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Ilya Rozanov: Inside the Hockey Superstar’s New Life in Canada

There is a not-insignificant chance that you’ve at least heard of Ilya Rozanov’s name if you have even any sort of peripheral interest in hockey or the goings-on of the MLH. Prior to this April, it might have been due to any number of reasons: his storied rise to stardom from first draft pick to Stanley Cup winning captain of the Boston Raiders and now the Ottawa Centaurs, his irreverent charm and his reputation for getting into tussles on the ice, or even his longstanding, infamous rivalry with Shane Hollander, captain of the Montreal Metros.

His most recent announcement, however, manages to outweigh even the news from a year ago that had sent the hockey community into a frenzy—that he and Shane Hollander had set aside their differences and were now working together for a good cause, cofounding a mental health charity named after Rozanov’s mother, The Irina Foundation: that he has also been in a long-term, committed relationship with said ex-rival and fellow MLH player for several years.

The pair have been quiet since Hayden Pike’s, Hollander’s fellow Metro, unfortunate, mistimed FanMail video, save for an official statement confirming their relationship and an Instagram post that took the social media platform down for several minutes and remains the fourth-most liked post on the platform to this day. The reason is easy enough to speculate upon: both Hollander and Rozanov have had relatively quiet personal lives, save for Hollander’s widely publicized fling with Rose Landry back in 2016. It is, perhaps, unlikely that they were ready for the level of non-hockey related spotlight their relationship as the first openly queer and dating MLH hockey players in history would bring them. The other likely cause is simple: the news came at an unfortunate time in the middle of the playoffs, which both teams have now been eliminated from, the Metros in the second and Centaurs in a surprisingly late fourth round.

Whatever the reason, Rozanov has decided to break his silence today on the topic in a venue that perhaps suits the hockey superstar more than anyone might expected before this month—Second Base, a dimly-lit, gay sports bar in Montreal, two hours away from Rozanov’s current home—but also notably, the city that Shane Hollander is famously a resident of.

It is a little strange to see him out of his jersey or a suit. At one p.m. on a weekday, no one gives Rozanov a second look, despite his striking eyes, which carries over just as well in real life as it does on camera. Unlike Hollander, Rozanov doesn’t make many public appearances outside of official MLH business; his last one was beside Hollander himself, in their documentary published last June that served as an official ending to their well-known rivalry and the start of a journey as the co-founders of The Irina Foundation. “That documentary was so boring,” Rozanov comments. “We were already together then. But there was so many things that we had to leave out…” he sighs, taking a sip of his dry martini. “So, so boring.”

Still, it’s important to note that despite their years-long relationship—which Rozanov describes as “extremely complicated, for a long time”—the aforementioned rivalry that heated up the ice for years between Boston and Montreal was very, very real. “We didn’t hate each other as much as the cameras assumed,” Rozanov says. “But we were rivals. Every single bit of competition was real. He wanted to beat me. I wanted to beat him. No one should ever question that. It is what made us work in the first place. We both wanted to win.”

And win, the both of them did—Rozanov took the Boston Raiders to their first Stanley Cup win in decades in his first year as captain, only to be beat out in the following year by Hollander and the Metros. Many Boston fans were no doubt devastated to see their longstanding favorite leave the team, and no doubt even more puzzled to see that Rozanov’s new choice was a team that has never won a Stanley Cup in the entirety of MLH history.

Considering Ottawa’s proximity to Montreal and his most recent, jaw-dropping reveal, one has to wonder if the real reason behind the move was something no one would have ever guessed before this month. But one has to imagine that there were many, many possible paths for Hollander and Rozanov to take, here. Why, then, the Centaurs, of all teams?

“Dream is to play on a team together eventually, no?” he says. “But Shane loves Montreal, and he is from Ottawa. They are only two hours away from each other. In the end, this is what made the most sense. Besides,” Rozanov smirks, a cocky smile that many fans know is usually a precursor to a glove-throwdown, “I love a challenge. Next year is our year. Just you wait.”

While Hollander’s plans might be further up in the air, as he is once again a free agent at the end of this season—though Rozanov refuses to comment further, with only a mysterious smile as his answer—it doesn’t seem as if the Russian superstar plans on leaving Canada anytime soon, much to the potential relief of all us Canadian Hollander fans. After all, if this interview is anything to go by, where one goes, so does the other. “I want to stay here. I love Ottawa. The people here, the Centaurs… It is lovely.” He pulls out his phone, showing me his lockscreen: a picture of Hollander holding a tiny chocolate-brown toy poodle. His hands are almost as big as her head. “Our social media manager, Harris, he fosters dogs, yes? He gave me my girl Anya. If I didn’t move to Ottawa, I wouldn’t have met her, and I would be so far from Shane. So it is a win-win. And, here… here is Shane’s hometown, after all.”

Rozanov (and Hollander, by extension), however, are far from the first people to come out in MLH history; that honor goes to Scott Hunter, current captain of the New York Admirals, back in 2014. Even on the Centaurs, his fellow teammate, Troy Barrett, beat him to it by a few months during Ottawa’s Pride Night game in January earlier this year. “Mine was definitely… more of a surprise,” Rozanov comments. “Sorry, Barrett. Was not intentional. Did I steal your thunder?”

It’s clear that though it might have been a secret to the world, Rozanov had some confidants that kept his then-secret close to the chest. too. “He knew I was bisexual, that my situation was a little more complicated. But he had all my support going into his moment, his Pride Night. It is always nice to know that we are not alone. And Hunter—we all appreciate his courage, and all the hard work he has put in as an advocate for the community since.”

Rozanov would have definitely preferred to come out on his own terms, though. “Shane and I were already planning on it, the following summer,” he admits. He outlines a fairly sedate plan: first, tell their respective team and management, then MLH officials, followed by a public statement. “We were so tired. Hiding it on top of our careers… Something had to give eventually.” He shrugs. “Thanks, Pike. Guess he got impatient enough to do it for us.”

They both have no hard feelings towards Hollander’s teammate, though. “Maybe he should film his FanMails more carefully, yes?” Rozanov says dryly. “But Hayden also has been one of the few people who knew for a while. In the end, what’s happened has happened. Now, the whole world knows—and we don’t have to hide anymore.”

“We didn’t set out to become gay icons, or anything,” Rozanov continues. He waves a hand, like he understands the futility of the statement even as he is saying it. No matter how unknown Hollander and Rozanov’s name might have been outside of the sport—and even that is not a guarantee, considering Hollander’s many brand ambassadorships and his position as Canada’s darling—the news that two of the most currently best-performing players in the MLH are together has already propelled their names to viral stardom in the queer community, with many famous names like Elton John and Lady Gaga expressing their open support. “We just wanted to be able to tell the world about us. And now we can. That’s all that matters, isn’t it?”

But can it really be that simple, for the two of them?

“Yes,” Rozanov says. He pulls out the necklace around his neck, a simple chain that falls just between the divots of his collarbones. On the end of it is a crucifix and a simple black ring, inlined in gold. “It is.” He shrugs. “I fell in love. He loves me back. What more do we need to say?”

Then, there’s only one more question left to ask: when’s the wedding?

“Soon,” Rozanov smiles. “Soon.”

@ShaneHollanderHockeyPlayer
[A single black and white picture of two hands against silk-white sheets, their fingers intertwined. On each of their ring fingers is a plain band.]

💍
_{4.5m likes, 10.3k comments}

@jb.tierney - HOLLANOV ENGAGEMENT???? THIS IS NOT A DRILL ❤️ 16531

@bostonb3ars - I can’t believe we’re being hit with all of this in the span of two months they are not giving us ANY time to breathe??? ❤️ 14321

@minsung.l - world’s greatest love story. when am I going to fall madly in love with my childhood rival of over a decade ❤️ 11231

@miffy.y - gotta break some MLH records first, bud ❤️ 485

[A screenshot of a snippet from the interview where Ilya is talking about Shane.]

@ovechkkiinn
so it’s really true what they say about the russians. are they all just giant scary bears with a heart of gold. why is this the most romantic thing i have ever seen happen ever
💬 101 🔁 3.7k ❤️ 12k

@skkate - ngl, i had no idea that rozanov had it in him

@pike.me - he bagged a hottie like hollander, he’s gotta have SOME rizz

@bazzetts
imagine being a stanley-cup winning international hockey superstar AND getting to go home and kiss another stanley-cup winning international hockey superstar. ilya rozanov the man that you are
💬 123 🔁 7.7k ❤️ 43k

@hoollanderss - i don’t know who to be more jealous of

[An old gif of Ilya yelling at Hayden on the ice in 2016, with Shane grabbing at Hayden’s arm and patting him on the back.]

@whore.hollanovs
sooo who here just realized they were probably fighting for shane’s hand here </3
💬 54 🔁 593 ❤️ 1k

@crosbyyyyz - no way shane didn’t tell hayden about them, right???? so is he just throwing down here in public with his best friend’s bf????

@llyas.hollanders - every single shayd//en shipper was just found dead in ottawa

Clip: Rozanov comments on Hollander’s performance in the playoffs
[Ilya is clearly in the Centaurs locker room, post-game in California after their latest match, his hair falling in damp curls across his face still. There is a microphone held up to his face. He is scowling.

“Rozanov, any comment on the speculation that Hollander lost the latest Metros game against the Centaurs on purpose, given the recent scandal?”

“Firstly, it is not scandal,” Rozanov says, holding up a finger. “Secondly, are you blind? Can you not read? Did you not read our statement?” He looks the camera dead in the eye. “I want to win. So does Shane. If you think it’s so easy to beat him, why don’t you go to Montreal and try it for yourself? Now, are you actually going to ask me any real questions about the game, or are you just here to ask me more f**king stupid things?”]

ESPN MLH Highlight: Ilya Rozanov, Centaurs vs. Guardians [...more]
_{104,294 views}

@miles.worth - let’s not forget that they’ve apparently been together for TEN years, guys, they both won MULTIPLE stanley cups for their teams in that time, did everyone just develop collective amnesia or what 👍 842

@eleventeen - Kind of crazy that anyone’s even asking this, they’ve clearly never played Scrabble with their partner 👍 103

@mlhwlw- Ilya really said: PLEASE try so I can see my boyfriend beat your ass 👍 41

@Nowayout - Hollander totally threw the playoff game, it’s so fucking obvious, what the hell was that trip? Totally fake

@ImagineYourDragon - Why don’t YOU try and go play professionally in the MLH for a decade and see if you manage to do it without making a single mistake ever, fuckhead 👍 26

@outmagazine
[A decently high quality video, zoomed in on two distant figures on a float moving slowly by. Looking closer, it’s obvious that the two men are Shane and Ilya. The cheers of the crowd are audible. Pink, purple, and blue stripes cover Ilya’s cheeks in haphazard, smudged lines, while Shane struggles to hold on to a rainbow flag coming loose around his shoulders. Ilya’s arm is wrapped around Shane’s waist. Even from this distance, it’s clear that he holding on to Shane like he’s afraid that something will separate them, his fingers digging into the material of Shane’s white tee. They are both beaming at each other, radiantly happy. Before the video ends, Shane leans in to press a kiss to Ilya’s cheek.]

Hockey superstar couple Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander spotted at Montreal Pride, 2018 #happypride
_{139k likes, 1.3k comments}

@jess.zip - who are they. i didn’t know hockey players were this beautiful ❤️ 3421

@donnn.d - where have you been for the past month ❤️ 111

@jess.zip - no idea. actually i didn’t even know MLH players could be gay tbh ❤️ 231

@rr.robertson - bro they aren’t even the first?? ❤️ 45

@sayanora - i can’t believe they’re married to each other and not to ME ❤️ 2842

@minsung.l - you can only date Hollander if you have a shot named after you ❤️ 231

@mimimi.zzz - im about to buy tickets to the Preds playoff game for the first time just because of them ❤️ 105

@alldaymlh - If you’re actually interested, Hockey Bros did a really great podcast episode chronicling both of their careers! They also have a primer of terms and rules for new watchers. There are also multiple out queer MHL players that are all amazing, though none of them are dating each other obv. But as a gay man who’s been following the sport for a long time it’s been amazing to see whats been going on in recent years ❤️ 56

@mwioc83 - who tf cares, they aren’t even that good anyway. why are they trying to shove it down our throats? just play the game ❤️ 0

@hollanderszzzzz - Are you really taking about the two players multiple commentators have called some of the best centers in MLH history. You’re just jealous neither of them won’t ever shoot a second look at your crusty ass ❤️ 3

@mieily.z- where's the s*x tape ❤️ 0

@iraria11 - can you fucking weirdos just be normal for once? ❤️ 2

@nike with @ilya.rozanov
[A darkly backlit shot of Ilya’s silhouette as he faces the camera, his head turned to the side. His red-and-white jersey is tied around his waist, leaving him shirtless but still wearing his pants, skates, and gloves, his hockey stick held to the side. The contrast highlights the sharp contours of his abs and the slant of his nose and cheekbones, his eyes just shadowed enough that the blue looks nearly black. The stylists have clearly gone for the wet look; his hair is damp with simulated sweat, and droplets are visible over the curve of his pectoral.

The next slide contains a short edited video in staccato, energetic cuts to the tune of Kendrick Lamar’s ‘DNA’. Ilya reenacts his famed trick shot to each beat, still shirtless and glistening, his muscles rippling visibly as he moves around on the ice. When he turns to look the camera in the eye after his successful backhand, smirking, the reveal of the other side of his face showcases a painted on rainbow flag in neat stripes on his cheek.]

Excited to welcome the Ottawa Centaurs captain as one of our new Pride Ambassadors!
_{1.5m likes, 1.3k comments}

@dance_dance_dance - HOLY SHIT WHY IS HE NAKED ❤️ 5531

@ShaneHollanderHockeyPlayer - you're going to let your man out of the house like this?? ❤️ 26345

@dialedinlockedin - i thought he would get less slutty now that he was locked down not MORE ❤️ 1234

@jess.xtuwy - finally after years of the slutty shane CK ads it’s now ilya’s turn ❤️ 2531

@bringingglory19 - i got so hard i think i passed out ❤️ 1531

r/MLH

[DISCUSSION] Where do we think Hollander’s going to go?

Dude’s a beast. 32 goals last season and his cap hit is 15.5mil. Thoughts?
⬆️4,631⬇️ 324 💬

u/EllipticalLordship
… Is it crazy to say that I think the Centaurs might pick him up? Rozanov and Hollander on the same team would be unstoppable.

u/hasnt_a_clue
No way they’d let a couple play on the same team.

u/PM_ME_YOUR_PUCK
the PWHL already does it, buddy.

u/justlyfussyballs
Doubtful; they might have traded Tanner, but with Barrett on they don’t have enough to get Hollander WITH Rozanov too… unless he’s willing to take a big pay cut.

u/thebroadsloth
His fiancé’s the captain of the team, maybe he’s willing to do it for love.

u/boohoowoohoo
Lol, who would be the center then?

u/UnWinninglyFunny
Hot take, but I think Hollander is the better player. The stats are pretty close averaged out, but if you look at the actual games themselves, Hollander is the one actually making those game-deciding goals where it counts. He basically soloed the Metros into winning their two most recent Cups. The Raiders were a better team overall with Rozanov but it just wasn’t enough. If anyone should be the winger it’s Rozanov

u/draw_the_line
If the Metros don’t keep him they’re fools.

u/Jj_Matterson
I think if they don’t they’re going to be hearing the cries of every single Montreal fan all the way in Vancouver

u/for_posterities
Ngl, they haven’t been looking too happy with Hollander recently since the stuff with Rozanov came out.

u/Nauseous_banjo
Guess they’re wondering the same thing we all are. I mean, is it really possible to play impartially against your long term partner? The MLH should have rules for this.

u/wrongwrongwrong21
Buddy, how likely do you think it is that there are not only TWO hockey players that are gay but also into each other? The stars aligned here. If they make a rule now it would be probably really bad press. They should wait until they retire

u/UprightPrickly
You know, we don’t exactly have a timeline since they’ve mostly just said “years”, but if we assume that they definitely weren’t dating when Hollander was dating Rose Landry… It might have only been for a few months but those were career-low goal point averages. Just saying. So it does affect their game overall… But in a good way?

[audio attachment, 23mins 49 seconds]

@ovechkkiinn
in case anyone hasn’t heard the audio that got posted on insta a few hours ago that’s reportedly the MLH commissioner talking to Shane and Ilya, here’s the full version
💬 201 🔁 4.7k ❤️ 32k

@shyyyyday - jesus, it just gets even worse

@crosybyys - There’s no way that that isn’t Ilya, I’d recognize my boy anywhere

@whorehollanders - Who leaked it??? It seems like a phone recording???

@bazzetts - my money’s on mama hollander tbh. i bet crowell trying to interfere with whatever’s going on with shane rn #getmyboyonthecentaurs

@riverkois
is anyone crying yet about how Shane said fuck you I CHOOSE HIM 😭😭😭😭 my babies
💬 201 🔁 4.7k ❤️ 32k

@spirited_awayz - do you guys understand how crazy this is. shane hollander is THE hockey man. he lives and breathes for hockey and he said he would give it all up for ilya??? my heart

@hollanovaz - the hollanov goes so hard

@missmashmish
Guys, you realize that shipping aside this is kind of fucked up, right? Like, this is literally their careers. And they probably didn’t want this to be shared.
💬 4 🔁 2 ❤️ 12

@mielll - ??? this only gives them better publicity tbh and now the mlh will have to think twice with all eyes on them if they want to sabotage hollanov. is it really so bad

@JessPlayer - You realize that this blatant homophobia is something a lot of us face every day, right? I’ve broken up with an ex before because of shit like this. None of us want them to go through this but sometimes it’s just nice to see people that love each other in the face of everything. We want them to have a happy ending

r/GayHockeyBros

[DISCUSSION] Crowell + Hollander/Rozanov Audio Leak

Please keep all discussions about the leak here. Thanks. Any singular posts will be deleted and redirected here

Also, note we don’t have any official confirmation on the source or veracity of the audio yet.
⬆️1,631⬇️ 167💬

u/PM_ME_YOUR_PUCKS
Kind of depressing that even so long after Scott Hunter we still have this kind of shit happening, tbh.

u/NonsensicalBreadth
Is anyone surprised though? MLH has always been one of the least inclusive leagues in the entirety of hockey. Stands to reason it’s rotten from the top down.

u/readmethru
Yeah, they can sell us as much pride merch as they want but we know at the end of the day it’s all lip service. Hell, look at the way the Metros were treating Hollander after the playoffs. Literally only Pike and Dagenais spoke out in support of him and he won them TWO stanley cups

u/darn_the_day
lol, anyone notice the complete radio silence from r/MLH about this?

u/coastingroasting
Last I saw, mods were taking any threads about it down because it was unfounded libel, whatever the hell that means. We can all tell it’s a real recording. There’s plenty of videos for us to compare their voices to. Also tbh the fact that neither Hollander or Rozanov OR the MLH have come out to say it’s fake is pretty damning in and of itself.

u/PM_ME_YOUR_CERTAIN_VARIATIONS
Talk about the Streisand effect, we’re seeing it in real time. It's already all over twitter. Who wants to bet the MLH officials are behind this

u/apstoling
lmaoooo, anyone with half a working ear can tell within a second that that’s Rozanov. That Russian accent is distinct

ESPN

Breaking: MLH Commissioner Roger Crowell suspended on accusations of embezzlement, tax evasion
Following the audio leak rumored to be of Crowell and MLH players Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, the MLH has announced that the Commissioner is suspended pending investigation on recent accusations of embezzlement, tax evasion... [see more]

Roger Crowell Audio
342k posts
1 · Sports · Trending

MLH
451k posts
3 · Sports · Trending

@ovechkkiinn
“tax evasion”… sure… sounds like a REAL coincidence to me that this guy is being cut after that audio leak that they definitely don’t want to confirm… sure…
💬 23 🔁 2.4k ❤️ 4.2k

@ddmonimoni - This way they don’t have to give an official statement and they get rid of the scapegoat. Win-win I guess

@whore.hollanovs
ding dong the witch roger crowell is dead!!
💬 14 🔁 1.1k ❤️ 2.3k

@whore.hollanovs - in case you guys weren’t aware, here’s a thread that has ALL the receipts on the shady shit he’s said over the years (not even including the hollanov audio leak): https://x…

@messi.zsz- Damn the MLH really is shady huh

@hatttricking - boy they been shady, where have you been

TMZ

Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander Spotted Sharing a Kiss on a Walk in Montreal

[Attached to the article headline are two sequential images taken of Shane and Ilya, walking side by side on a sunny day. They are both dressed down; Ilya is in a pair of rather revealing chino shorts and a tee, while Shane is wearing a muscle tank and sweats. Anya’s furry ears are barely visible in the front of the picture. They are holding hands. In the first picture, Ilya is looking adoringly at Shane; in the second, Ilya presses a kiss to Shane’s lips, the hand holding Anya’s leash visibly slackening.

If you click into the article, you can see a third, funnier snapshot: Ilya’s slightly panicked face as he stumbles forward thanks to Anya, who has decided to make use of her owner’s inattention to make a bid for her freedom. In the background, Shane has his head turned to the side in laughter.]

@theirinafoundation with @ilya.rozanov and @ShaneHollanderHockeyPlayer
[A slideshow of several pictures featuring Leah and Max Campbell, Hayden Pike, and Ryan Price on the ice in their hockey gear, giving thumbs up to the camera. There is also a video featured of Pike chasing a gaggle of children around the rink before he is gently tackled by Hollander, upon which he goes down screaming at the top of his lungs.

The last picture in the slideshow is a surprisingly good-quality freeze frame of Ilya spinning around an unimpressed looking Shane in his arms, much to the delight of all the children surrounding them.]

Today marks our third year since our inception, and thus, our third round of hockey camps hosted by our co-founders, Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov! Thank you to everyone who helped to make this possible. We couldn’t have done it without your support, and we hope to keep making it bigger and better.

For more information on our rest-of-year initiatives, please see the link in our bio, which also contains more details on where to donate and volunteer.
_{20k likes, 104 comments}

@YunaHollander - Congrats on another successful year, my boys! ❤️ 1231

@bringingglory19 - HI MOM❤️ 267

@mint.lemon - my boys… i’m not crying you’re crying ❤️ 109

@shaylaazz - my shayden crumbs…

@minsung.l girl u are delulu

@ilya.rozanov
[A picture taken rinkside of Shane at one of their hockey camps, who is wearing a bright red and white jersey that says ROZANOV printed across the back. He is surrounded by kids of varying sizes and heights, all of whom are also wearing matching Centaurs jerseys of different players. There are a lot of Rozanovs. There is a tiny girl trying to climb on his back, creasing the 81 thoroughly with her little fingers.]

big помидоp and little помидоры
_{567k likes, 231 comments}

@riverkois - when are we getting the pregnancy announcement ❤️ 2144

@minced.chopped - ????????? this is the cutest thing i have ever seen??????? ❤️ 1242

@bringingglory19 -big tomato and little tomatoes 😭😭😭😭😭 ❤️ 662

@basedhollanders
lmao, i love how hollanov is just chilling while the entire hockey community is in flames and the mlh is panicking with their dicks in their hands
💬 64 🔁 4.1k ❤️ 6.3k

@bazzetts If I was a millionaire with a hot husband and a cute dog, I wouldn’t care either

@rmmmmbts7 - after all the shit that’s gone down at this point, I doubt anything fazes them

@movemoveit - tbh, living their best life while seeing what crowell getting what he deserved without either of them even needing to say a word is what they should be doing

r/MontrealMetros

[Article] ESPN: Hollander signs with the Ottawa Centaurs

How are we feeling about this my Metros
⬆️632⬇️ 42💬

u/IanMMM [MOD] 📌
Please read our sub rules regarding civil discussion. Note that no homophobic remarks will be tolerated in this thread. We WILL be judicious with the ban hammer.

u/EvasiveVanguard
Someone put me on suicide watch we are So Cooked

u/WingWingWinger
Guess I’m moving to Ottawa yall, it’s been a good run

u/maplemedown
Damn, that’s a massive pay cut

u/nuisancelosering
Please, with Rozanov the two of them have more than enough lol

u/improbabletransmission612
Kind of crazy that they made this decision even after the Centaurs signed Rozanov and there’s still been zero improvement in the team after three seasons… They’re just blowing money away at this point and for what? So they can say that they have MLH’s first gay couple playing on the same team together?

u/upupupdowndown
Dude, as good Rozanov is he can’t carry a whole team by himself… Also, are you forgetting that they knocked the Metros out of the playoffs last season? If anything it’s only uphill for them from here, esp since now they have Barrett on too. I’m personally kind of excited to see where this goes

u/know_the_ropes
Who do we think Hollander’s replacement is going to be? Smith is the next best center they could sign right no but he’s NOT comparable at all. Did the Metros even try to keep him?

u/Dr-Mister-Dr
Could they really have if he was moving for Rozanov though? Seems more like a personal life decision than a professional one

u/thepresenttouchdown
Ngl save for Pike and Dagenais I feel like there’s been some tension between him and the rest of them since the Hollander/Rozanov announcement… Idk if I’m reading too much into it but I feel like his wingers have NOT been doing their jobs. Sucks that it is what it is but it wouldn’t surprise me if they were homophobic

u/RunItDownOnce
Seriously? Both of their careers are in the fucking pits at this point

u/whimsical_dugout
Found the undercover raiders fan

@ilya.rozanov
[A single picture of Ilya and Shane saying their vows. The arch behind them is a simple wreath of leaves, but the purple hydrangeas and white jasmines intertwined in them match perfectly with the boutonnières on Shane and Ilya’s lapels, respectively. Shane’s smile is watery; Ilya’s is no better, but he has his head ducked, his posture tight with emotion so his eyes are barely visible. They are holding hands.]

my boy
_{5.5m likes, 4.3k comments}

@Rose.Landry- So happy to see my favorite couple finally tie the knot ❤️ 21441

@miffy.y - ROSE???? ROSE LANDRY IS A HOLLANOV SHIPPER???? ❤️ 2342

@enid.liii - i knew she was an ally ❤️ 2342

@svetlanas - can’t believe you got to Hollander first. congrats, i guess ❤️ 11314

@ilya.rozanov - hands off, sveta. he’s mine ❤️ 44234

@missmewiththat - LMAOO???? ❤️ 1093

@dandandaaa - isn’t this boy gay as the day is long, he's not interested in women anyway, ilya ❤️ 642

@KenNm - i am living for possessive ilya ❤️ 414

@YunaHollander - You’ve already been a Hollander in our hearts for a long time, but we’re so, so glad to have you officially 💙 ❤️ 20394

@bringingglory19 - mama hollander can you adopt me too please ❤️ 1902

@minsung.l - THIS IS SO SWEET WDYM ILYA WAS ALREADY A PART OF THEIR FAMILY 😭 ❤️ 993

@nu.tmrw - they really dropped both this AND the centaurs signing announcement in one afternoon omfg ❤️ 853

@holllllllanov - we've been fed so well ❤️ 132

TRENDING

hollanov marriage
342k posts
1 · Sports · Trending

Ottawa Centaurs
234k posts
2 · Sports · Trending

@bazzetts
FIRST MARRIED HOCKEY COUPLE TO PLAY ON THE SAME MLH TEAM!!!!!!
💬 44 🔁 3.1k ❤️ 7.3k

@hollanovas - THE POWER COUPLE THAT THEY ARE

@whore.hollanovs
is anyone from hockeytwt still alive guys. did we break twitter
💬 103 🔁 6.1k ❤️ 10.3k

@mont.mont - on one hand i am MISERABLE that we’re losing Shane from the metros. however my hollanov heart has never been so full WDYM HE’S PLAYING WITH HIS HUSBAND

@ottawaaaaaaaz
ilya moved to ottawa for shane but now shane’s moving to ottawa for ilya WELCOME HOME MY BOY!!!! maybe this is the year we finally get our cup
💬 11🔁 678 ❤️ 1.2k

@iraira1- being a centaurs fan since pre-rozanov and hollander is crazy

@ottawaaaaaaaz - @iraira1 you don’t understand how long ive been suffering.

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

[TRANSCRIPT] Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov discuss PrideOnIce, The Ottawa Centaurs, and their Wedding

J: Welcome, welcome. I’m going to go ahead and say on the behalf of everyone that you two are perhaps the most sought-after interviewees of the month, so thank you for choosing New York to make your first appearance.

[Cheers and applause.]

Ilya: Wasn’t Scott Hunter here last month?

J: He lives here, so it’s not as rare of a sighting when we’ve all seen him sprinting around Central Park already. Sorry, Scott.

[Audience laughter.]

Shane: Thanks. We’re very excited to be here.

Ilya: He might not look it, though.

[Shane’s already painfully neutral expression turns unimpressed as he elbows Ilya to a light round of audience laughter.]

J: Speaking of Scott Hunter—he’s the whole reason we’re all here today, aren’t we?

[Jimmy pulls out an autographed poster featuring specifically Shane and Ilya from Scott Hunter’s PrideOnIce campaign, the first initiative round of fundraisers auctioning off various MLH memorabilia signed by the players themselves, the proceeds of which will go towards funding underserved and underrepresented communities in hockey. Ilya’s signature is sprawled across the top of the poster, while Shane’s is more sedately scrawled across the bottom, sandwiching the image of both of them standing back to back in matching Centaurs jerseys.]

Shane: Yeah. Scott approached us not long ago telling us about his dream of creating a more accessible, diverse space in hockey where everyone can feel safe and respected—and if you know anything about Ilya and I, you’ll know why that’s so important to us.

Ilya: As you might know, Shane and I have already co-founded a charity organization called the Irina Foundation, specifically targeting mental health outreach, which is also very important to the both of us. The Foundation will also be partnering together with PrideOnIce.

Shane: We really appreciate your support so far — even before this appearance, we already reached our initial goal of $200,000 — but the fundraiser continues for another two weeks, and we still have more items up for auction coming up, so stay tuned.

Ilya: Yeah. Shane made me do a poster where I have my boobs out. That’s coming out next week.

[Hoots and hollers from the audience.]

Shane: I did not make you do anything, you volunteered. For a good cause.

Ilya: Okay, maybe you didn’t say it, Hollander, but I know it was what you wanted. For the cause, obviously.

J: I’m definitely getting the sense that you guys are married.

[Audience laughter.]

J: Not even four months after you broke the internet, you guys broke it—again—with the announcement of your highly-anticipated nuptials, alongside the news that you two would be together on the Ottawa Centaurs in the upcoming MLH season.

[Ilya’s Instagram post of the vow exchange is pulled up on the screen, alongside snippets from Hayden Pike, Rose Landry, and Yuna Hollander’s Instagram stories of the wedding.]

J: How are you guys feeling about starting a new chapter of your married life on the same MLH team for the first time?

[Ilya looks at Shane, who is visibly thinking.]

Shane: We’re both very excited. Thank you to everyone on the Centaurs who believe in me, and to all our fans in Ottawa as well; I’ll make sure not to let you all down. And… It’s good to come home.

[Audience applause.]

Ilya: That’s such a boring answer, Shane.

[Shane rolls his eyes.]

Shane: What would you say then?

Ilya: I’m very excited to finally be on the same MLH team with my very sexy Russian husband. Together we are going to win a lot of Stanley Cups for Ottawa. Look forward to it.

Shane: I’m very excited to finally be on the same MLH team with my very sexy Russian husband. Together we hope to win some Stanley Cups for Ottawa.

[Shane locks eyes with Ilya.]

Shane: And I’m very much looking forward to the playing together on the same team as the love of my life.

[The audience audibly awws. Ilya looks flustered, his eyes immediately darting away from Shane’s gaze. He lifts his hand to cover his mouth, then puts it back down as if realizing that it only makes him look more affected. Jimmy leans over his desk, his torso practically hanging off, to squint dramatically at Ilya.]

J: Are you blushing?

Ilya: Russians do not blush.

[Shane leans back in his seat, looking visibly satisfied.]

J: I think he's blushing.

Shane: I think I win this round.

J: Ha! The competition hasn't died at all, huh?

[The camera zooms out.]

J: Anyway, congratulations to the both of you on tying the knot, and on a very successful first round of fundraising! For everyone interested, please check out PrideOnIce dot com for more information on the auction, and we’re so glad to have you here today!

Buzzfeed Celeb

[TRANSCRIPT] Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov: The Puppy Interview

[The video cuts in to Ilya lying on his back as four puppies crawl all over his body. Shane is sitting beside him with a tiny pug in his lap, amused.]

Ilya: This is the best day of my life.

Shane: Damn, I thought that would’ve been our wedding.

Ilya: I’m sorry, lyubimiy, but… they’re just so cute. Cuter than you.

[Shane looks at the camera.]

Shane: I’ve been replaced by dogs.

Ilya: No, no, you’ve been replaced by puppies.

[The video cuts to the title screen: Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, The Puppy Interview, featuring several doodles bouncing around the screen of chibi buppies holding hockey sticks.]

Q: What’s your game-day routine?

Shane: I always do my yoga routine before a game. If I don’t have time, an abbreviated version will do. I also have a pre-game protein shake that I drink, for electrolytes and a little bit of caffeine. There’s also a specific pair of compression shorts that I always wear during games…

Ilya: He bought ten identical pairs because he was scared of losing them.

Shane: Yeah, and Ilya keeps stealing them. Oh, I guess that’s the last thing. I always text him before a game. I guess that might change now that we’re on the same team, though.

[They smile at each other.]

Ilya: Hmm, I guess for me, I always like to take a shower right before. I always listen to some music before, at least for a few minutes, to focus. And, most recently, I give my dog Anya lots and lots of pets before the game starts. That’s the most important part.

[Ilya digs out his phone, ignoring the puppy in his lap. The editor has added, in tiny font, a sad ‘what about me?’ above the head of the puppy as he tries to get Ilya’s attention again.]

Ilya: Look at how beautiful she is.

[The camera zooms in on a picture of Anya and Shane, who is holding her up.]

Ilya: And my lovely husband is there too, I guess.

Q: What’s one song you’re currently obsessed with?

Shane: I… actually don’t really listen to music. But Ilya keeps playing Ariana Grande in the house. So… whatever she sings, I guess. The one that goes 'make the earth shake' or something like that.

Ilya: Rockstar by Post Malone. It’s on the pre-game playlist.

Q: What’s a common misconception about each other that you’d like to correct?

Shane: Ilya kind of has a bad reputation. Maybe not unwarranted.

Ilya: Hey!

Shane: But all of that is a part of the game, you know? For many fans, that’s all they see. But Ilya’s actually quite popular off the ice. He knows everyone and then some, and he’s on friendly terms with most of them too, though you’d never hear any of the other players say it. That’s not to say that the competition isn’t real, because it is. But at the end of the day, we’re all professionals, and adults. Even though he is a little bit of an asshole sometimes. But he's my asshole, I guess.

Ilya: My husband is so mean to me.

[Ilya pouts at the camera.]

Ilya: I guess, when he is not bullying me, Shane is the opposite. Squeaky clean good boy. Very boring.

[He pats Shane’s knee. Shane rolls his eyes.]

Ilya: But really, he is not boring at all. I find him very fun. He is just so focused on hockey that there is no time for anything else. It is why he is so fun to play against—and with.

Q: Ilya, you’ve expressed a lot of distaste for the current Centaurs logo. If you could change it to something else, what would you do?

Ilya: God, literally anything else. What is red and white. Even… What is that thing? Pokemon? Pokeball would be better than what it is now.

Shane: Eh, I think Nintendo wouldn’t be too happy about that. Are we even allowed to say this?

Q: Shane, what’s your idea of the perfect day off?

Shane: Um I might still work out a little in the morning, or go for a run with Ilya. Walk Anya. Maybe spend some time catching up on a book? I’m kind of into true crime right now; I’m halfway through I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara. So it’d be nice to finish that.

[Ilya shoots him a fond glance.]

Ilya: It’s terrifying. I don’t know how he reads those things in the dark. I’ll come home, and he’ll just be sitting on the couch, pitch black, reading some crazy serial killer story on his Kindle.

Shane: It's interesting!

Ilya: My husband is going to murder me in my sleep.

Shane: And if I did, they would never catch me, because of all the knowledge I've gathered, obviously.

Q: Hockey butts are all the rage—and the both of you are in possession of two of the most famous ones. Drop the glute workout routine?

[Ilya waggles his eyebrows at the camera.]

Ilya: Wouldn’t you all like to know.

Shane: Ilya.

Ilya: Okay, okay. Real answer? Just skate a lot, honestly. We don't have to work for it. It comes naturally.

[He winks.]

Q: Shane, in another life, if you weren’t a hockey player, what would you be?

[For the first time, Shane looks really, truly, stumped. He spents several moments thinking, the puppy in front of him bouncing away in boredom after the lack of attention. Ilya laughs.]

Ilya: You should have asked me this question. I do not think Shane has even considered a universe where he is not a hockey player.

[Shane blinks rapidly, clearly still dumbfounded at the notion that he could even be anything else.]

Shane: …Uh. Maybe a real estate agent?

[He shrugs.]

Shane: I like houses, I guess.

Q: Ilya, what’s one thing that surprised you about moving to Canada?

Ilya: I already knew this before I moved to Ottawa, but you guys have these terrifying birds? Loons? They sound like wolves. Those are some scary sounding f*ckers.

Shane: I think he jumped straight out of his skin the first time he heard one.

Ilya: So, that. We don’t have that in Russia. But, I think something else also, that stuck with me: everyone in Ottawa has been so supportive. My neighbors, or fans, the team. It means much to me. It is something that... I also would not be able to have elsewhere. And I really appreciate Canada for that. I’m glad it’s my home.

[Shane shoots Ilya a proud glance, his eyes a little sad. Ilya looks away to stroke a tiny, fluffy golden retriever, smiling gently at it.]

Q: What are you looking forward to most next season?

Shane: We’re both looking forward to finally playing together on the same team. It’ll definitely change our dynamic, but we’ve both always been dedicated to playing the best game possible, and we want to prove to the fans that even though a lot of what they know about us has changed, the way we play hockey won’t.

[Ilya winks.]

Ilya: We’ll still play hard on the ice, don’t worry.

[A clipped video of Ilya looking dead into the camera and saying “We’ll still play hard on the ice, don’t worry,” while a puppy is dangling off his head.]

@crosbyyyyz
HELLO???? ILYA???????
💬 10 🔁 2.4k ❤️ 5k

@ladybug.z - how this man manages to have sex appeal with half his face covered by a dog tail is beyond me

@whore.hollanovs
he called ILYA THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE if anyone needs me i will be in the hospital
💬 0 🔁 847 ❤️ 2k

@llyas.hollanders
OUR FIRST HOLLANOV INTERVIEWS ALL IN THE SAME WEEK GUYS i am LIVING for their dynamic they’re so fucking funny
💬 2 🔁 1.4k ❤️ 2.1k

@boomboomcla - they really do bicker like they’ve been together for years. no one can doubt that now

@uptospeed_
is anyone getting the vibe that hollander walks rozanov like a DOG. did you see the glare he shot him when rozanov tried to make a dirty joke aldnfkfnfjng
💬 5 🔁 3.4k ❤️ 6.1k

@ddltrades - bro if shane hollander looked at me like that i would shut the fuck up too. how can you say no to those eyes

@miss.andry
The Buzzfeed interview was really cute… But ow, if it didn’t also make me realize just how much Ilya gave up to be with Shane. Like, damn. He can’t ever go back to Russia now. Canada is his new home now…
💬 3 🔁 482 ❤️ 1.4k

@ottawaaaaaaaz - we’re glad to have him </3 i hope he can be safe and happy here and live his best life with shane

@hollanovvss
i know ilya gives off top energy but he’s also such a wife guy at the same time it’s giving me whiplash
💬 0 🔁 1.4k ❤️ 3k

Clip: Hollander performs the Rozanov against the Sharks

[A short snippet from a broadcast of the game-winning goal from the Centaurs vs. Sharks game from the last period, where Ilya, so fast he’s just a blur, pushes the puck through the neutral zone to Shane, who’s waiting on the other end, by the net, who proceeds to perform the fakeout, faking the backhand and snapping a rapid-fire forehand shot between the goalie’s legs.]

ESPN MLH Highlight: Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander, Centaurs vs. Sharks [...more]
_{104,294 views}

@miles.worth Dude, they’re kind of crazy together. 👍 313

@ddd.bskz Anyone who remembers the All-Stars game from 2017 could see this coming from a mile away, they were SO good there. Now we know where all that chemistry comes from 👍 109

r/MLH

Shane Hollander 5-minute misconduct

Everyone agreeing this is Rozanov’s influence?
⬆️1,982⬇️ 28💬

u/takemehommeeee
lmao what did Parson even say to get Hollander this mad at him? Guy never drops gloves

u/irritating_manny
I bet it was some shit about Rozanov, dude hasn’t made a single goal this entire game thanks to Rozanov’s defence

u/PM_ME_YOUR_PUCKS
Like husband like husband I guess

u/SecretAllotment
Still kind of crazy that they’re married, but I can’t deny they’ve kind of been on a streak this season…

@calvinklein with @ilya.rozanov and @ShaneHollanderHockeyPlayer
[With the backdrop of an artistic rendition of a gym locker room, Ilya lounges sprawled on one of the benches, shirtless and clad only in a pair of boxers, his legs spread in the direction of the camera. Shane stands with his leg between Ilya’s, the other propped on the bench, his back to the camera and his eyes leveled in a sultry stare towards his partner. Ilya’s eyes are darkened, piercing straight into the lens. Shane’s hand rests gently on his bare collarbone; meanwhile, Ilya’s arm is wrapped around Shane’s waist, tugging Shane’s ribbed tank up just enough so that the waistband of his boxer-briefs are visible. ]

@ilya.rozanov and @ShaneHollanderHockeyPlayer are heating up on the ice in their Calvins.
_{2.3m likes, 4.3k comments}

@miffy.y - i'm not sure if i want to be one of them or be in between them ❤️ 21578

@dance_dance_dance - ngl this is the best shane has ever looked in any photoshoot ❤️ 12312

@minsung.l- Probably the presence of his hot husband is making him actually want to be there this time ❤️ 9281

Clip: Hollander returns home to Montreal

[The traditional celebratory routine plays in the stadium as the Centaurs enter with Shane at the lead. A montage of his game-winning goals and spliced clips of his Stanley Cup victory plays on the overhead screen to triumphant music. The remaining Metros give the standing ovation, as is customary, but it can be noted that the only people who look visibly sincerely happy are Hayden and JJ. Shane’s face is turned away from the camera, hidden mostly by the visor of his helmet, but the pinched tightness of his lips are still visible.]
_{23,144 views}

@hollanovvss
guys… is it just me or does shane look REALLY heartbroken the entire game?
💬 11 🔁 234 ❤️ 1k

@crosbyys - i mean, we were all speculating already back when he left the Metros and the fanfare was so minimal :/ seems like the suspicions were true

@oolllyyy - he literally did so much for them for years and this is how they treat him?

@bazzetts
look at this clip that a fan captured, it kinda looks like shane is trying to hold ilya back from saying something to comeau…
💬 21 🔁 1.1k ❤️ 2.4k

@sams.liuy - Damn, Ilya looks mad mad, I’m surprised he didn’t throw gloves

@whore.hollanovs - probably not good PR to fight your husband’s ex-team ngl

@millerhed22 - at least they won the game 4-1, that’s probably satisfying enough for ilya at least

@kep.iler
This is just further evidence that Hollander was throwing games the whole time for Rozanov, why else would his former teammates act this way?
💬 2 🔁 2 ❤️ 4

@hollanovvss - because of homophobia, you fucking idiot? go back to reddit or wherever you came from

r/MLH

The Centaurs are on 🔥 in the semifinals

[An attached picture of the team celebrating their win that moves them on to the finals, Ilya's fist held high in the air as he cheers.]
⬆️3,982⬇️ 48💬

u/runitdownmid
Honestly, I’m happy for you all. As a Raiders fan, it’s nice to see Rozanov finally delivering on his promise

u/PM_ME_YOUR_PUCKS
I’m sure having Hollander on the roster doesn’t hurt either

u/SweetlyParsimonious
Hey, he at least took them pretty deep in the playoffs last time, now it’s looking like they might actually have a chance for the Cup…

u/small_alligator
Eh, they gotta get rid of Tanner first. He’s like the last weak spot in their defense and he also keeps getting injured, like, every other game

u/ornerytendonitis
I don’t we can technically count the Centaurs as the underdogs anymore now that they have Hollander and Rozanov…

u/missmewiththat
Eh, let’s see if they actually beat the Raiders first…

u/descending111111
Wait, I just realized… Does this mean that Rozanov can play for Team Canada in the Olympics now?

@OttawaCentaurs
[A high-def clip from the broadcast from the ice, capturing all the players crowd around Troy Barrett, who scored the final goal off of his own rebound to take the game 4-3 in the last minute. It then cuts to an aerial shot of the whole team as Ilya, the bright C on his jersey fully visible in the shot, lifts the Cup over his head as confetti rains down all around them, his roar inaudible over the stadium’s cheers.]
_{1.4m likes, 1.2k comments}

@ilya.rozanov with @ShaneHollanderHockeyPlayer
[A picture of Shane lifting the Stanley Cup high above his head, the rest of their team crowded behind him, cheering. Ilya is not in it; he is behind the camera.]

for you.
_{3.5m likes, 3.4k comments}

@ShaneHollanderHockeyPlayer 🩵 ❤️ 102932

@mm.lyir - I’m pretty sure this is the first time Shane has ever commented on someone else’s post… ❤️ 1231

@minsung.l - HOLLANOV NATION ❤️ 281

@OttawaCentaurs - Couldn’t have done it without all of you. ❤️ 74812

@minty.frezh - aww, who runs the Centaurs socmed account and why are they so nice ❤️ 837

@wyatthayes - What about the rest of us, boss… ❤️ 56810

@mont.mont - damn, ilya forgot all about poor wyatt, huh ❤️ 27436

Time Magazine

The MLH’s Stanley-Cup Winning Power Couple

Even off the ice, Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander make a formidable pair.

At 27 and 28, respectively, the pair are two of the most well-known hockey players in the world. Partners on and off the ice, their chemistry is undeniable, visible even to the casual observer by the way they orbit around each other, their movements naturally mirroring the other. Where one pushes, the other pulls; where Rozanov sprawls, Hollander meets him in the middle, their legs touching in deliberate, precise movements. On their way to the next of their Stanley Cup celebrations, a sports bar that fellow teammate Evan Dykstra has rented out for the team with the goal of “getting everybody so drunk they can’t walk home,” they look a perfect picture of matched partners in every aspect of their lives, both personal and professional.

They’ve walked alongside each other for years. But the journey to get here was not so easy.

At 18, the two rookies shot to hockey-stardom as first and second draft in the MLH, competing neck and neck that same year for the Rookie of the Year position—a pattern that would continue throughout the rest of their lives, across multiple different teams and Stanley Cup wins. Until, earlier this year, they revealed a secret that shook the entire league to its core: that they had been in a secret relationship for several years, during the time where Rozanov had been playing for the Boston Bears and Hollander for the Montreal Metros.

For many players, winning the Stanley Cup is but a dream. For Rozanov and Hollander, they now have a grand total of not one, not two, but four titles to their name—the latest of which is a shared title from the 2018-2019 MLH season. Back in April, to everyone’s shock, Hollander signed not with his longtime former team, the Montreal Metros, but rather with the Ottawa Centaurs, captained by Rozanov.

That, more than anything else, was the fulfillment of a dream for the two men that they certainly never thought would have come to fruition in their career. “We knew we were in it for the long run,” Hollander explains. “At first, we were going to wait it out. Finish out our careers, and maybe in a decade, we could finally be—free. Open. But even just three seasons after Ilya joined the Centaurs, we knew that wasn’t sustainable.”

For all the strides that the MLH as a league have made since Scott Hunter’s famous coming out during his Stanley Cup win in 2017, hockey still remains a largely male-dominated and heterosexual sport. And, of course, given Rozanov’s nationality, the idea of living freely as an out and open queer man brings not only social consequences but also legal ones.

“I can never go back to Russia again,” Rozanov states plainly. “That has been made clear to me. And so now my home is here, in Canada, with Shane. It is a story that, I think, many people can relate to. And that is why we both wanted to share it, and also create that safe space.”

Both Rozanov and Hollander are also well known for their charitable endeavors. Four years ago, they co-founded a mental-health charity, The Irina Foundation, and most recently have worked closely with Soctt Hunter’s PrideOnIce, aimed at creating equitable, safe spaces for underserved communities in hockey.

“When we came out… I’m not going to say it wasn’t incredibly difficult, because it was. But at the same time, the support that we received at the same time was amazing. Something beyond my wildest dreams. It still is, even now,” Hollander says. “There’ve been so many people who’ve told us how much we mean to them, how we’ve inspired them to be brave, how much they look up to us. And that’s a little scary, too.”

Despite their widely publicized chronicling of their relationship and eventual marriage, in an interview earlier this year, Rozanov made it clear that their intentions were never to be ‘gay icons’, as it were. “We have thought a lot about what it means to be the people we are, as hockey players, as a part of the LGBTQ+ community, as men who are in love with each other. We want to live in a world where we can be honest about what it means to be with each other, and we want to help others achieve that too. But we are still human. We are still learning. So I don’t know if we will ever want to be seen in that light.”

No matter their intentions, their legendary story this past season—taking an underdog team that Rozanov has been struggling to revive for three years—straight into a nine-game win streak and eventually to a Stanley Cup has firmly cemented their place in MLH history. And the fact that they did it as a couple only makes the legend even more impactful: to all the young and queer hockey players out there watching, dreaming someday of becoming the next Shane Hollander or Ilya Rozanov.

Hollander-and-Rozanov, Rozanov-and-Hollander; these two names have had a long and illustrious history, it has never been more powerful than it has in this moment, well on their way to yet another Stanley Cup win. “But we can’t jinx it yet,” Hollander says. What ties them together is only made stronger by their shared competition, the same ferocity that they both share, no matter how different their demeanors. “Marriage has only made us better.”

“Of course it has.” Rozanov’s smile is sharp, like he is eyeing a puck on the ice. “Even when we were rivals, everyone knew that there was only one other person that I could compete with. So why wouldn’t I marry him?”

Hollander just laughs. “I don’t know if I want to agree with him. I don’t want to let it go to his head.”

He links hands with Rozanov, their black and gold wedding bands overlapping each other. Rozanov wears his on his right. He doesn’t have to say anything else.

The truth is obvious, in plain sight: There is no Hollander without Rozanov, and no Rozanov without Hollander.