Work Text:
[Ilya Rozanov stands on the ice at the Canadian Tire Centre facing the camera while Harris Drover places a microphone on his shirt. Behind him is a line of a dozen or so men, all grinning broadly and waiting for direction.]
Ilya: What am I doing exactly?
Harris: So, the team is behind you, but you’re going to stay facing me. And they’re going to come up one at a time and say, ‘Hey, Roz,’ and then you have to guess who is saying your name.
Ilya: Is this supposed to be difficult? As if I don’t spend eight months of the year listening to these idiots?
[Harris laughs and moves behind the camera as Ilya smiles while several players in the background can be seen flipping him off as they also laugh.]
Harris: It might be harder than you think. Ready?
Ilya: To prove how good a captain I am? Always.
[Zane Boodram skates closer to Ilya.]
Zane: Hey, Roz.
Ilya: Harris, this is not hard. That’s obviously the second sexiest man on the team, Zane Boodram.
[Zane skates by, pausing to give Ilya an exaggerated kiss on the cheek before he moves out of frame, and the next player skates up.]
Evan Dykstra: Hey, Roz.
Ilya: Dykstra, it is a wonder I remember your voice, considering you’re always trying to talk to me over that awful music you play.
Troy Barrett: Hey, Roz.
[Ilya playfully clutches at his chest, while looking wistfully at the camera.]
Ilya: Ah, Troy Barrett. My favorite baby gay.
Harris: He’s my favorite baby gay, too!
Troy: [Pointing at Ilya as he skates by.] Fuck you. [He then points toward Harris off camera.] Love you.
Wyatt Hayes: Hey, Roz.
Ilya: Wyatt Hayes. The man I want to be when I grow up.
[Wyatt skates by, clapping Ilya on the back as Zane can be heard off camera saying, ‘Well, that’s never going to happen for a multitude of reasons.’ Ilya laughs and wiggles his eyebrows as Nick Chounaird skates up behind him to call out next. When he speaks, his voice is much higher-pitched than it normally is in an attempt to disguise himself.]
Nick Chounaird: Hey, Roz.
Ilya: Nick, you sound like this all the time, who are you trying to fool?
Tanner Dillon: Hey, Roz.
[Ilya’s face drops its smile, and he appears to concentrate, apparently having difficulty placing the voice.]
Ilya: Say it again?
Tanner: Hey, Roz.
Ilya: [realization dawns, and his smile returns] Tanner. I have spent so much time blocking out your voice that I almost forgot what it sounded like.
[Tanner good-naturedly punches Ilya in the arm when he passes, and a large dog comes into the frame behind Ilya, and Troy Barrett barely manages to get him to sit before giving him a signal to bark. Ilya’s expression turns into something mixed with joy and overwhelm.]
Ilya: Chiron, my beloved! I would know you anywhere!
[Chiron is released from his sit, and bounds over to Ilya, nearly knocking him down as he jumps around on the ice, licking enthusiastically at Ilya’s face before he’s coaxed out of frame by Troy. Next, Ilya correctly guesses the identities of the youngest players, Young, LaPointe, and Holmberg, before it’s Luca Haas’ turn to speak.]
Luca: Hey, Roz.
Ilya: My beautiful baby boy, Luca Haas.
[Luca looks both pleased and embarrassed as a deep blush creeps up his neck. This leaves the area behind Ilya empty until Shane Hollander quietly skates into the frame. He’s wearing a brand new Centaurs’ jersey with his number clearly visible on the arms. Ilya has no idea his soon-to-be husband is behind him, and though Shane is biting his lip, it does little to hide the grin he wears.]
Ilya: That is everyone, yes? I win?
Harris: Not quite. There’s one more player.
[Ilya’s brow furrows as he tries to think of who was missing from the roster of players that were currently in town. Shane skates closer, until he’s only a couple of meters away from Ilya. He looks emotional as he draws in a breath to speak.]
Shane: Hi, Ilya.
[Ilya’s eyes immediately go wide, but he doesnt move, continuing to look towards the camer. His lower lip starts to tremble as tears well up in his bright hazel eyes. It doesn’t take long for the first tear to fall, and he lets out a shaky and incredulous laugh. Shane is still smiling behind him, but it’s obvious he is beginning to tear up, too.]
Ilya: What the fuck, Harris? You set me up!
Harris: I definitely did. Tell us who’s behind you!
[Ilya’s hand comes up and covers his mouth as he shakes his head, trying to gain some control over his emotions, though it does little. When he drops it, he’s openly crying, and his voice breaks when he speaks.]
Ilya: My Shane.
[Shane closes the distance between them at the sound of his name, crashing into Ilya from behind as the men around them applaud and cheer their approval. Ilya manages to turn in Shane’s arms, holding his face and saying, ‘You look so good in that stupid logo,’ before he leans down to kiss him passionately. When the finally break apart, Ilya bends slightly and picks Shane up in a crushing hug, swinging him around as the rest of the team closes in and piles on in a massive group hug. Chiron returns to the ice, running around and barking happily just before the video cuts to black.]
@centaurshockey We dare you to find another captain in the NHL who knows his team as well as Ilya Rozanov knows the Centaurs 😉
Posted July 10th at 11:11 am
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@censfan1 OMG OMG OMG
@troybarretthockey I would like to point out that despite what Roz says, I have been gay for a very long time.
@puckmeplease I have never loved anything more in my entire life.
@livelaughhockey THERE’S NO FUCKING WAY.
@ottawagurl You know what? We’ve fucking EARNED this. Let’s go.
@hockeywhore I’m honestly more shocked they managed to keep this quiet enough to announce it this way. I’m so happy for everyone!!
@zambonisrevenge Is someone cutting onions in here?
@abbyt10 Holy shit, we’re actually going to win the Cup now, aren’t we?!
@ilovethecentaurs Damn, Montreal fucked up REAL bad.
@wyatthayes ❤️❤️❤️
@b00dramzane gladly hanging up my ‘second sexiest person on the team’ title ❤️
@evandykstra I love this team.
@redandblack Is this what it feels like to have dreams come true?
@ilyarozanov81 I LOVE MY LIFE 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 SHANE IS HERE EVERYONE! I AM GOING TO CRY ALL OVER AGAIN!!!!
@hallieb eat it, Scott Hunter!
@jackiepike @realshanehollander @ilyarozanov81 I would just like you all to know that @haydenpikemontreal just teared up ❤️
@haydenpikemontreal @jackiepike @realshanehollander @ilyarozanov81 I did not!!!!! She’s lying!!!!!! I’m only sad I’m not playing with Shane anymore!!
@ilyarozanov81 @haydenpikemontreal so, what I’m hearing is, you DID cry?
@haydenpikemontreal @ilyarozanov81🖕
@realshanehollander It feels so good to be home.