelsonroadfaithful
you mean soccer
OCTOBER 2021
"Guys, gather round. I have a quick announcement." Coach Wiebe walks into the locker room, clapping his hands for silence. Shane immediately stops talking to Troy, still feeling the pressure of being the new guy enough that he wants to set an example. Slowly the chatter dies down across the room, and Shane's eyes drift to the unfamiliar figure standing between Wiebe and Harris. The stranger is wearing skinny jeans and a band t-shirt underneath a blazer, a notebook in his hand and a pencil tucked behind his ear.
Shane mentally runs through the faces he's been introduced to since he joined the Centaurs, desperately hoping to be able to match a name to this one.
"Who's your friend, Coach?" Wyatt calls out. Ah. Relief floods Shane's brain. This guy is clearly new to all of them. "Rozanov isn't going to be happy if he has competition for the best hair award this year."
"Shut it, Hazy." Ilya sighs dramatically. "Competition is healthy, we all know this."
Wyatt has a point. The man has magnificent hair, dark and wavy with a thick streak of grey running through it. He knows Ilya will be horrifically jealous that it's getting so many compliments.
"Okay guys, enough talk. This is Trent Crimm, he's gonna be travelling with us this season so that he can write a book about life on the road with the team." The guy - Trent - nods his head ever so slightly in acknowledgement. "So please try and make him feel welcome."
"A book?" Ilya grins, and Shane knows that face too well. "A book about me, is very overdue."
Shane sighs. "No, Ilya. He said the team."
"Same thing. I am team." He reaches over and pats Shane on the thigh. "Maybe also you." He stands, addressing the whole room again. "Is a book about me and Shane. Nobody else get excited."
It's a typical Ilya performance, and Shane rolls his eyes fondly. It's not the first time since his trade that he's been struck by the quiet pleasure of watching it from inside the same locker room.
He tries to suppress the smile he can feel playing at the edges of his lips, but fails miserably as usual. "Welcome, Mr Crimm."
"The pleasure is all mine, Mr Hollander. And please, call me Trent."
British. For some reason, Shane wasn't expecting the accent.
"When you sell the movie rights - I will play myself of course - I want approval for casting. Only most attractive actor can play my Shane."
Shane can feel his cheeks flushing. "Ilya!!"
"What!" Ilya grins broadly at the room and then drops down beside Shane on the bench, nudging him with his shoulder. "Is a compliment, my darling." Shane fights the urge to clap back, to whine that it's not a compliment that Ilya wants to kiss a hypothetical pretty actor. Because he knows that's what Ilya wants him to do.
Shane will just have to make him pay for it at home later.
"Fascinating." Trent mutters to himself, plucking the pencil from behind his ear and beginning to scribble in his notepad.
"Ah, what's that? What are you writing?" Ilya turns his attention away from Shane and springs back toward Trent, hand already outstretched. "Give me book. Let me see."
Trent shuts the notebook and tucks it under his arm with a smile, not even pretending to consider the request. Shane's got to give the guy some respect, because it takes nerve to brush Ilya off like that.
"You know, I've been an admirer of yours for quite some time, Mr Rozanov."
"Oh really?" Ilya raises an eyebrow. "You are my number one fan, Trent Crimm? Would you like an autograph? Maybe I can sign your notebook."
Shane snorts. "Ilya, be nice."
"I am being nice! I am always nice!"
Trent, to his credit, only looks amused. "I remember the first time I saw you play. It was the middle of the night back in England. I had a deadline and I'd got into the habit of leaving the sports channels on if I was pulling an all-nighter. Something about hearing the crowd noise always helped to keep my own energy up."
He pauses. Shane recognises that he's checking he still has Ilya's attention. Ilya gives a short nod, and Trent continues.
"It was against Tampa, 2013, I think. Boston utterly destroyed them, with you at the centre, but what caught me wasn't your goals. It was the way you directed the game, like a puppet master pulling the strings." He smiles. "Of course you did also score three times, but that wasn't what I found impressive. You made it all look very simple."
Shane remembers that game perfectly, the way he remembers every game he's ever watched Ilya play. Trent isn't wrong - Ilya was incredible that night. But what stands out most is that this isn't a game from any highlight reel. They both hear about their Stanley Cup wins and appearances at All Star games on a daily basis. Trent choosing something different made him stand out.
So when Shane watches a slow smile spread across his husband's face, he knows the game is done. Trent has earned Ilya's respect with one simple anecdote.
"I like you, Trent Crimm." Ilya sits back down beside Shane, arms folded. "You can stay."
-
"So I told him, you want to write a boring book, go write about Scott Hunter." Ilya has been animatedly describing his first meeting with Trent Crimm to Shane for the last ten minutes, while they're preparing a soup for dinner. He scoops a small amount onto a spoon, blowing on it and holding it to Shane's lips. "Taste."
Shane opens his mouth obediently and sucks the spoon clean. "Mm. It needs something - maybe a little more garlic?"
"More garlic hm?" Ilya stares at him accusingly for a second before reaching for the garlic paste anyway. "Maybe you don't want to kiss me, is that it? You want me to have garlic breath." He pouts.
"I always want to kiss you and you know it." Shane laughs. Cooking with Ilya is one of his favourite things to do now that he's relaxed his diet. His chief responsibility is tasting, and he takes it very seriously.
"Prove it." Ilya purses his lips and closes his eyes.
"You're so needy." Shane laughs, leaning in to give him a quick, dutiful kiss.
It's a mistake. Ilya's hands are already at his waist, hauling him in before Shane can pull back, the kiss turning messy and far more involved than Shane intended. He makes an undignified noise somewhere in the back of his throat, half-protest, half-surprise, and by the time Ilya lets him go he's laughing and breathless and a little dizzy.
Shane will never understand how Ilya still does this to him after all these years. He's long since accepted it's a lost cause, and he wouldn't change it for anything.
"So then I said, you want to write best-seller, you should write about me and Shane. Whole story, with exclusives." Ilya releases him and slips back into the original conversation like it hadn't been interrupted at all, stirring the extra garlic through the soup. It takes Shane's kiss-addled brain a minute to catch back up.
"Exclusives?"
"Mm." Ilya nods in confirmation. "Stories we've never told before, not on the record."
Shane straightens up, his mind racing. He thinks Ilya is talking about the big stuff. The stuff that's always just been for the two of them. But he wants to be sure. "Like what?"
Ilya shrugs. "The hotel gym. Rookie of the year, your dad at the cottage. The moment I knew I was in love with you, probably. Our first wedding. Maybe he can talk to Rose, to Sveta."
"Ilya-" Shane can hear a high pitched whining noise and he thinks it's coming from inside his brain. This all sounds like a terrible idea.
"I told him, book about story of the season, boring. Done before, many times with many teams. You think you can find a new angle because we are gay husbands playing together, so you need us if you want it to be interesting."
"Ilya, I don't-"
Ilya turns off the heat and moves the soup pan to one side. He turns to Shane and cups his cheek gently with one hand, stroking his thumb across it. "Sweetheart." He kisses him softly. "Don't panic. We can decide together what we tell. Nothing gets told if we don't agree, yes?"
Shane takes a deep breath. As soon as Ilya's hand touched his face he felt better, grounded. He should have known Ilya would understand his worry. "Yeah. Yes."
Ilya smiles at him. "It would be nice to tell our story, no?"
-
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
From the author of the best-selling THE RICHMOND WAY, we are delighted to announce an unprecedented two-volume release arriving in bookstores this fall. Award-winning journalist Trent Crimm turns his attention to the Ottawa Centaurs in an exclusive project that captures two very different sides of one story.
In THE OTTAWA WAY, Crimm follows the team across this pivotal season, granted unrivalled access to locker rooms, coaches' offices and players' lives as the Centaurs attempt something that only recently seemed unthinkable: to win the Stanley Cup. In this season-long chronicle, the book offers an unfiltered look at elite sport under pressure.
Alongside it, SIDE BY SIDE tells a different, deeply personal story. For the first time, Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov - hockey's most formidable partnership for more than a decade - speak entirely in their own words, joined by those closest to them. Intimate, candid and unsparing, this is not just the story of two careers, but of a relationship lived largely in secret, and the private moments that led them here: husbands, finally playing on the same team, with a single shared goal - to win the Stanley Cup together.
Pre-order both books today!
(Working titles, cover art TBC)
-
Shane Hollander Updates 🏒⛸️ | @shanehollandernews
Hollanov authorized biography coming soon - pre order links including signed copies are below!!
Everybody say thank you @trentcrimm!
Gigi | @hollanderfan99
trent crimm showing all stans how it's done, leading the mainstream hollanov agenda since 2k18 and now he's inner circle baby!
jamie tartt forever | @nelsonroadfaithful
trent crimm collecting the sports gays like pokemon, he also got the first sit down interview with colin hughes
hollanov #1 fan | @shilyashollanov
INTIMATE CANDID AND UNSPARING? I MAY NOT SURVIVE
Trent Crimm | @trentcrimm
Thanks for the support all! Feeling the pressure, I hope both books live up to the expectations.
Gigi | @hollanderfan99 replying to @trentcrimm
any exclusives you can share already?? i'll take crumbs atpTrent Crimm | @trentcrimm replying to @hollanderfan99
Well, on the subject of crumbs, Shane and Ilya do not agree on the correct way to load the dishwasher.Ilya Rozanov | @ilyarozanov81 replying to @hollanderfan99 @trentcrimm
entire purpose of dishwasher is to wash dishes. If I have to arrange them like tetris game, what are we even doing hereShane Hollander | @shanehollanderhockeyplayer replying to @hollanderfan99 @trentcrimm @ilyarozanov81
If the water can't reach it, it can't get clean, Ilya.
Gigi | @hollanderfan99
oh my god??????
Gigi | @hollanderfan99
did i really just get caught up in a hollanov domestic or am i dreaming?
chris | @centaurs4lyf replying to @trentcrimm
when ottawa doesn't even make the playoffs it'll be your fault trent criminal
Adam | @adamMTL1992 replying to @centaurs4lyf
whats ur excuse for all the other times? 🤭chris | @centaurs4lyf replying to @adamMTL1992
🥱
-
NOVEMBER
Shane doesn't realise how long he's been sitting in the same place until he hears the click of keys in the door, quickly followed by the sound of Anya's feet padding through the house. She runs straight to her bed, which means that Ilya must have thoroughly worn her out.
"Shane?" Ilya is probably expecting to find him doing laundry, or packing up clothes for their road trip tomorrow. "Oh, here you are. Exactly where I left you." He flops down beside Shane and immediately turns into him, chest pressed to Shane's arm, elbow resting on the back of the sofa. "Did something happen to your legs? Are they broken?"
Shane knows Ilya is masking genuine concern with a joke. He knows by the softness in his voice, and the way his fingers immediately begin gently stroking the back of his neck.
"Asshole." Shane smiles a little and leans in to kiss him, stroking a thumb against his cheek. "My legs are fine. I just lost track of time."
"Is not like you." Again, Ilya keeps his voice light, squeezing Shane's thigh gently with his free hand. "What was it? Boring phone call with Hayden?"
Shane rolls his eyes and hands his phone to Ilya. The screen is unlocked, the selfies they took on stage at the MLH awards ten years ago proudly on display.
"I was looking for some photos for the book." He smiles. "Realised we don't have many that aren't already public record. At least not until the last couple of years."
"Ah." Ilya smiles softly. "Yes, this is a terrible thing." He swipes through the pictures as if he doesn't have them all committed to memory anyway. "These are good, though. And the fans have been demanding them for years. Release the selfies. I've seen the hashtag."
Shane snorts. "Yeah, me too." He takes the phone and scrolls through a few more screens. "Mom sent me this one, I hadn't seen it before."
It's from that first summer at the cottage, after one of the most terrifying moments of Shane's life somehow turned into one of the best things that ever happened to him. His parents had visited more than once, wanting to get to know Ilya, still getting used to seeing them as a couple.
The photo is from one of those afternoons: Shane curled into Ilya's side, his dad sitting across from them, listening as Ilya talks. His hands are caught mid-gesture, his expression animated, and Shane looks completely besotted. The sight of it settles something warm and steady in his chest.
A smile spreads across Ilya's face as he takes in the image. "No, it is new to me too." He looks at Shane, eyes bright. "Look how obsessed with me you are."
Shane barks out a laugh. "Fuck off."
Ilya grins, cheeky as ever, and drops the phone onto the couch. He swings a leg over Shane's knees and settles into his lap like it's the most natural place in the world. "What is it? Something is bothering you."
Shane looks up to meet his eyes. "I just… we hardly have anything that's only ours from that time. We didn't keep anything that could've given us away. Even these selfies were only on your phone for literally years. And I'm not sure I want to give them all of it."
"Ah." Ilya smiles and leans in, brushing a kiss along Shane's jaw. "Then we don't give them everything. We didn't sign blood oath with the devil to give away all pictures including ones we didn't know existed before today."
Shane huffs out a laugh, fingers sliding easily into Ilya's hair. "No, I guess you're right."
"Just a book." Ilya smiles and cups Shane's chin, tipping his face so he can kiss the other side of his jaw. "Nobody dies if we keep pictures just for us. As many as we want."
Ilya's mouth drifts to Shane's neck, lingering just long enough to be unmistakable about his intentions. Shane shivers, already knowing he's going to find evidence of it later, and once again can't quite believe Ilya can still undo him this easily.
"The selfies, maybe, they know about those." Ilya murmurs. "We could give them just one or two. And then whatever else we choose, or don't choose." He kisses the corner of Shane's mouth. "Okay?"
Shane nods. "Okay." Everything seems so simple when Ilya says it. He's not sure why he worked himself up about it - of course they can choose what they give.
"Now -" Ilya shifts, climbing off Shane's lap, and an involuntary, slightly pathetic whine slips out of Shane at the sudden lack of husband. "Don't you think we should take this to the bedroom?"
Oh. Much better. Shane nods and scrambles to his feet, catching at Ilya's hands like he might change his mind if Shane isn't fast enough.
As if.
Ilya turns, smiling that beautiful smile, and gives Shane's hand a reassuring squeeze.
"Bring your phone. Maybe we can take some new photos that are also just for us."
-
DECEMBER
Trent Crimm | @trentcrimm
Beautiful day spent exploring Boston with a couple of particularly knowledgeable tour guides.
[Image description] Trent Crimm poses with Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander outside of the Boston Raiders arena. All three are smiling brightly.
Trent Crimm | @trentcrimm
As we move through the process of interviewing and researching for the Centaurs book series, I realise that the interest in these two projects is incredibly high.
Trent Crimm | @trentcrimm
As such, over the coming months I intend to share (with permission, naturally) some tid-bits that may be of interest.
Trent Crimm | @trentcrimm
Today as we shared a coffee in the city that Ilya called home for many years, he and Shane reflected on the first time they said "I love you." The answer depends, it turns out, on how you define "first".
Trent Crimm | @trentcrimm
Pre-order THE OTTAWA WAY & SIDE BY SIDE today!
-
Shane looks around the coffee shop, a little on edge. They have a day off in Boston before tomorrow's game, and for reasons he still doesn't quite understand, Trent and Ilya thought it would be a good idea to wander the city and revisit a few old memories. Which is how Shane now finds himself tucked into the corner of a café Ilya used to frequent, drinking a matcha latte and pretending not to be bothered by how many people are staring.
"Now, if I may ask." Trent presses record on his phone and sets it down on the table between the three of them. "Because I think we've built something of a rapport by now, and I've been dying to know. When did you first know it was love?"
Shane blinks and then laughs a little, covering his mouth with his hand. "Wow, Trent. Starting easy today?"
Trent smiles. "Don't ask, don't get, I believe that's the phrase?"
Ilya looks at Shane. "It is complicated."
Trent nods, as if he'd suspected that might be the answer. "Then let me try to simplify the question, for now. Who was the first to say those three little words?"
That one was simple. Shane says, "Ilya," at the same time as Ilya says, "Ah, that was me."
Trent smiles again. He writes something in his notebook, even though the conversation is being recorded. "And when was that?"
"At my cottage. The year before Ilya moved to Ottawa."
"Ah, no. Was before that." Ilya is quiet, and Shane would even go so far as to describe his husband's change in demeanor as shifty.
"What do you mean?" Shane's eyebrows knit together in a frown. "It was at the cottage. Right after -" he drops his voice, remembering they're in public. In Boston. The whole point of this is that the things they choose to share are told the way they want them to be, so he'd rather not let hockey twitter overhear them and get the scoop. "Right after we started planning the charity."
"You started planning. You woke me up because you were planning so loud." Ilya laughs and reaches to squeeze Shane's hand reassuringly. "But no, I said it before."
Shane's brain is desperately scrambling to catch up. There is literally no way Shane is misremembering one of the core memories of his entire life. "What are you talking about, Ilya?"
Ilya is still holding Shane's hand, but he's looking at Trent as he talks. "I was in Moscow. My father had just died, and I was - it was a very difficult time, and all I wanted was for Shane to be with me. Everything was always better if Shane was there."
Ilya steals a glance at Shane, and somehow Shane suddenly realises what Ilya is going to say. "Oh my god." The words slip out, barely more than a whisper.
"Shane, my beautiful Shane, knew I was struggling and said, talk to me in Russian. I won't understand, but you can tell me how you're feeling." Ilya is now looking directly at Shane, and Shane can feel tears pricking at the back of his eyes. "A lot of it was about my father, my brother, my situation at home. But that was the first time I told Shane I loved him. He just didn't know I said it."
"Fuck." Shane wipes at his eyes with the sleeve of his hoodie and Ilya dives forward to kiss him, pressing their foreheads together. "Asshole. I can't believe you never told me that."
"I am sorry." Ilya smiles, kissing him again. He looks up at Trent. "No, Shane is right. First time was at the cottage."
"What? You can't just say all of that and then take it back!"
Ilya shrugs. "Probably isn't fair if you didn't know. And he asked when we first said ‘those three little words'. Is different words. Doesn't count."
Shane rolls his eyes. "It counts, Ilya. It definitely fucking counts."
"Hey!" The moment is shattered as some idiot kid barely out of his teens calls over at them from the doorway. "Fuck you Rozanov!"
"No thank you!" Ilya grins and points at Shane. "Position is taken!"
-
FEBRUARY
Ottawa Centaurs | @OttawaCentaurs
Another W for this team! That's a 100% record for March. 💪🏻
Hollander and Rozanov both on the scoresheet as Ottawa stays firmly in the playoff picture.
This is shaping up to be a season worth documenting - lucky we've already got that covered. 🗒️✍🏻
We go again Thursday in Winnipeg!
Gigi | @hollanderfan99
if we win the Cup, @trentcrimm is legally required to live in Ottawa forever
sammy | @ilyaspuck replying to @hollanderfan99
someone lock the doors and hide his passporthollanov #1 fan | @shilyashollanov replying to @hollanderfan99
extension for crimm. 8 years. no trade clause.Ilya Rozanov | @ilyarozanov81 replying to @hollanderfan99
yes, definitely because of trent crimm. not team performance 🙃
-
Shane follows Ilya into their hotel room in Winnipeg and first toes off his shoes, then carefully hangs his jacket before joining his husband on the bed. They lay next to each other, not even touching, and Shane smiles at the ceiling.
"Congrats on the goal." He smiles, tilting his head to look at Ilya.
"Same to you."
Shane loves these quiet moments after a game. All of the noise, the cheering fans, the rowdy locker room, it's all so far away and all that matters here is Shane-and-Ilya. He rolls onto his side and props himself up on his elbow, reaching for Ilya and playing idly with the fabric of his t-shirt.
"Did you talk to Trent today?"
"Mm." Ilya nods. "Did you?"
Shane shakes his head. "No, we're gonna catch up tomorrow." It feels like a long time since this whole project started now, and he almost finds it strange when there's a day Trent is elsewhere. Last week he went to Montreal to talk to Hayden and Jackie, much to Ilya's feigned disgust, and Shane had a terrible practice that day. Maybe there was something to this lucky charm thing. "How did it go?"
They didn't speak to Trent separately very often at the beginning. But over time, Trent started to request individual meetings more frequently, and it was pretty obvious to Shane why that was: he and Ilya often remembered the same incidents, and the feelings that went along with them, very differently.
"Was fine. If I talk to him any more often I can probably stop seeing my therapist."
Shane laughs, and Ilya shuffles closer so that he can slide his hand under Shane's shirt. "What did you talk about?"
As much as Shane had been terrified when Ilya first suggested they do this, they hadn't ended up vetoing any topics. It didn't feel necessary once they actually got started, and they both wanted the book to be as honest as possible.
Ilya laughs, tugging at Shane's shirt until he obliges by removing it. "No, no spoilers." He rolls on top of Shane, and Shane feels the vibrations of his voice as Ilya keeps talking while pressing kisses to his chest. "It would be unfair to give you time to prepare your version of the story."
"Oh so it's a story you know we disagree on?" Shane runs his hands down Ilya's shoulders with a laugh. "This feels like a trap."
Ilya folds his arms across Shane's chest and props his chin against them as he smiles and looks up at Shane. "I would never trap you."
"Hm." Shane narrows his eyes disbelievingly but leaves it there. A beat, and then, "we can trust him, can't we?"
"Trent?" Ilya looks up again, and Shane nods in response. "I think so, yes. The contracts protect us."
"But like," Shane chews on his lip. It's probably far too late to be worrying about this stuff, but it's just becoming more and more real now. "He'll tell it the right way, won't he?"
Ilya flips them, rolling onto his back and pulling Shane in against his chest, arms wrapped tight. "Yes." His fingers slide into Shane's hair, and the tension drains out of him instantly. "We did our research." Shane can't see Ilya's face anymore, but he can hear the smile in his voice. They both know that when he says we did our research, he really means Shane did. "We spoke to Colin Hughes, remember."
Shane does remember.
The day after Ilya had suggested that they tell their story through Trent, Shane had been awake late into the night reading through his articles, blog posts, and ordering a copy of The Richmond Way.
There was one piece in particular that stood out. It was an in-depth interview with Colin Hughes, the first Premier League footballer to come out while still playing at the top level. Just from reading it, it was clear Trent had handled the subject with care.
When Shane had DMed Colin to ask if they'd be in good hands if they agreed to this, Colin had immediately set up a Zoom call and spent nearly an hour enthusiastically singing Trent's praises. He told Shane that Trent had known Colin was gay long before it was public, and had kept that secret until Colin was ready to share it himself.
Shane remembers it clearly, but he'll probably still be nervous until he sees their words in print.
"It will be good." Ilya kisses the top of Shane's head. "And if it isn't, we will just set Anya on him."
Shane huffs a laugh against Ilya's chest. "Anya's a lover, not a fighter, like her papa. She would just lick him to death."
"Exactly. Death by licking? Is terrible way to die."
Shane laughs again at Ilya's blatantly signposted attempts to distract him from overthinking, as usual. "I know what you're doing."
"I know you do." Ilya pauses. "Is it working?"
Shane smiles against his chest. "Yeah."
"Good. I love you."
"I love you too."
-
JUNE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE OTTAWA CENTAURS — YOUR STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS! 🏆🏆🏆
In a season defined by belief, determination and more than a little bit of love, the Centaurs have done the unthinkable. In their first year playing alongside one another, Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov lifted the Stanley Cup together at last, alongside a team that refused to stop believing.
Award-winning journalist Trent Crimm was with the Centaurs every step of the way, granted unprecedented access as Ottawa climbed, game by game, all the way to the top of the hockey world. THE OTTAWA WAY will tell the full story of this unforgettable championship season from the first days of pre-season to the moment the Cup was finally raised.
Readers can also pre-order SIDE BY SIDE, the deeply personal companion volume from Hollander and Rozanov, arriving alongside the championship chronicle this fall.
Relive the season. Celebrate the champions.
JULY
They arrive home from two weeks of celebrations on Mykonos late one night in late July, exhausted from travelling and happy to finally be home. Shane brings their bags into the house while Ilya is tipping the cab driver, and then he heads straight for the fridge.
"Mom said she was going to get us some groceries," he stifles a yawn. He knows they should just go to bed if they want to beat their jetlag, but he at least needs something to drink first. "Oh, perfect. Milk, bread, ginger ale."
"All the important food groups. Thank you to Yuna." Ilya laughs as he enters the room. "What's this?"
Shane turns to see what Ilya is looking at. There's a thick brown envelope on the kitchen counter, separate from the pile of mail he'd spotted stacked neatly on the table by the door.
He cracks his can open and takes a swig as he leans over Ilya's shoulder. There's a post-it stuck on top, with his mom's neat handwriting.
I signed for this delivery from the publisher while I was unloading the groceries. I think it's the proof pages of your book. I promise I didn't even peek. Mom <3
"Only because she knows we'd be able to tell." Ilya picks up the envelope and runs his fingers over the seal. "Doesn't look like she steamed and re-sealed it."
"She's my mom, not a spy, Ilya."
"Sometimes I think Yuna would make a very good spy. Practical. Very smart. Probably good at kung-fu."
Shane snorts. "Kung-fu? Really?"
Ilya leans back into Shane with a smile. "I just wouldn't be surprised." He looks around, and Shane knows he's noticing the house is too quiet. "When is she bringing Anya back?"
"Tomorrow morning."
Ilya nods. "We should sleep. Tomorrow will be very tiring, we will have to walk Anya, and play with Anya, and walk Anya again-"
"You don't want to look?"
"It is late, sweetheart." Ilya puts the envelope back down and turns in Shane's arms. "If we start now, we will not stop, and this deserves our whole attention."
Shane nods. He knows Ilya is right - it's an entire book. They need to take their time with it. "Okay." He nods. "I'm just nervous to read it."
"Me too. But excited as well, no?"
"Yeah, excited too." Shane smiles and kisses him, resting their foreheads together when they separate. "Definitely excited too."
"Good." Ilya brings his hand up to Shane's face, resting the backs of his fingers on his cheek and stroking gently with his thumb. "Let's go to bed, my love."
SEPTEMBER
Shane Hollander | @shanehollanderhockeyplayer
Ilya and I want to thank @trentcrimm for taking such care telling our story. We spent months talking with Trent, giving him a window into parts of our lives we've never shared with anyone except each other. It should have been terrifying, but he never made it feel that way.
The first time we read what he'd written, armed with sticky notes and a red pen, we were nervous. We needn't have been. We both cried (Ilya will insist he didn't, but he definitely did) and we hardly gave any notes.
Our share of the proceeds from the book will be donated directly and in full to The Irina Foundation.
Shane and Ilya ❤️🌈
Ilya Rozanov | @ilyarozanov81 retweeted @shanehollanderhockeyplayer
Ilya Rozanov | @ilyarozanov81
Everything Shane says is true (even the part about crying, I am not ashamed of it!) - @trentcrimm is a very good writer and good person. Please buy his books.
Ilya Rozanov | @ilyarozanov81
And thank you to Scott Hunter for not-boring foreword.
-
hollanov #1 fan | @shilyashollanov
GUYS.
hollanov #1 fan | @shilyashollanov
did you READ it yet?
hollanov #1 fan | @shilyashollanov
Ilya said i love you first and he said it in RUSSIAN and shane didn't KNOW i am DEAD do not come check on me i am DONE this is too much i cannot survive
hollanov #1 fan | @shilyashollanov
this is like the kind of shit from a romance novel, not real fucking life
hollanov #1 fan | @shilyashollanov
i cannot believe
hollanov #1 fan | @shilyashollanov
WILL YOU COME TO MY COTTAGE THIS SUMMER [keyboard smash] [flips table]
Katie - side by side out now!!! | @shanescottage
that might be the most romantic, thoughtful, heartbreaking, hopeful, joyful, emotional thing ive ever read. kudos to @trentcrimm for getting all of those feelings to come across on the page!
One Word Reviews - books, movies, anything! | @onewordreviews
a one word review of SIDE BY SIDE: The Hollander/Rozanov Story: yearning
sammy | @ilyaspuck
cryingintheclub dot mp3 but the club is my car on my lunch break reading about hollanov and the #tunamelt
jack 🏒🏳️🌈 | @rainbowtape2481
You probably won't ever see this, but thank you. Being so honest must have taken real courage and I am so grateful you felt able to share it now after hiding so much for so long. Reading your story will give a lot of hope to a lot of people. #sidebyside
Shane Hollander | @shanehollanderhockeyplayer replying to @rainbowtape2481
Thank you. We see everything and we appreciate you ❤️Ilya Rozanov | @ilyarozanov81 replying to @rainbowtape2481
❤️
NOVEMBER
Dear Shane & Ilya,
Now that the dust has settled, I wanted to thank you once again for trusting me with your story. It has been a privilege to spend the past year with you both, and I sincerely hope I did it justice.
Though I generally avoid reading comments, I've been struck by the number of readers who have written to say how much the book meant to them. I suspect it represents only a fraction of what you've received yourselves.
I look forward to returning to Ottawa soon and taking in a game as a fan this time. Should you ever find yourselves in England during the football season - I'm afraid I remain physically incapable of calling it soccer - please do get in touch. I could secure excellent seats at AFC Richmond, where you would be warmly welcomed and the half time pies come highly recommended.
Just for fun, I've enclosed my handwritten timeline of events in the envelope with this letter. You'll notice several revisions, in more than one colour, as things gradually fell into place. I make no promises, but it may prove marginally useful in settling future debates.
Best of luck for the upcoming season.
I'll miss our chats, and look forward to our paths crossing again,
Trent Crimm