Rating:

General Audiences

Archive Warning:

No Archive Warnings Apply

Category:

M/M

Fandoms:

Heated Rivalry (TV), Game Changers Series - Rachel Reid

Relationships:

Scott Hunter & Ilya Rozanov, Kip Grady/Scott Hunter, Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov

Characters:

Ilya Rozanov, Scott Hunter (Game Changers), Cliff Marlow, Kip Grady, Hayden Pike, Shane Hollander, Carter Vaughn

Additional Tags:

Texting, Soft Ilya Rozanov, Coming Out, Ilya Rozanov Loves Shane Hollander, scott hunter is old and ilya will not shut the fuck up about it

Language:

English

Stats:

Published: 2026-01-17 Completed: 2026-01-19 Words: 2,291 Chapters: 2/2

cradle robber

Summary

Rozanov reaches out to Scott Hunter after the kiss

Notes

Chapter 1

Major League Hockey ✓

@mlh

Congratulations to the New York Admirals for winning the Stanley Cup against San Francisco

MLH News ✓

@mlhnews

Congratulations to the New York Admirals

NYA 4 : SFC 2

MLH News ✓

@mlhnews

New York Admirals Captain Scott Hunter comes out as gay

New York Admirals ✓

@newyorkadmirals

Thank you to our captain @ScottHunterOfficial for bringing the Stanley Cup home.

#loveislove

Hockey Updates

@mlhupdates

New York Admirals take Stanley Cup, Captain Scott Hunter comes out as gay on ice

ESPN ✓

@espn

Scott Hunter kisses male partner on ice after victory against San Francisco

Carter Vaughn ✓

@cartervaughn

Proud of my captain and best friend @ScottHunterOfficial

Cliff Marleau ✓

@clifffmarleauofficial

Congratulations New York and Scott Hunter

Shane Hollander ✓

@shanehollanderhockeyplayer

Congratulations to Scott Hunter and the NY Admirals. A well-deserved win.

The Hockey Pod

@thehockeypodcast

New York Admirals win Stanley Cup for the first time in 28 years!

Jackie Pike

@jackiepike35

So happy for Scott Hunter. Well done New York!

Scott Hunter ✓

@scotthunterofficial

Thank you to my team and my partner, Kip. We appreciate all the support.

          Kip Grady

         @historiankip

         So proud of you <3

         Hayden Pike ✓

         @haydenpikehockey

         Congratulations Hunter

         Braiden S

         @torontoguy4

         Disgusting. Keep politics out of sports

         George M

         @nygeorge2

         I support the gays, but no need to take away attention from your team. Shameful

Brian D

@sanfranhockeyfan

What is it with gay people and shoving it in everyone’s faces

#mlh #scotthunter

            rozanov's wife

            @ilyarailmepls

            Dude what is wrong with you

Rebecca Y

@hockeyrebecca4

AHHH congratulations to Scott Hunter!

shane hollander's wife

@hollandersh72

So brave. Such a big step for the community

#scotthunter

Man in the Crease

@maninthecreasepod

We support Scott Hunter

#loveislove

Lucy M

@lucindakarenm

Disgusting. Will not be supporting the Admirals anymore

#scotthunter

Justin K

@justhockeyjustin

Unnecessary. Keep hockey family friendly

#scotthunter

Scott turned off his phone with a click. It had only been a day since the win, and the tweets just kept on coming. Plenty of them were supportive, including a few from fellow players, but many were not.

He had gotten countless texts too, mostly in support from people he’d played with over the years. But a few of them had been the anonymous, nasty kind.  

His phone buzzed.

Unknown

Hello old man Scott Hunter

He mentally prepared for this new anonymous texter to call him a pervert and tell him he shouldn’t be sharing a locker room with other guys. It would be the fourth time today. The particularly painful part about it was that if these guys could get his number, that meant they knew him, at least somewhat. They probably had guys in the league who were mutual friends. Or at least guys that Scott thought were his friends.

Unknown

I get your number from Marleau

He paused. The Boston alternate captain had been one of only a few players to tweet their support, though indirectly. Scott didn’t know Marleau well, and he didn’t have a reputation for being particularly nice, so he’d been pleasantly surprised. Maybe this wasn’t going to be some asshole.

Scott

Who is this?

Unknown

Rozanov

Scott sighed. Rozanov was far from being his favourite player.

Scott

Hi.

Rozanov

Well done on cup

Surprising in your old age

Scott

Fuck you Rozanov.

But thanks.

Rozanov

If my team say bad things to you about kiss

You tell me, da?

Well that was. Unexpected.

Scott

What?

Rozanov

You tell me and I deal with

Scott

Oh.

Rozanov

Or if other team

Tell me anyway

And I will hit harder when play

Against homophobe

Scott stared at his phone. Rozanov wasn’t one to throw out ‘cocksucker’ like a lot of other guys in the league, but he insulted viciously. He was the last person Scott would expect to be at all supportive, let alone offering to reprimand his team or hit other players in punishment for not being accepting. He was Russian after all.

Scott

Thank you.

Rozanov

And well done on getting handsome boyfriend

I cannot say in public

Show support

Because Russia

But I support

And think you are brave

Even though you are cradle robber

Scott

Thank you.

That means a lot.

See you next season.

Rozanov

Hope you not die of old age first

Scott let out a relieved chuckle as he clicked his phone shut again. Rozanov of all people. The Boston centre was lethal on the ice, had the full respect of his team, and wasn’t known for being slow to drop his gloves. If he really meant what he said, and Scott thought he did, he was a good person to have in your corner.

“You okay?” Kip asked, sliding into bed beside him.

Scott smiled, pulling his boyfriend into a chaste kiss.

“I’m doing just fine.”   

Chapter 2

Chapter Summary

Rozanov talks to Scott at the MLH awards

Chapter Notes

[I know the mlh awards were before the cottage in canon but lets just pretend they were after xoxo]

Scott felt the sting of tequila hit his throat as he knocked back another shot.

“I’m gonna go find Gloria!” Carter yelled over the music, clapping him on the shoulder and heading off in search of his girlfriend.

Scott, now alone at the bar, looked around at the sea of players, WAGs, and pretty much everyone in the hockey world. It felt different now. Before, the only animosity directed toward him would be from teams he had recently beaten, and players didn’t tend to hold grudges about that for long. Now, pretty much everyone had an opinion on him, and it was impossible to know who held which one.

Even though he had had the season of a lifetime, winning the Stanley Cup and being named MVP to boot, he had the sudden overwhelming feeling that he didn’t belong here. He longed for Kip. He pulled out his phone ready to text him, when he felt someone slide into the seat beside him.

“One more please,” a thick, Russian accent said to the bartender, before Rozanov turned to him with a crooked smile. “Congratulations old man. How are you?”

“Thanks man, I’m good.” He replied, smiling tiredly. If you’d told him months ago that he’d be relieved to run into Rozanov at an event like this, he’d have called you crazy. But after receiving Rozanov’s text he started to realise that the Russian wasn’t so bad. Yes, he was obnoxious, brash, and rude, but he was also a hell of a player, and a good captain to his team. He chirped like no one else, but there was a line that many people would cross that Rozanov didn’t. And Scott really believed him that he would handle his teammates if they crossed that line.   

In this room, full of people who probably thought he didn’t deserve to play because of who he loved, speaking to someone who he knew supported him was a much-needed moment to breathe.

The bartender handed Rozanov a beer, and he tapped his bottle against Scott’s.

“I think I will get some air. You will come?” He asked, looking pointedly at Scott.

“Yeah, sure.” Scott, who wanted more than anything to get out of the crowd, slinked out of his seat and followed Rozanov to the balcony.

They stood by the railing, looking out at the view of the city. The echoes of the party continued, but it was much more peaceful out here. Private.

“Is nice night,” Rozanov commented absently, and Scott nodded, sipping his beer. “Where is handsome boyfriend?” he asked.

“He’s at home, thought I’d suss out how people act at these events toward me before bringing him along. Don’t want to throw him to the sharks.”

Rozanov nodded like he understood. “How is it? Have people been, how you say, good? Accept it?”

Scott shrugged and made a ‘so-so’ motion with his hands.  

“For the most part it’s been okay. Most people who have a problem aren’t gonna say anything to my face, they’ll just, you know.” He ducked his head. “Give me looks. Avoid me, when last year they might have said hello. You know what I mean? Could be worse I suppose.”

“Could be worse,” Rozanov nodded in agreement. “Still not good though.”

“Still not good.” Scott repeated with a laugh. “But the team’s been super supportive.”

Rozanov nodded and sipped his beer, looking out at the city. Scott could hardly believe that he was having this conversation with Rozanov of all people. They’d talked, sure, at events and things like that, made small talk before games, captain to captain, but never had a conversation about anything real.

“How was your time off?” Scott asked. He was genuinely curious about what the Russian did when he wasn’t playing. If his reputation was to be believed, his hobbies were limited to clubbing and sleeping with countless beautiful women.

A smile stretched across Rozanov’s face, a real one. “Was very good.” His smile made him look so much lighter, younger too. “Was in Canada.”

“Oh! That’s nice.” Scott was surprised. Partially at the fact that Rozanov had gone to Canada, but mostly at him telling Scott. “Where’d you go? Any particular reason?”

Rozanov nodded, smile not leaving his face. “Yes, I went to spend time with,” he paused for a moment. “Spend time with lover.”

Scott laughed in genuine shock.  

“Damn, someone locked you down Rozanov? Congrats!” He clinked his bottle against Rozanov’s again, who huffed out a laugh. He was genuinely happy for the other player, who, now that Scott was thinking about it, looked a lot lighter than he usually did.

“Thank you.”

“So, tell me about her! What’s she like?” Scott nudged, not wanting the unexpected conversation to end.

Rozanov let out a breath, smile dropping from his face. He had a quick look over his shoulder at the mostly empty balcony. “I, ah. I may move to Canada.”

Scott blinked at the non sequitur. “What?”

“I think I will request trade. Leave Boston, go to Canada.”

Scott blinked, processing. Rozanov had been the Boston Raiders’ number one draft pick, he was their captain, had won them a Stanley Cup. He’d taken them far into the playoffs year after year, and now he was going to leave them for his girl?

“Wow. That’s–. Wow.”

“Yes.” The Russian said with a laugh.

Scott shook himself slightly, willing his brain to kick back into gear. “Must be very serious then, congratulations. You must love her very much.”

Rozanov had another cursory look over his shoulder at the balcony, and took a large gulp of his beer.

“Yes.” He paused. “Love him very much.”

Scott stilled. “Him?”

Rozanov took another gulp of his beer and nodded, staring out at the view from the balcony. “Him.”

Scott was floored. Rozanov, in love with a man? A second wave of shock ran over him as he realised he wasn’t alone. He wasn’t the only queer guy in the MLH, not anymore. He wasn’t alone.

Realising that he’d been silent for too long, Scott raised his arm to clap Rozanov on the shoulder again.

“Congratulations, man,” he said, with a soft smile. “Thank you for telling me.”

Rozanov’s smile returned. “Is nice to tell someone with no fear, da?”

Scott huffed out a laugh. “I definitely know that feeling. Well, tell me about him? How long have you two been together? What’s he like?”

Rozanov’s smile grew, his eyes softening.

“Long long time. Since before rookie season I have loved him.” Scott’s jaw dropped in surprise as Rozanov continued. “He is everything. Makes me better.”

“That’s—that’s amazing man. I’m so happy for you. But that’s—,” he exhaled. “That’s a long time to keep a secret.” Since Rozanov’s rookie season, that was what, seven years? More than twice as long as he’d managed to keep his relationship with Kip private, and that had nearly killed him.

Rozanov’s face grew serious.

“Yes, but no choice. If get caught, if get fired, must go back to Russia. And in Russia will be jail. So must stay secret.”

The two men stood in silence as Scott processed that. The fear Rozanov must feel as a Russian citizen, forcing him to hide his love.

“That’s terrible. I’m so sorry.”

Rozanov shrugged. “Is ok. Am just happy I found him. And if I move to Canada, get passport, then can tell the whole world.” He turned to look Scott in the eye. “But also because you tell the world. Make it easier.”

“How do you mean?”

“You told everyone,” Rozanov explained, still looking Scott directly in the eyes. “You took big risk. Different risk for me, but showed me, showed me is possible. Give hope. So thank you, Scott Hunter.”

Scott felt choked up, staring at the genuine, grateful face of Ilya Rozanov.

“Thank you for telling me. That—that means a lot.”

Rozanov chuckled and finished his beer off with a final gulp. “Thank you. And you must tell handsome boyfriend I say thank you as well.”  

“I will,” he said with a nod. “Next time you’re in New York we’d love to have you over. And one day, if you ever feel up for it, I’d love to meet your boyfriend.”

“Maybe some day. Thank you.” Rozanov smiled, and looked back out at the view.

They stood in silence for a minute, enjoying the breeze.

After a moment of serenity, Scott jumped in surprise as he felt an arm sling over his shoulders. He turned around to see the smiling face of Carter Vaughn.

“There you are! Come back in, we’re doing shots with the rookies.” Carter patted him on the shoulder, looked at Rozanov with slight confusion, then headed back into the bar.

“It was good to talk to you, Roz,” Scott said, turning to Rozanov. “Do you want to come in? Do some shots with us?”

Rozanov gave a booming laugh. “Yes, always happy to do shots with old man Scott Hunter!”

He clapped Scott on the back and the two headed into the bar.

Chapter End Notes

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