Preface
BREAKING: NHL PLAYER GROUP CHATS LEAKED
Posted originally on the Archive of Our Own at https://archiveofourown.org/works/93292221.
- Rating:
- Teen And Up Audiences
- Archive Warning:
- No Archive Warnings Apply
- Category:
- M/M
- Fandoms:
- Heated Rivalry (TV), Game Changers Series - Rachel Reid
- Relationships:
- Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov, Shane Hollander & Ottawa Centaurs Team Ensemble & Ilya Rozanov, LaPointe (Game Changers)/Original Female Character(s), Minor or Background Relationship(s)
- Characters:
- Shane Hollander, Ilya Rozanov, LaPointe (Game Changers), Luca Haas, Troy Barrett, Zane Boodram, Wyatt Hayes, Evan Dykstra, Holmberg (Game Changers), Young (Game Changers), Ottawa Centaurs Team Ensemble (Game Changers), Harris Drover, Brandon Wiebe, Hayden Pike, Original Characters
- Additional Tags:
- POV Outsider, POV Shane Hollander, POV Ilya Rozanov, POV LaPointe (Game Changers), Supportive Ottawa Centaurs (Game Changers), Married Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov, Post-Book 6: The Long Game (Game Changers), Social Media, smau, Texting, Twitter, Instagram, reddit, attempted hate criming, (as in it's planned/talked about but nothing actually happens), Homophobia, Homophobic Language, Racism, Domestic Fluff, Fluff, Domestic Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov
- Language:
- English
- Series:
- Part 1 of Group Chat Verse
- Stats:
- Published: 2026-09-26 Completed: 2026-09-27 Words: 16,299 Chapters: 2/2
BREAKING: NHL PLAYER GROUP CHATS LEAKED
Summary
What begins as a PR nightmare turns into a blessing in disguise for the Ottawa Centaurs.
---
Told through a series of group chats, Twitter threads, podcast transcripts, and more.
Notes
Fic is fully written at ~16k words and I’ll drop the second half this week!
Some of the Game Changers characters don’t have first names in the show or books (such as Young, LaPointe, Holmberg, and Theriault) so I made them up myself when necessary, though I was certainly influenced by the 1000+ Heated Rivalry fics I’ve read at this point. LaPointe’s nickname being LP definitely comes from “when i've got you right where i want you” by LiarsandThieves22 which you should read if you love a good group chat fic.
About halfway through working on this fic I read We Breed Lions by Rick Westhead, which is an in-depth journalistic examination of Canada’s toxic hockey culture. And holy shit you guys, it’s BAD. Some elements of that certainly worked their way into this story, but this fantasy is much nicer than the reality. I highly recommend giving the book a read if you can stomach it. Check the trigger warnings and take care of yourself.
Also, yes, I have chosen to blend book and show canon by using the Metros for Montreal and the Bears for Boston. I like the alliteration.
Finally, for anyone waiting on part two of my “Rookies” series that is definitely coming and probably like 85% of the way done.
Chapter 1: One
TMZ
BREAKING: NHL PLAYER GROUP CHATS LEAKED
By TMZ STAFF
Published May 3, 2023 7:45 AM EDT
Early this morning, messages exchanged in group chats between the players of multiple professional hockey teams were posted to reddit by an anonymous user.
So far, four teams have been identified as being part of the breach: the Vegas Knights, the Montreal Metros, the Toronto Guardians, and the Ottawa Centaurs.
This is a developing story. TMZ will continue to update with any additional team identifications, as well as what the content of the messages will mean for the league moving forward.
The headline hits Shane with all the subtlety of a bomb.
He’s picking up the phone to call Harris before he can really even process what he’s doing.
The call goes to voicemail, which Shane would have anticipated if he hadn’t been so busy spiraling.
Fuck.
His phone lights up with an incoming call.
Not Harris, but Ilya.
Shane is caught between panic and relief as he answers.
“Моя любовь.” Ilya says in greeting. “They did not have fresh basil at the supermarket, so I am going to a different one. Will be home later than expected.”
“Ilya.” Shane says and there must be something in the tone of his voice because Ilya does not respond right away.
“Shane.” He says after a beat, voice measured. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
Shane can feel his throat tightening.
“Shane, I am pulling over.” Ilya says and Shane can hear the faint crunch of gravel under tires. “Talk to me, please солнышко.”
“The news…” Shane manages to get out before he can’t say anything else. He screws his eyes shut and rests his forehead on the cool granite of the kitchen countertop.
The line is once again silent. Shane assumes his husband is now frantically googling their names.
“Fuck.” Ilya says softly. “Shane I am going to come home now.”
“No, it’s fine.” Shane chokes out a lie. The polite Canadian in him still wanting to prevent Ilya’s errands from being interrupted.
Ilya does not argue. “Breathe Shane.”
He’s trying, he really is, but he’s having a hard time keeping his head above water.
He hears as Ilya pulls back onto the street. “Think about what we will need to pack for road trip next month.”
This year they had set aside a chunk of the off-season for a road trip to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons.
Shane had always wanted to visit, but because that part of the country had no NHL teams, the logistics were more complicated.
The plan was to fly in right after the cup finals. There were no direct flights from Ottawa, so that’d have to make a stop in Chicago before they could get to Bozeman. Once there, they would rent a car to take them through Montana and Wyoming (a practical car that could fit all their luggage). They’d spend a couple weeks stateside and come home right before NHL Awards Night.
Shane already had a very extensive spreadsheet and planning document, which included detailed tables listing the best and worst times for certain hikes and attractions.
When Shane had first pitched the idea, it wasn’t the chance to see unique natural beauty or even the rare opportunity to spend time alone together that made Ilya say yes.
“I used to say I hate French, but I have changed my mind.”
“Ilya…”
“Les Trois Tétons means the three breasts, Shane.”
“Ilya—”
“Grand Teton means big breast. My gay husband wants to take me on a road trip to see giant boobs during pride month.”
“Oh my god.”
The memory is enough to momentarily pull Shane away from the current crisis.
He clenches his fists, fingernails leaving crescent-shaped marks on the palms of his hands.
“I will be home in fifteen minutes.” Ilya’s voice cuts through Shane’s thoughts.
He takes a breath.
Ilya is there in ten.
[Excerpt]
Man in the Crease Podcast
SPECIAL EPISODE: The NHL Chat Leaks
May 4, 2023
Transcript:
Conor: Well Sean, I would say good morning, but I think a lot of people in the hockey world are having the opposite of that right now.
Sean: That’s putting it lightly.
Conor: Welcome to a special episode of Man in the Crease. For any listeners that have no idea what we’re talking about, let us get you up to speed.
Sean: Yesterday it was reported that four NHL teams had their team group chats plastered across the internet for all to see, that number has now grown to six.
Conor: The teams impacted are Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, and Vancouver on the Canadian side, and Vegas and Utah in the US. And before we get much further, I think we need to address the two very different conversations that people are having right now.
Sean: Definitely.
Conor: The first is about the act itself. Whatever individual or organization was able to get access to these messages just violated the privacy of a whole lot of people.
Sean: Everyone here at Man in the Crease can agree that people deserve the right to privacy, and that includes professional hockey players.
Conor: Absolutely, we saw how a breach of privacy can play out with the Hollander and Rozanov situation a few years back.
Sean: From the chatter I’ve seen online, most people seem to condemn the leaks themselves.
Conor: But now that the messages are out there, people are looking at them, which brings us to the second—and in my opinion—far more interesting conversation: the content of the messages.
Sean: I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say some of what we’ve seen is potentially career ending.
Conor: Forget that, some of it is downright admission of criminal activity.
Sean: Conor and I, as well as the producers, have spent the last 24 hours combing through the messages that we have so far so that we can give you the CliffsNotes version of what each team has inadvertently revealed about their locker room culture.
Conor: I’m going to be honest Sean, it will be hard to look at some of these teams in the same way as we head into playoffs.
Sean: Yeah, I would not want to be a PR manager for the NHL right now.
Conor: We’ll start off with a deep-dive into Montreal’s messages, after a quick word from our sponsor.
From: ottawacentaursfrontoffice@gmail.com
To: shanehollanderhockeyplayer@outlook.com
CC: yunahollandermanagement@outlook.com; farahjalali@sportsmanagement.net
Subject: Meeting Request
EMERGENCY MEETING
Time: Wednesday, May 4, 2023 10:00am-11:00am EDT
Location: Ottawa Centaurs Front Office
Accept Tentative Decline Propose New Time
Two-thirds of the team is already seated around the large oval conference table when Ilya and Shane arrive at Centaurs HQ.
The meeting request had only been sent a few hours before, but it is clear by their punctuality that everyone present understands the gravity of the situation.
Harris, Coach Weibe, and a woman Shane recognizes as one of the team’s lawyers stand near the far end of the table. Harris looks like he hasn’t slept in a week. He gives Troy a smile that is mostly a grimace when the latter presses a warm cup of coffee into his hands.
Two chairs sit empty between Wyatt and Luca. The goalie picks nervously at a hangnail while Luca is pale as a ghost.
Shane and Ilya take their seats and Shane glances over at Luca before giving the younger player what he hopes is a reassuring smile.
He understands, perhaps more than anyone, the cocktail of emotions currently being felt in this room.
Shane is much calmer than he was yesterday, or at least he puts on the appearance of being unfazed.
But he’s not relaxed.
He’s numb.
And he feels like an idiot.
Following the FanMail video heard around the world, Shane had been lulled into a false sense of security. The biggest secret he’d ever had was suddenly public knowledge and he was forced to deal with the consequences. Surviving the ordeal had made him a little fearless, like he had nothing left to lose.
After all, lightning never strikes the same place twice, right?
Wrong.
“Now that everyone’s here, let’s get started.” Coach Weibe says. “Based on what I’m seeing, I’m assuming everyone already knows why we had to call this meeting.”
“How the fuck did someone hack our group chat?” Troy says, still standing. “It wasn’t even the official one.”
Most NHL teams that Shane knew of had at least two group chats. This first was the official one created by management and included coaching staff as well as players. It was mostly used for scheduling and any announcements that might be time sensitive, such as a last-minute flight gate change. The second was the “unofficial” chat. The one made by players, for players, and included trash-talking the opposition, inside jokes, and just generally the sorts of conversations one would have with their friends.
Shane had never been big on group chats, but he liked being a part of the Cens team chat—currently sporting the affectionate name ‘Proud Dad (Captain) of a Few Dumbass Kids.’ Montreal’s group chat had been… less, by every possible metric. But with everything Shane experienced after coming out to his old team, he’s starting to believe there was likely a third Metros chat that he and his few friends on the team had not been included in.
“The NHL’s cybersecurity team is still working to figure that out.” Coach says in response to Troy’s question. “But what we as the Ottawa Centaurs organization have to deal with right now is the fact that the messages are out there and people are reading them.”
Weibe lets out a sigh. “I’m not upset with any of you, it was nothing anyone here did wrong. But we—” He gestures pointedly towards the lawyer. “—Would rather be told about anything potentially damaging upfront, rather than be blindsided by it later.”
“How much was leaked?” Shane hears himself asking.
Harris finally speaks. “At least a year’s worth—most likely a lot more, stuff is still being posted as we speak.”
Angry murmurs spread across the table.
“Блять” Ilya hisses under his breath.
“How am I supposed to remember every message I’ve sent in the past year?” Young moans. “I barely remember what I had for breakfast this morning!”
“Last week I called Crowell a coward and said that next time he goes on stage to speak I hope he shits his pants.” Ilya says with a shrug. “Probably said some other things too.”
Harris folds one arm across his chest and uses the other to pinch the bridge of his nose, eyes squeezed shut, probably wishing that when he opens them he’ll magically wake up from this nightmare.
“We’re all pretty… unfiltered in there.” Wyatt says diplomatically.
“I’ll be blunt: any admission of crimes?” Coach Weibe says.
Shane frowns.
“You mean like when these fuckers broke into my truck and stole my Bluetooth speaker?” Dykstra says, pointing an accusatory finger at Holmberg, LaPointe, and Young.
“Not our fault you left it unlocked!” LaPointe fires back.
“Haasy was too polite to drink where he was not legal.” Ilya says.
Luca practically jumps at the mention of his name. “I—yeah.”
“I really don’t think there’s anything coach.” Bood starts, verbalizing exactly what Shane had just been thinking. “Sure, there’s plenty of less-than-kind words about other teams and players who honestly probably deserved it, but nothing that anybody’s going to jail over.”
Harris visibly deflates and Coach Weibe nods. “That’s what I like to hear.”
“Doesn’t change the fact that we’ve talked about private shit in there, hopes, dreams, fears, relationships, all of it. Things that I’d rather random internet users not know about.” Troy points out.
All attention in the room suddenly swings to Shane’s right where someone has let out a broken sob.
Shane turns to see Luca, looking even worse than he had just a few minutes ago.
Ilya is up in an instant, moving to crouch down on Luca’s other side, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. “Hey, hey, it’s okay, whole team is here, yes? Everything will be okay.”
A few of the other players look confused by Luca’s reaction.
“Haasy, man, you’re even nicer than Hollander. Out of all of us, you’ll be fine.” Wyatt says
“Very true.” Ilya says. “Underage drinking was just a joke, I’m sorry if it upset you.”
And suddenly Shane remembers what he probably should have remembered from the beginning as he locks eyes with his husband.
“Ilya… Luca just got outted.”
r/professional hockey • 1day ago
anonymoususer_1305
Ottawa Centaurs Group Chat – Part 19
Proud Dad (Captain) to a Few Dumbass Kids
January 23, 2022
LaPointe
Hypothetical question...
What would you say is a valid reason to break up with someone?
Troy
Yeah, sure. Hypothetical.
LaPointe
Fuck off Barrett.
Young
YOU BROKE UP WITH SHELBY???
Bergy
Ngl, she was kinda outta your league.
Captain
lp tell me of your troubles i will fix
Hollander
Who’s Shelby?
Captain
yes why do you not tell your parents you are seeing a girl
LaPointe
Oh my god.
You do know you’re not ACTAULLY my dads right? My real dad definitely knows.
Captain
:(
Hollander
Apologize to your father.
LaPointe
Jesus Christ
Sorry Cap.
Captain
:)
all is forgiven
LaPointe
But back to what I was asking. What do you guys think are ok reasons to break up with someone?
Hollander
Beyond the obvious reasons like cheating, abuse, or a difference in life goals?
LaPointe
Yeah.
Like if you found out your SO was a murderer or something.
Young
DID SHELBY KILL SOMEONE???
LaPointe
NO
I’m just trying to figure out where the line is.
Troy
And your first thought was murder?
Captain
would not divorce shane if i found out he was murderer
would help him bury the body 😈
Troy
Man who is absolutely whipped says least surprising thing ever, more at 11.
Hollander
Ignore my husband. LP, why don’t you just tell us why you broke up with Shelby and we can tell you what we think?
LaPointe
Ok, yeah.
So we went out for dinner for the other night and at first it was great. Good food, good conversation. And usually when we go out, I pay.
Captain
lp the gentleman
LaPointe
Anyway, this time around she offered, but as we were getting up to leave I saw the check and noticed she didn’t leave a tip…
Idk, it just kinda gave me the ick and I’m trying to figure out if I’m overreacting.
Bood
Is she Canadian?
LaPointe
Originally from the states, actually.
Haasy
Tipping in Switzerland is not viewed as mandatory like it is here, so it took me a minute to get used to.
But if she is from the US she should know.
LaPointe
Exactly. And we didn’t get bad service or anything. Our waiter was great, funny, food came on time, nothing was made wrong.
Hollander
Did you ask her about it?
LaPointe
I tried to, but she just seemed pissed that I’d noticed.
Bood
Weird…
LaPointe
I should clarify that I haven’t broken up with her, yet. I’m just thinking about it.
Hayes
I get it. I once broke up with a girl because she told me that she thought comic books were for children.
Hollander
No one can decide this for you, but if you want my advice, go with your gut. If what happened killed the romance for you, or if you feel like your morals aren’t aligned then things probably won’t work out long-term.
Haasy
A similar thing happened with me and my first boyfriend. He used to watch ahead in shows that we’d started together. When I tried to talk to him about it, he said he didn’t understand why I cared so much since it wasn’t like I was paying attention anyways (because I draw while I watch TV).
Bood
Cassie would literally kill me if I did that. You start a show together, you finish it together, everyone knows that’s the rule.
Bergy
Your ex sounds kinda mean Haasy.
Captain
haasy and lp you both need to find people who are not assholes
Haasy
Working on it 😭
LaPointe
Shelby isn’t an asshole, that’s why I don’t get it.
But I’ll keep you guys posted on how things work out.
Captain
❤️
Dykstra
Goddamn it, I take a nap and suddenly I miss all the good stuff.
The entire team is put on a social media blackout.
Shane knows it’s for the best.
Frankly, he’d rather not look at a phone screen at all for at least the next week.
He’s sitting in the passenger seat of the Jeep while Ilya drives them home.
Luca Haas sitting in the back.
“I cannot let him be alone, Shane.” Ilya had said, and Shane is inclined to agree with him.
He really feels for the kid. Shane never wished what happened to him and Ilya on anyone, but here history was—repeating itself.
And unlike Shane who had his family, and the fact that he and Ilya had each other, Luca doesn’t have anyone who isn’t halfway across the planet.
No one put up a fight when Ilya suggested he stay in one of their guest rooms, the team harboring collective guilt over the fact that none of them realized what the leak meant for their youngest player.
But in their defense, being the gayest team in the league meant they sometimes forgot queerness wasn’t normalized everywhere else. To the Centaurs, Luca was just Luca, but to the rest of the world he was now just one of a handful of gay professional hockey players.
Ilya pulls into the driveway and throws the SUV in park. Shane glances at his husband and then turns to look to the backseat where Luca has been quiet the entire ride.
“We’re here.” Shane says, even though it’s obvious.
Luca unbuckles his seatbelt and opens the car door, still not uttering a word as he steps out.
Shane has another silent conversation with Ilya. He can almost hear his husband say: don’t push, he will speak when he is ready.
Shane and Ilya both exit the vehicle, Ilya walking ahead so he can unlock the front door. The door swings inward and Anya dashes out, tail wagging as Ilya crouches down to greet her.
She gives a few curious sniffs of Luca’s shoes before turning her attention to Shane.
“Hey girl.” Shane says as she licks a stripe along his pants.
“Come, make yourself at home.” Ilya says and ushers Luca further into the house.
It occurs to Shane then as he follows and closes the door behind them, that Luca doesn’t have anything with him. One didn’t usually pack an overnight bag for a team meeting.
So, while Ilya rambles, filling the silence where Luca cannot, Shane makes himself busy gathering everything he thinks the kid will need and leaving it in one of the guest bedrooms before returning to where Ilya has gotten Haasy settled in the living room.
“What do you want for lunch Luca?” Ilya is asking. “I can make sandwiches, or we could order something. There is Thai place nearby that Shane likes.”
“I’m not hungry.” Luca says as he stares at the carpet.
“I know, but it is still important to eat.”
The younger player says nothing for several long moments before he finally looks their way. “I’m sorry, I-I’m not trying to be rude—”
“Is okay.” Ilya says in that gentle, disarming way of his. “I am going to make sandwiches for Shane and I, you can let us know when you want something.”
Ilya turns and leaves the room; Shane moves to follow but he hesitates.
“It’s going to be okay.” Shane says in the direction of where Luca is slumped onto the sofa. “People told me that, and even though I didn’t believe them at the time, they were right in the end. So, I’m telling you, no matter how much you feel like your world is falling apart, how angry and upset you feel right now—you will be okay.”
Luca doesn’t respond and Shane doesn’t expect him to.
Shane turns and makes his way towards the kitchen where Ilya is busying himself collecting sandwich fixings from the refrigerator.
“I feel awful.” Shane admits as he drops onto a barstool.
“Could be worse.” Ilya says, shutting the fridge door with an elbow now that his hands are full. “Could have been filmed kissing his Russian rival in Hayden Pike’s backyard.”
“Ha. Ha.” Shane says flatly.
But he knows Ilya is right.
All the internet knows is that Luca has, at some point in his life, had a boyfriend. And while this still marks him as queer, it doesn’t provide any sort of identifying details. Retaining some privacy is better than none, Shane thinks.
He doesn’t like the ugly part of him that is grateful to not be the center of a scandal for once, grateful that he can focus on this problem instead of the abundance of others that these group chat leaks have definitely caused, grateful that he can worry about Luca instead of agonizing over every text message he can and can’t remember sending.
“Your usual?” Ilya asks as he puts four slices of bread into the toaster oven.
“Oh. Yeah.” Shane says. Once upon a time he might have insisted that he could make his own food, but he knows better than to suggest something like that now. When Ilya gets into hospitality mode there is little anyone can do to stop him.
And Shane can’t deny that he likes that Ilya knows him so well—knows that he finds the presence of tomatoes on a sandwich to be a textural nightmare, knows exactly what brand of sourdough Shane prefers, and knows that the bread should only ever be lightly toasted and not buttered.
Ilya pulls a skillet out of the cupboards and places it on the stovetop.
Shane frowns. “What’s that for?”
“Grilled cheese, for Luca.” Ilya says, turning on the heat.
“He didn’t say he wanted anything.”
“He will.” Ilya says. His words are confident—but not arrogant—just a marker of the way Ilya has learned to quietly anticipate the needs of those around him the same way he’s learned to sense when a puck is being passed his way.
Once lunch is assembled, they return to the living room.
Shane would normally frown at eating on the couches, but given the unusual circumstances, he’s willing to make an exception.
He pretends not to look as Ilya wordlessly offers the grilled cheese to Luca who stares at it like it’s the pages of a book written in a foreign language.
And then finally, Shane watches with relief as Luca carefully takes the plate, silent tears sliding down his cheeks.
[Excerpt]
The New York Times
NHL Chat Leaks – One Week In
Published May 10th, 2023
By Susan Manzo
Next up are the Montreal Metros, an original six team with a proud legacy and three Stanley Cups in the last decade.
Though their storied history might now be tainted by messages that reveal abusive management, homophobia, racism, and an extremely toxic locker room culture.
Many fans have taken to social media to demand the resignation of head coach Jacques Theriault after seeing messages that accuse him of physically assaulting his players.
3/20/22
Tom Schneider
Damn rook, I didn’t realize San Jose boarded you that hard.Fredrik Olsson
They didn’t, coach knocked him around a bit after he missed that goal at the end of the third period.
Bigotry runs rampant in the Metros group chat, perpetrated primarily by forward Gilbert Comeau and goalie Patrice Drapeau. These messages are directed largely at former Metros captain Shane Hollander.
Hollander—who is half-Japanese and identifies as gay—left Montreal at the end of last season for Ottawa, where he now plays under the leadership of his husband, team captain Ilya Rozanov.
9/14/21
Gilbert Comeau
Surprised Hollander can still skate with the way he takes it up the ass.Patrice Drapeau
You so sure it’s him who takes it up the ass? Rozanov seems like he’d be into that shit.Gilbert Comeau
Definitely, you know what they say about Asian dude’s dicks.Jayden Wilson
Dude, we shared a locker room with him for like ten years, pretty sure his dick was just fine.Gilbert Comeau
YOU might be looking at other man’s dicks, but I’m sure as hell not.2/24/22
Patrice Drapeau
[Image: A stack of pride tape rolls.]
I’m not using this gay ass shit3/11/22
Gilbert Comeau
$500 Canadian dollars to whoever has the best chirp against Hollander and Rozanov tonight. Don’t just call them faggots and be done with it, get creative. Another $500 if gloves get dropped.
Notably absent from the Metros group chat are forward Hayden Pike and defender Jean-Jacques “J.J.” Boiziau—the only two Metros players known to have been present at Hollander and Rozanov’s summer 2021 wedding.
The wives of at least three Metros players have reportedly filed for divorce after seeing chats containing evidence of infidelity.
The Metros organization declined to provide the New York Times with a statement.
-
The final team on the list is a bit of an odd one. The Ottawa Centaurs have been coming in at the bottom of the standings season after season, until some recent talent acquisition suddenly made them cup contenders.
The hiring of head coach Brandon Weibe, along with the signing of goalie Wyatt Hayes and star forwards Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander have made the Centaurs a force to be reckoned with.
Compared to the rest of the teams, the Centaurs seem to have gotten away scot-free. They have avoided any criminal charges, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to discuss.
The public now knows far more than it ever wanted to about Hollander and Rozanov’s sex lives. Nothing was done publicly, so there’s no crime of public indecency here, but some may argue using such sexually charged language in a work group chat at the very least warrants a conversation with HR.
The messages between the Centaurs contain multiple instances of disparaging remarks directed at NHL Commissioner Roger Crowell, especially from Rozanov and forward Troy Barrett.
10/30/21
Ilya Rozanov
watched a movie where kids threw eggs all over someones house
on unrelated note anyone have crowells address???11/12/21
Troy Barrett
Roger Crowell can rot in hell.
Actually, never mind. If he’s dead I can’t kick his ass.2/4/22
Ilya Rozanov
so crowell is ok with players calling us cocksuckers but he is not ok with people who actually suck cock
maybe he should suck cock might make him feel better
One message exchange between Hollander, Rozanov, and multiple teammates accuses the commissioner of attempting to prevent their marriage.
1/6/22
Ilya Rozanov
hottest shane has ever looked is when he told crowell to fuck offShane Hollander
I did NOT do that.Ilya Rozanov
maybe in different words but same meaningShane Hollander
He tried to tell us we couldn’t get married, Ilya. Of course I was going to say something.Theo Young
He WHAT.Wyatt Hayes
Ok, wow.
So fuck that asshole, actually. Jesus Christ.
The New York Times reached out to Crowell for comment but has not received a response from him or his team.
However, the biggest reveal for the Centaurs was the existence of their team’s fourth confirmed queer player, last season’s superstar Swiss rookie: Luca Haas.
In several messages, Haas alludes to past homosexual relationships, though the identities of any of these mystery men remain unknown.
We reached out to the Centaurs organization for comment, and the message sent over by the PR team was brief:
“We here at the Ottawa Centaurs believe that love is love, and we will always stand behind our players, no matter their sexual orientation.”
-
This scandal has already made an impact on the NHL, which is seeing unusually low ticket sales ahead of the playoffs, and the sudden shifting of rosters due to arrests and suspensions.
Only time will tell when it comes to what long-term consequences North America’s professional hockey league will face.
From: officeofthecomissioner@nationalhockeyleague.com
To: ilyarozanov@hotmail.com
Subject: Meeting Request
Professional Conduct Meeting
Time: Wednesday, May 11, 2023 1:00pm-2:00pm EDT
Location: NHL Commissioner’s Office - Montreal
Accept Tentative Decline Propose New Time
From: ilyarozanov@hotmail.com
To: officeofthecomissioner@nationalhockeyleague.com
CC: yunahollandermanagement@outlook.com; farahjalali@sportsmanagement.net
Subject: Meeting Request
Professional Conduct Meeting
Time: Wednesday, May 11, 2023 1:00pm-2:00pm EDT
Location: NHL Commissioner’s Office - Montreal
Ilya Rozanov has declined this meeting.
Private Messages
May 11, 2023
Ilya
decline the crowell meeting
Troy
Already done.
Ilya
good man
Twitter
Hollanov Truther @hollanov5ever ∙ 2h
Y’all have to see this fuckass NYT piece.
[Link: The New York Times - NHL Chat Leaks – One Week In]
:) @hereandqueer ∙ 2h
The way they cherry-pick these messages is CRAZY
Katya 🌸 @shanes_eyelash ∙ 1h
I’ve read through the majority of the messages from all six teams (which yes, I know, I’ve barely slept, trust me) and when it comes to the Centaurs v. everyone else it’s night and day.
Raj @sunnisideupp ∙ 1h
How so?Katya 🌸 @shanes_eyelash ∙ 1h
Ok, so the NYT piece uses messages from the Centaurs where they talk shit about the commissioner. Which I’ll admit doesn’t look great, but in context you can see they’re only saying what they’re saying because of the kind of things Crowell has ALLEGEDLY (—my ass is NOT getting sued) said to them! Like apparently, he told Troy to stop posting support for victims of sexual assault.Katya 🌸 @shanes_eyelash ∙ 1h
Meanwhile the article uses some of the tamest shit from the other five teams. Like there’s messages from one of the Metros rookies (not someone who was on the team when Shane was there) that describe in vivid detail just what he would do to Shane if they were alone in a room together, its actually vile, and NYT doesn’t even mention it.Katya 🌸 @shanes_eyelash ∙ 1h
And the misogyny coming out of especially the Vegas and Toronto camps is literally constant, like every other message. These assholes truly do not view women as human beings.
Jen13 @nguyen_nguyen_situation ∙ 29m
Notice how none of the married Centaurs are getting divorced by their partners. Speaks volumes imo.
Cold as Ice @ zamboni_rights_lawyer ∙ 27m
I’m gonna start cherry-picking messages of my own, if the NYT can do it, so can I.
[Image: Screenshot of the Ottawa Centaurs group chat where everyone is wishing Zane Boodram a happy birthday and thanking him for all he does for the team.]
:) @hereandqueer ∙ 26m
The Ottawa Centaurs: 🥰😇✨🥳🌈❤️💅🏻🌻😜😍
The rest of the NHL: 🤬☠️💩🖕🏻💥🌧️💣🔪🪦🚫
MPP Supremacy @abijimenez02 ∙ 23m
I’m gonna be sick. They’re using racist and homophobic slurs from the fucking stone ages to refer to a man who won them THREE CUPS.
Hollanov Truther @hollanov5ever ∙ 20m
I think we can now agree that Dallas Kent was a symptom not the disease.
Ottawaaaaa @puckslutera ∙ 19m
Hey look guys, a man talking about breaking up with a woman and at no point does he call her a bitch, slut, or whore. In fact, he even comes to her defense when someone else calls her, wait for it… an asshole! Thank you Mr. Tommy LaPointe, but also, the bar is literally in hell!!!
[Link: reddit - Ottawa Centaurs Group Chat – Part 19]
아라 @LesbiansforLucaHaas ∙ 14m
I lowkey think that NYT author is homophobic because what’s up with that comment about how Shane and Ilya talk too much about their (married) sex lives in a group chat with people who are clearly friends as much as they are coworkers, but no heat to the men on other teams describing how they fuck girls in every city? bsffr
Katya 🌸 @shanes_eyelash ∙ 14m
No joke, that author has been on my shit list ever since she wrote an opinion piece calling Elton John’s “Goodbye Yellowbrick Road” an overrated album. Which might just be a coincidence, but…Ottawaaaaa @puckslutera ∙ 13m
Making that weirdass reference to public indecency when they were LEAKED PRIVATE MESSAGES!
Shane’s Husband ✓ @ilyarozanov81 ∙ 2m
the bitch is back 💁♀️✨💅
[This tweet has been deleted.]
Shane’s Husband ✓ @ilyarozanov81 ∙ 1m
[Image: A picture of Shane Hollander taken from behind. He is sitting outside the Ottawa cottage at golden hour, facing the lake, feet propped up on an outdoor coffee table, and a can of ginger ale in his right hand. The scene is relaxed and peaceful.]
Солнышко моё ☀️
r/professional hockey • 1week ago
anonymoususer_1305
Ottawa Centaurs Group Chat – Part 21
Proud Dad (Captain) to a Few Dumbass Kids
January 30, 2022
LaPointe
False alarm regarding Shelby.
We talked, apparently waiter was her ex from high school who was a massive dick.
Young
OH
That makes so much more sense.
Bergy
Idk, I still think she should have communicated…
Hollander
Ilya once ghosted me for six months.
And we turned out fine.
Haasy
!!!!
Captain
SHANE
how could you say this
you said all is forgiven
:’(
Troy
No offense to you two, but nothing about your relationship is normal.
Captain
>:(
betrayal
bag skates forever for you barrett
Troy
Now, hold on!
Hollander
He’s not wrong Ilya.
Captain
[Image: Pingu pouting meme]
at least I did not have gay panic and go date famous movie star
Hollander
Oh my god.
Would you stop being a giant baby.
LaPointe
Um… should we leave you two alone?
Hollander
No, LP, it’s fine.
What I was TRYING to say before Ilya decided to be a drama queen, is that while good communication is important, sometimes people need time to process things before they can really talk about them.
I’m assuming Shelby didn’t know he worked at the restaurant?
LaPointe
Yeah, she had no idea.
Hollander
Then seeing him again unexpectedly was probably very shocking, especially if things ended poorly between them.
LaPointe
She talked about how uncomfortable she was throughout dinner and I kinda just feel shitty for not noticing.
I really thought we were having a nice date…
Captain
you notice now
that is something
LaPointe
I guess.
Captain
you can try again
go to different restaurant where her ex does not work
LaPointe
I think next time we might just do takeout and a movie.
Captain
good plan
shane and I do that often
Bood
LP, glad you were able to work things out with Shelby.
Cap and Hollzy, you guys good or is someone sleeping on the couch tonight?
Captain
yes all good
shane and i are both already on the couch
watching people remodel houses on tv
the wife hates the tile in the kitchen
shane agrees says the grout work is uneven and wrong color
LaPointe
Wait, did you guys just argue over text while sitting right next to each other?
Hollander
Yes.
Captain
yes
Haasy
…
Bood
I don’t know why any of you are surprised at this point.
Bergy
I love this fucking team.
Young
Cap, when you said bag skates earlier, that was just for Troy, right?
Troy
Oh fuck you!
Dykstra
Whatever happened, I’m innocent!
Ilya sometimes wishes he had more self-control.
When news of the leak had broken, he hadn’t been all that concerned with wading through the messages himself… for the most part.
He knows what went on the Centaurs chat, obviously. Toronto and Vegas have always been shitty so no surprises there, and Vancouver and Utah don’t matter.
That leaves Montreal.
And he can’t deny there’s a history there, an ugly one.
As he scrolls through Twitter now that he’s officially out of social media jail, he begins to notice a few posts that make his heart sink straight through the floor.
Ummmm if I were Shane Hollander I would be pressing charges.
Montreal Metros group chat leak part 31, tldr: The metros plan a hate crime but are really bad at it.
These were the same people that used to talk about how their “unshakable brotherhood” gave them the ability to win three Stanley Cups. Jesus fucking Christ
Someone needs to call the police on the Metros I’m so serious.
Men, this is exactly why women don’t want you approaching them at bars.
He navigates to a Tweet that was kind enough to link to the relevant Metros group chat reddit post.
A part of him does not want to do this. He is having an okay morning, all things considered. He’s blown off a meeting with the commissioner, taken Anya for a walk, and been welcomed home by Shane with breakfast and a kiss.
Ilya doesn’t want to burst the comfortable little bubble they’ve created for themselves amidst the chaos, but the other part of him knows that he can’t look away. Like watching a train crash, or whatever the English expression is.
Something that Ilya has come to understand about himself after many years of therapy is that he’s the kind of person that loves deeply and fiercely. For a very long time he thought that meant there was something wrong with him. If you asked his father, he would have said that any sort of emotional outburst was a sign of weakness.
In such an unforgiving environment, Ilya learns—not to stop loving, but to hide it deep inside himself, and to only let it out around people who are safe.
There is no safety to be found in the cold Russian winters after his mother’s death.
It isn’t until he meets a cute boy in Saskatchewan that Ilya begins to feel things that he’d thought he’d buried so long ago that time had rotted them away.
Ilya’s devotion comes with the need to protect the people he’s loyal to.
So, if other players are putting his Shane in danger, he has to know.
r/professional hockey • 2weeks ago
anonymoususer_1305
Montreal Metros Group Chat – Part 31
23 Dudes, 1 Puck
April 28th, 2022
Olsson
Fuck, the Centaurs are here.
Drapeau
What do you mean here?
Olsson
I mean here in the bar we were planning to meet at, dumbass.
Schneider
Fuck.
Drapeau
Don’t tell me you’re scared of those pussies.
Olsson
Well, not all of them, but I have three new teeth now thanks to Rozanov.
Drapeau
Whatever.
Olsson
So where are we going then?
Comeau
What do you mean?
Olsson
We can’t go to the same bar as the Centaurs.
Comeau
Can and will.
Wilson
Come on man.
Olsson
Hollander is fucking here.
Comeau
Are you sure?
Olsson
Yes I’m fucking sure!! Fuck!
Schneider
That’s so weird I thought he never went out.
Miller
Ok, ok relax. This is actually good for us.
Wilson
Literally how.
Miller
I’m assuming its dark and crowded, the perfect place to get Hollander alone, away from that Russian guard dog of his.
Comeau
I like the way you think rook.
Schneider
Get him alone for what exactly?
Miller
To teach him a lesson about what happens to little faggots who think it’s ok to stare at other guys in the shower
Wilson
Look, I know it might not seem like it, but Hollander can fight…
Miller
Good thing he’ll be outnumbered
And we can always put something in his drink to move the process along.
Olsson
Fuck, I think Hayes saw me.
Abort, abort!
Comeau
God fucking dammit.
You had one job!
Drapeau
I hate that motherfucker. Acts like he’s better than the rest of us as if he didn’t spend years doing jack shit in Toronto.
Mitty
Goalie beef runs deep.
Wilson
You get out of there ok Olsson?
Olsson
Yeah, there’s another place like three blocks up the street, we can just go there.
Comeau
Looks like your plan will have to wait rook.
Miller
We play Ottawa again in a few weeks on our own turf.
Might be easier then.
Drapeau
Hollander will get what’s coming to him.
Ilya remembers that night. He remembers beating Montreal 4-2, remembers Hazy mention offhandedly that he thought he’d seen one of Montreal’s defensemen at Monk’s.
At the time, Ilya had laughed at the goalie’s comment, reveling in the feeling of his and Shane’s bodies pressed close together in the crowded booth.
“We scared him away; Montreal will have to find somewhere else to cry into their drinks.”
He isn’t laughing now.
He remembers the next time they played against the Metros too.
The game had been closer, the Centaurs barely eking out a win in overtime. It had been at the end of a long road trip, and no one felt like going out. The evening had been spent in quiet satisfaction rather than rowdy celebration. A few players had chosen to nurse cocktails at the sleepy hotel bar, but most decided to retire to their rooms—including Shane and Ilya.
Ilya remembers slowly taking his husband apart in the too-soft hotel bed, creating a new map of the freckles and scars that covered Shane’s body, as if he didn’t already have it memorized.
What might have happened if they had gone out that night?
Ilya doesn’t like the way his hand is shaking.
It was one thing when fights broke out during a game, or when someone got slammed into the board hard enough to rattle teeth. But everyone on the ice had signed a contract, they knew the risks. There were rules, mouthguards, penalties—an order to the chaos.
This was something else entirely.
Hollander will get what’s coming to him.
The words haunt Ilya.
He is suddenly overwhelmed with the need to put his fist through the drywall.
But luckily for the interior design, their home gym includes a punching bag that dangles from the ceiling.
Ilya slams his phone on the counter and makes his way downstairs.
Shane is already there, headphones on and two-thirds of the way through a run on the treadmill that has his skin glistening with perspiration.
He glances up when Ilya walks in and gives him a small smile of acknowledgement before refocusing his gaze forwards.
Ilya doesn’t stretch, doesn’t bother with a pair a boxing gloves, he just starts swinging.
Ilya is a hockey player, but he is not a violent person. Fighting on the ice is all spectacle. He has a good working relationship with half the men whose teeth he’s rearranged. At the end of the day, it is not that serious.
When it comes to his personal life, he can take abuse; has taken an awful lot of it in his life without fighting back (and he has had enough conversations with Galina now to know that isn’t exactly something to be proud of), but what his mind and body can’t properly handle is the feeling of powerlessness that comes with watching the people he cares about be subjected to harm.
Shane is his whole world.
And Ilya is meant to be strong enough to protect him.
The idea that these pieces of shit had planned to put their hands on Shane when he was supposed to be safe, that they’d wanted to hurt him, or worse…
His mind refuses to finish the thought.
“Ilya, stop!” Shane’s voice rings in Ilya’s ears and he freezes, a fist hallway to the bag.
It’s the fist thing Ilya’s heard him say, but he gets the sense it isn’t actually the first time Shane has spoken.
Ilya’s chest heaves as he turns to look at this husband, the other man’s face full of concern. The screen on the treadmill behind him flashes to indicate the workout has been paused and his headphones hang silent around his neck.
“You’re crying.”
Ilya brings his outstretched hand to his face where, sure enough, hot tears cascade down his face.
“Ilya, baby, what’s wrong?”
A sob escapes Ilya before he can do anything to stop it and he sinks down to the floor, all the rage draining out of him.
Shane follows him down.
“Can I—?” Shane begins, a tentative hand reached out.
Ilya nods and immediately receives an armful of sweaty hockey player.
Shane runs his fingers through Ilya’s curls as the latter holds on to his husband like the alternative is being swept out to sea.
“Shane… d-did they ever hurt you?”
Even asking the question makes Ilya want to vomit.
He looks up to see Shane’s brows furrow in confusion. Under different circumstances, Ilya would have found it cute.
“Did who hurt me?”
Ilya turns slightly. If his lunch really does make a reappearance, he’d rather his husband not be caught in the crossfire.
“Metros.”
Shane blinks. “They were pretty shitty to me, but Ilya, I thought we went over this a long time ago—”
Ilya’s grip tightens. “No, not words, like…”
“…Like, physical hurt?”
Ilya wrenches himself to the side as he gags.
“Ilya!”
“’m fine.”
Ilya is very clearly not fine, but Shane doesn’t argue this point.
“The Metros did not physically hurt me.” Shane says clearly, without room for doubt or misinterpretation.
Ilya sags in relief.
“What brought this on? Did someone tell you they did?” Shane asks.
“No, ah, group chat…”
Shane’s expression darkens. “You read the Metros group chat?”
Ilya nods.
“Jesus.”
“Please don’t read it, Shane.”
“I wasn’t planning on it, I spent almost a decade in a locker room with those guys, I know how they are… But I’m more than a little concerned about what was said in those messages to make you react this way.”
Ilya really didn’t want to talk about it.
“People on twitter think you should sue them.” Ilya says, because that feels safe enough.
The words linger in the air between them.
“If we sue them, then I’ll definitely have to read the messages. I can’t walk into a lawsuit blind.”
Ilya says nothing, just holds onto Shane tighter, as if a strong gust of wind might blow him away.
LucaHaas_11✓
[Image: Luca Haas, Troy Barrett, Shane Hollander, and Ilya Rozanov sitting together on a bench in the Centaurs locker room. All of them but Hollander have their sticks wrapped in pride tape. Rozanov has stripes of pink, purple, and blue face paint across his cheeks. The photo is a candid, with Barrett and Rozanov appearing to be mid-conversation while Haas and Hollander watch.]
Thank you to my queer elders, you give me the courage to be myself. 🌈❤️
Liked by ilyarozanov81 and 14,732 others
View all 1,739 comments
ilyarozanov81✓
luca you are my favorite son 🥰🥰🥰
ilyarozanov81✓
but should have been a picture of @ScottHunterScottHunter✓
I could’ve sworn I blocked you Rozanov.
ScottHunter✓
Proud of you kid, welcome to the club. 🏳️🌈
shanehollanderhockeyplayer✓
You deserve the world Luca. ❤️
ilyarozanov81✓
shane where is your pride tape??? are you homophobicshanehollanderhockeyplayer✓
🙄
TroyBarrett✓
Who are you calling old??
Harris_Dover🍎✓
I love this gay ass team!!!!
WyattHayes✓
I stand for the flag. 🫡🏳️🌈
BergBergBergy✓
YEAH BOIIIII
Bood_in_Ottawa✓
❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
LesbiansforLucaHaas
Haasy nation how we feelin tonight??? 🌈❤️
Rozanov5ever
Hate to see yet another NHL player get outed, but love seeing all the support.
CentsFan1998
ILY LUCA 😭 😭 😭 😭 😭
Dylannn
🤮 🤮 🤮
zamboni_rights_lawyer
Love is love dipshit, die mad about it. 🏳️🌈shanes_eyelash
Why is it always a M*tros fan at the scene of the crime?
Gayhockeynews
Any chance you’re taking boyfriend applications? 👀
1 hour ago
CNN
SPORTS ∙ 4 MIN READ
BREAKING: NHL SUPERSTARS SHANE HOLLANDER AND ILYA ROZANOV FILE LAWSUIT AGAINST MONTREAL METROS ORGANIZATION
UPDATED 1 HR AGO
By Patrick Tran
Following the bombshell National Hockey League group chat leak earlier this month, multiple organizations as well as individual players have found themselves in a slew of legal trouble. Hollander and Rozanov are the next in an ever-increasing line of plaintiffs seeking compensation over the content of these messages.
Shane Hollander currently plays for NHL’s Ottawa Centaurs, where Ilya Rozanov leads the team as captain. The pair got married in July 2021, becoming the league’s first openly gay couple.
The increased visibility has not come without its challenges. Before he was a Centaur, Hollander spent the first 10 years of his career playing for the Montreal Metros. He was a key part of the Metros’ 2010s rebuild strategy and would go on to captain the team to three Stanley Cup wins over the course of a decade. His sudden exit from the franchise that drafted him raised numerous red flags, with fans and sources close to Hollander claiming that the split was over Hollander’s (then unconfirmed) sexuality. Hollander himself has never addressed the rumors, however, a now-deleted Tweet from Rozanov on the eve of Hollander’s signing with the Centaurs which labels Metros head coach Jacques Theriault a “homophobic coward” adds some weight to the theory.
When CNN reached out for comment, a spokesperson from the Hollander-Rozanov legal team provided the following:
“Shane Hollander spent 10 years fulfilling his end of the contract between himself and the Montreal Metros organization. It is our opinion that the Metros failed in their legal and moral duty to create a safe work environment free from harassment and discrimination. My client had no plans to take legal action against his former employer, though he would have been well within his rights to do so. However, these newly publicized messages reveal that even after Hollander left the organization, individuals still within it were conspiring to commit bodily harm against him. The Hollander-Rozanov family has experienced significant mental trauma because of it.”
Court filings reveal that Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov are jointly seeking 15 million dollars in compensation for emotional damages sustained as a result of Hollander’s workplace harassment.
Several prominent figures have taken to Twitter to throw their support behind the couple, including Oscar-winning actress Rose Landry and New York Admirals Captain Scott Hunter:
Rose Landry ✓ @roselandryofficial ∙ 45m
No one should face this kind of treatment just for being who they are. Unfortunately, this happens far too often in both showbusiness and the world of professional sports. Shane is one of the kindest, most dedicated people I know, and he doesn’t deserve the way the @MontrealMetros have betrayed him. I stand behind him and Ilya, 100%.
Scott Hunter ✓ @Admirals21_Scott ∙ 49m
The @NHL owes much of its success over the last 10+ years to Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov. Since the two of them stepped onto the ice to play their first professional games, they have filled arenas, set records for jersey sales, and inspired a generation to lace up their skates. And yet, this league has been complicit in creating a culture that would excuse harm towards two of their biggest stars instead of celebrating the much-needed diversity they bring to the sport. Make no mistake, this is a league issue, but the conduct displayed by the @MontrealMetros in particular is beyond shameful. Do better.
Via Twitter
From 2010 to 2018 Rozanov played for—and later captained—the Boston Bears before his sudden and unexpected departure. Boston was not one of the six teams affected by the group chat leak, and some fans have begun to raise concerns that perhaps Rozanov was mistreated by Boston in the same fashion that Hollander was by Montreal, but without any evidence to show for it.
The Boston Bears were quick to release a statement across all official social media platforms:
“While he is no longer one of ours, Ilya Rozanov will always be a beloved part of Boston’s hockey history. Rozanov has given us his permission to state for the record that his decision to sign with the Ottawa Centaurs beginning in the 2018-19 season was based on the desire to be closer to family and begin the pathway to Canadian citizenship, and should not be taken as an indicator that he was dissatisfied with the Boston Bears Organization’s treatment of him as an employee.
The Boston Bears Organization has a zero-tolerance policy for harassment, discrimination, and hate-speech. No matter what month it is, a portion of proceeds from every Boston Bears Pride Collection item sold always go to support LGBTQIA+ and gender-diversity hockey organizations within the greater Boston area.
Had Rozanov chosen to remain part of the organization, we would have supported him regardless of his sexual orientation or choice of spouse, to have done otherwise would have been in opposition to the core values of the Boston Bears Organization.”
Via Twitter
While neither Hollander, nor Rozanov themselves could be reached for comment, Rozanov did like the Tweet containing Boston’s statement, offering further evidence that there is no bad blood between Rozanov and his former team.
This is still a developing story, more information will be provided as it becomes available.
Private Messages
May 20, 2023
Hayden
Shane, buddy, I just saw the news.
Let me know if you need anything.
Shane
Thanks Hayd, I appreciate it.
Hayden
I’m serious. You say the word I’ll be at the courthouse.
Shane
I don’t want to make things worse for you.
Hayden
My contract is up at the end of this season and at this point I don’t care anymore.
I only stuck around so we wouldn’t have to uproot the kids.
But it’s gotten so bad that Jackie wants out too.
The other WAGs refuse to speak with her now.
Shane
I’m sorry.
Hayden
You of all people should not be apologizing.
I can see you typing, DON’T APOLOGIZE FOR APOLOGIZING!
Shane
this is ilya on shanes phone
what do you want pike?
Hayden
Give Shane back his phone.
Shane
no
Hayden
Jesus fucking Christ.
Shane
swear jar
Hayden
Texts don’t count!
Shane
i will ask jackie about this…
Hayden
Yeah, go do that on your own phone and give Shane back his.
Shane
you have still not answered question
Hayden
What question?
Shane
what it is you want
i know you are slow compared to my shane but i did not know you were so slow you could not keep up with basic conversation
Hayden
I hate you.
Shane
that is not nice thing to say to man who has mental trauma thanks to your team 😢
Hayden
…
Well, you got me there.
Shane
that is terrible apology
Hayden
I didn’t even do anything to you!
Shane
yes it says on cnn emotional damages
Hayden
Yeah, now you know how I feel every time I get a text from you.
Shane
:(
why do you treat pikelings favorite uncle this way?
is very cruel
Hayden
Give me a break.
Where the fuck is Shane?
Shane
bathroom
Hayden
Does he know you have his phone?
Shane
yes
i am very trustworthy
borrow it to play candy crush
Hayden
You’re so weird.
But whatever.
The reason I was texting SHANE is to tell him I would support you guys with the lawsuit.
If it would be helpful to have someone who witnessed a lot of it.
Shane
i told shane this
he did not want to ask and make your life hard
i said his life is not hard he has hot wife and gets paid millions to play same game as us but worse
Hayden
Oh my god.
Shane
Hayd, it’s me again.
Seriously, thank you.
Our lawyers will be in touch.
Hayden
Anytime buddy.
Your husband is a menace.
Shane
I won’t apologize for him, since you told me not to do that. :)
Hayden
Fair enough.
Shane
ilya again do you know why 15m dollars?
Hayden
???
Shane
for 15th best player on the metros 😉
Hayden
MOTHERFUCKER!
r/professional hockey • 3weeks ago
anonymoususer_1305
Ottawa Centaurs Group Chat – Part 37
Proud Dad (Captain) to a Few Dumbass Kids
February 17, 2022
Captain
fuck marry kill
Troy
Whatever happened to good morning??
Captain
good morning barrett
fuck marry kill
LaPointe
Do you know you’re in the team chat?
Captain
yes is team bonding activity
Hayes
Batman, Superman, Ironman.
Bergy
Fuck Batman, marry Ironman, kill Superman.
LaPointe
That was fast.
Bergy
It was an easy question.
Captain
hmmm is close but not correct
Bergy
???
Captain
should be fuck batman marry superman kill ironman
Young
I just woke up, why are we killing Ironman?
Captain
he is rich asshole
LaPointe
…Isn’t Batman also a rich asshole?
Troy
Roz, last I checked, YOU’RE a rich asshole.
And Superman is boring.
Captain
exactly
Young
I’m with Cap on this one.
Troy
Kiss ass.
It’s obviously fuck Ironman, marry Batman, kill Superman.
Hayes
…interesting
Troy
What’s your order then Hazy?
Hayes
Not telling.
Bergy
WTF
LaPointe
Yeah, not fair!
Hayes
I asked the question so I’m just observing and taking notes on the rest of you.
Troy
Sometimes I forget you’re a goalie and then you go and do weird shit like this.
LaPointe
Ok, in their prime: LeBron James, Tom Brady, Ichiro Suzuki.
Captain
fuck lebron marry ichiro kill tom brady
LaPointe
No loyalty to a fellow former Massachusetts-based athlete?
Captain
nope
Troy
Ichiro over LeBron?
Captain
baseball players have good asses
Bood
I remember when this chat used to be about normal things...
Captain
good morning bood!
do you have suggestion for fuck marry kill?
Bood
Let me think.
Haasy
Does it have to be people?
Captain
HAASY
only rule is fuck marry kill
Bood
What did you have in mind Luca?
Haasy
Blue, green, purple.
LaPointe
Luca, your mind…
Hayes
Abstract, I like it.
And obviously the answer is fuck purple, marry blue, kill green.
Captain
NO
marry green kill blue
Bergy
Y’all are insane, purple is clearly the most marriageable color.
LaPointe
Based on what???
Bergy
It just is.
LaPointe
Stellar argument, real persuasive.
Bergy
Fuck you.
LaPointe
No, I’m fucking blue.
Captain
children be nice to each other
Bood
Okay I got it. Noodles, Rice, Bread.
LaPointe
Oh my god Bood I can’t believe you would do this to me.
Captain
fuck rice marry noodles kill bread
Bergy
NOT THE BREAD 😭
Young
I’d rather kill myself before killing rice.
Troy
I wouldn’t.
It’s fuck noodles, marry bread, kill rice.
LaPointe
Fuck bread, marry rice, kill noodles.
Captain
lp i taught you better than this
LaPointe
🤷♂️
Captain
ok my turn
me shane scott hunter
Hollander
ILYA GRIGORYEVICH HOLLANDER-ROZANOV
Haasy
Oop—
Bergy
Holy shit.
Hayes
Well, looks like gametime is over kids.
LaPointe
👀 👀 👀
Troy
It was nice knowing you Roz. 🫡
LaPointe
Idk about the first two, but for Hollzy it’s definitely kill Ilya Rozanov. 💀
Young
💀 💀 💀
Hayes
Here lies Ilya Rozanov, he died how he lived: pissing off Shane Hollander.
Bood
Tale as old as time.
LaPointe
Ok, it’s been like 15 minutes, I think Cap might actually be dead…
Dykstra
CAP IS DEAD!?!?
Captain
yes i am ghost sent to aslkgjfhliutegwpIAUYBP
Hollander
He’s fine.
Shane’s Husband ✓ @ilyarozanov81 ∙ 15m
this is stupidest thing that has ever been said about me
Hollanov Truther @hollanov5ever ∙ 14m
Girl, context???Shane’s Husband ✓ @ilyarozanov81 ∙ 14m
am canadian citizen hockey player and married to a man why would i support putin and his war? Пиздец идиот.Katya 🌸 @shanes_eyelash ∙ 13m
@hollanov5ever I think he’s referring to this: [Link: reddit - Ottawa Centaurs Group Chat – Part 55]Hollanov Truther @hollanov5ever ∙ 12m
Wow there’s so many of these group chat leaks I seriously can’t keep track.Hollanov Truther @hollanov5ever ∙ 3m
I just read through it, can people seriously not tell he’s joking???Shane’s Husband ✓ @ilyarozanov81 ∙ 2m
Я мог бы сразиться с медведем. Мне не понадобились бы поддельные фотографии.
Auto translate:
I could fight a bear. I wouldn’t need fake photos.Harris Dover ✓ @appleboy95 ∙ 1m
ILYA DELETE THIS!
Shane fears this lawsuit is going to make him go prematurely grey.
He’s been in this suit for hours, and while it’s tailored perfectly, it still feels too tight.
He thought this would be an open and shut case with the amount of evidence against the Metros.
But the Metros legal team does not play nice.
And every day, Shane fears more and more his mother’s predication that this could take months if not years.
They use every trick in the book to try to discredit Shane and paint this lawsuit as frivolous.
“Your honor.” Says one of the defense lawyers—a man with slicked back hair that Shane dislikes immediately. “My client would like to call attention to the fact that Shane Hollander, while under contract with the Montreal Metros organization, failed to disclose a relationship that represented a clear conflict of interest…”
Shane can’t listen anymore.
He needs air.
As soon as the next recess is called, he makes a beeline for the nearest bathroom.
Both of his hands come to grip the edges of the sink as he closes his eyes and takes several deep breaths.
In the past, when he’d heard of people suing over emotional distress, he’d thought it sounded a bit silly, but after reading through all of the leaked Metros chats, he knows it was really no laughing matter.
Men he had trusted, people he had believed to be his second family, had thrown him to the wolves.
What did I do to deserve this?
Why did they stop loving me?
Shane hears the squeak of door hinges and turns to apologize to the new occupant of the bathroom before he sees who it is.
Ilya lets the door shut slowly behind him and leans one shoulder against a paper towel dispenser.
“We have to stop meeting like this, Hollander.” He says, aiming for levity.
Shane is suddenly transported back to a different meeting in a different public bathroom.
The Shane and Ilya in that memory were miserable and mean, content to use one another rather than dare acknowledge any feelings of affection. Shane had felt pathetic and gross—even without either of them actually going through with the act of kneeling on a dirty bathroom floor to suck dick.
He feels none of these things in the present as he steps towards his husband and Ilya folds him into an embrace.
Shane breathes him in, smelling Ilya’s shampoo and cologne and the subtle note of cigarettes that still lingers on his older suit jackets.
Ilya’s hold on him is tight, grounding—as if Shane is a balloon that will float away if he lets go.
“I hate this.” Shane says.
“I know sweetheart.”
Shane never intended for things to end up like this.
He’d showed up to the rink on time every day, worked hard, minded his own business, won them cups, made them money—was the perfect model employee and professional hockey player. He’d been the polite, diverse (but not too diverse) face of the Metros.
He wasn’t supposed to be the bitter activist with a chip on his shoulder who sued the very people who’d handed him his whole career.
But what did it matter.
They were determined to hate him either way.
“I don’t understand.” He says into Ilya’s shoulder. “Why was me being gay such a big thing that it made them stop liking me?”
Ilya pulls back so that Shane is forced to meet his eyes.
In them is something Shane has never seen Ilya direct towards him before: pity.
And that’s when what Shane had maybe always known deep down finally clicks.
The Metros hadn’t stopped loving him.
They had never loved him in the first place.
r/professional hockey • 4weeks ago
anonymoususer_1305
Montreal Metros Group Chat – Part 46
23 Dudes, 1 Puck
May 13th, 2022
Olsson
Guys I had a flashback.
Do you remember that look of disapproval Hollander used to give us in the locker room?
Like if you mentioned you were going out to get laid or if you used words he didn’t like?
Drapeau
It’s been so peaceful without that self-righteous mug of his.
Mitty
Too bad Pike low-key inherited it.
Comeau
Eh, he won’t be here much longer.
I heard the wife has been nagging him to leave.
And he’s enough of a bitch to listen.
Miller
Did he say stuff to you guys?
Olsson
I always forget you weren’t here back then.
No, he’d just sort of look at you disapprovingly, like someone pissed in his Gatorade or something.
Comeau
I should have pissed in Hollander’s Gatorade.
Missed opportunity.
Wilson
Every captain has a different style of leadership.
He just liked to keep things clean is all.
Schnider
Hop of his dick Wilson.
He’d not here for you to suck up to anymore.
Miller
Suck up to or suck off?
Wilson
Fuck you
YouTube
THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN – Top Ottawa Centaurs Group Chat Moments
Ashley Talks
Uploaded: June 3rd, 2023
Video transcript:
Hello everyone, welcome to my channel! My name’s Ashley and this is your spot for all the latest pop culture tea!
This month’s edition of ‘The People Have Spoken’ is brought to you thanks to Canada’s national pastime!
These last few weeks have seen the National Hockey League descend into chaos after six teams had their private group chats leaked. Most of what we’ve seen has been pretty bad news for the players involved—however one team has brought some much-needed levity to the situation.
The chats from the Ottawa Centaurs are a breath of fresh air, and often quite hilarious. So, in honor of the team gearing up to make a run for the Stanley Cup, I asked everyone over on Patreon to vote for their favorite moments, and here were the results!
Starting off with fourth place, because it almost tied with third and I just couldn’t bring myself to leave it off the rankings entirely, we have ‘Lost Ilya Rozanov, if found please contact Shane Hollander.’
Hollander
$200 to whoever can find my husband.Bood
I did not realize this place would be so massive.Haasy
Yeah
Also, I have not seen Cap for at least 30min, sorry!Hollander
Hello?
Where is everyone? Why is no one else responding?Bood
[Video: Holmberg, LaPointe, Young, and Barrett gathered around a pool table attempted to play a game while extremely intoxicated. Hayes is ‘supervising.’]
I’m guessing this is why.Hollander
Did everyone forget we have an 8:00am flight tomorrow?Bood
Oh, I’m sure they’ll figure it out in the morning. 😂Dykstra
I found Roz.
Told him you were looking for him and that he should check his messages.Hollander
Thank you Evan!Captain
[Voice memo transcript: Shane! Любимый, I went to bathroom and then when I left, I see woman in the corner crying and so I ask her ‘is everything okay?’ She says ‘yes, go away.’ And I think I will, but maybe first it is not safe to be sad and alone in a bar, so I ask if she has any friends here. She is angry and starts yelling that she is not interested. I realize it is big misunderstanding. I tell her ‘I am not interested either, am here with my husband and teammates’ and show her my wedding ring. That makes her feel better she says she is here with her friends and her boyfriend but that her boyfriend dumped her and left, and now she cannot find her friends, so we go on mission to find them. They are on the third floor and the crying woman (her name is Bri) tells them what happened, and they are all very mad. They all hated Bri’s ex-boyfriend very much, and Shane, he does sound very terrible—did not even get Bri anything for her birthday. So, I say ‘seems like you should be celebrating, not crying, yes?’ And everyone agrees but Bri does not want to stay in this bar anymore. I say ‘there is karaoke bar across the street’ so we are here now. Kaitlyn is Bri’s best friend, and she does hair, and Amanda and Summer are doing ABBA duet now and they sound very good!]Hollander
Ilya, stay right where you are, I’m coming to get you.Haasy
Oh, wow.Captain
[Voice memo transcript: Hi! This is Bri, um sorry for stealing Ilya from you. He’s fine! Just very drunk, haha! We’re in a private room at the karaoke place, second to last door on the right when you walk in.
Bri! Are you talking to my Shane?
…I think so? It’s the group chat you had open.
YES! Shane, Shanya, солнышко. Are you listening? This is my new friend Bri.
Shane, your husband is so funny! We’ll make sure he doesn’t wander off before you get here.]Hollander
Thank you Bri!Bood
I can’t wait until everyone is sober enough to see this.Dykstra
The $200 offer was legit, right?
This moment might have placed fourth overall in the Patreon votes, but it’s my personal favorite! Picturing Roz befriending a group of drunk girls feels extremely on-brand. That, combined with Dykstra sending a message in a timely manner for once never fails to make me smile.
Our number three pick is ‘In Soviet Russia, hockey plays you!’
Captain
[Image: Giant bottle of vodka with meme text reading ‘In Soviet Russia, vodka drinks you!’]Bergy
Oh god.Captain
[Image: Candy Crush logo with meme text reading ‘In Soviet Russia, candy crushes you!’]
this one is my favorite 🤣🤣🤣LaPointe
Nurse, he’s out again.Captain
you all suck
except for shane
he thinks theyre funnyTroy
I barely use social media and even I know those memes are ancient.Captain
yes but is funnier because i am from soviet russiaTroy
No you’re not.Captain
yes i am!
[Image: Screenshot of google search results for ‘ilya rozanov birthday’ reading June 15, 1991.]
[Image: Screenshot of google search results for ‘soviet union end’ reading December 26, 1991.]Bood
Damn.Haasy
Wait, that’s actually kinda crazy.LaPointe
Does it even count though? I feel like if you weren’t old enough to form memories you can’t really say you were there.Captain
😡 😡 😡
maybe i will call up putin see what he thinksHayes
[Image: Photo of the Montreal Metros clumsily dogpiling into the net after failing to score a goal on the Centaurs with meme text reading ‘In Soviet Russia, goal scores you!’]Captain
HAZY!
this is why you are my favorite 😘 😘 😘Troy
Ok, I’ll admit that one’s pretty good.
You should make another one with Toronto.Hayes
On it 🫡Dykstra
You have Putin’s number????Young
BRO 🤦♂️
I know these messages have caused some controversy in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine earlier last year, but I’m glad they made the list because it gives me a chance to talk about how some people are making them out to be something they aren’t—not to mention the timestamps show they were sent well before the invasion happened—but I digress.
What these messages ARE: the Centaurs team captain engaging in some peak dad humor and his teammates either giving him shit or playing along. What they ARE NOT: an endorsement of war or of Putin’s fascist regime. Rozanov himself clarified this in a now-deleted twitter thread, but I think immigrating to Canada and marrying the country’s hockey poster boy would make it pretty obvious where his loyalties lie.
Coming in at number two is a series of messages I like to call ‘who are you and what have you done with Ilya Rozanov???’
Captain
What drinks should we bring to the party?Bood
We have plenty of alcohol already, so some cokes and mixers would be great.Captain
Okay, we’ll stop at the store on the way there.Troy
Shane, why are you using Ilya’s phone instead of your own?Captain
This isn’t Shane, this is Ilya.LaPointe
UhhhhhYoung
HELLO???Troy
Bullshit
Roz does not sound like that.Captain
Yes, I do.Hayes
Maybe Roz has been replaced with a doppelgänger…Haasy
Guys this is making me so uncomfortable…Captain
I was told I should be more professional when I communicate, so that is what I’m doing.Hollander
Oh my god Ilya.
You know my mom was talking about communicating with your sponsors not the team group chat!LaPointe
I feel like I’m in the Twilight Zone.Captain
No, it’s okay Shane. It was very good constructive feedback.Haasy
I think your communication has always been great Cap!Captain
Thank you Luca.
It is nice to be appreciated.Hollander
ILYA!
You sent an e-mail to a Nike representative that just said ‘k, sent from my iPhone’!!!!Young
LMAOOOOBergy
💀Troy
Roz, please. I’m begging you to go back to normal.Bood
I second that.LaPointe
Yeah, we don’t want you to change who you are.Captain
ok since everyone is so nice
i will go back to typing how i like
is easier like this
english is stupid language with too many useless wordsHaasy
Oh thank god.Dykstra
Honestly, I didn’t even notice anything different until you guys pointed it out.
To be loved is to be known! But seriously, this one hit me a bit hard because of the way people have spent years painting Roz as unintelligent or bad at English because of how he Tweets or speaks. My mother speaks English as a second language, and so hearing the way people talked about Roz always hurt because I couldn’t help but imagine what people might be saying about her behind her back. And that’s not fair because my mom has multiple college degrees, and is one of the smartest people I know, she shouldn’t be judged just because her grammar isn’t perfect in a language she learned as an adult. In Rozanov’s case, we now have proof that his frequent lack of punctuation is a stylistic choice, and I’m obsessed!
And finally, at number one, ‘The Anniversary Messages.’
Captain
you all made shane cry
[Image: Photo of a massive bouquet of flowers sitting on the kitchen counter of the Ottawa Hollander-Rozanov residence. Shane Hollander is standing to the right of the flowers, holding up an open envelope and card to obscure his face.]Haasy
Sorry Shane! Happy anniversary!Bood
Happy anniversary you two!Hollander
I don’t even know what to say.Young
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!LaPointe
🎉🎉🎉Troy
Cheers!Hayes
Here’s to many more! 🥂Bergy
First husbands of hockey let’s go!!!Hollander
Seriously, you don’t know how much this means to us.Haasy
…Did your other teams not celebrate anniversaries?Hollander
They did.Captain
just did not think we would ever be able to be open about who we were to each otherHollander
Ilya and I originally planned to come out after we’d both retired.LaPointe
Damn, that’s real depressing...Hollander
Tell me about it.Haasy
😢Hollander
Obviously I hate the way everything went down, but I’m glad we didn’t have to wait that long. Ilya is the best thing that’s ever happened to me and feeling like I had to hide him hurt us both a lot more than I realized. I thought I was going to spend the rest of my career playing for a team that, best case scenario, would pretend to tolerate my marriage, so to have you guys be so accepting and normal about it is not something I ever could have imagined. Thank you, truly.Bood
Fuck, Hollzy, you shouldn’t have to thank us for basic human decency.Bergy
Great, now I’m crying (and so is Young).Young
BETRAYAL!Captain
ok am muting chat
thank you for messages
have to go have very hot anniversary sex with my very sexy husband 😜LaPointe
TMI!!Troy
Never mind, I’m homophobic now.Hayes
🤣Dykstra
Happy anniversary!
I’m so glad this moment was voted number one because on top of being super sweet, I think it really reveals what’s at the heart of the Centaurs team culture. These guys show that you don’t have to sacrifice your morals and values to play good hockey.
And we see that Roz hasn’t quite abandoned his Boston club days… as long as the club is the Hollanov house and the girl he’s picking up is Shane Hollander. Haha!
Anyway, that’s it for the list. Do you agree? Let me know in the comments below. If you want to be part of a future ‘The People Have Spoken’ video, then be sure to follow me over on Patreon and vote in the monthly polls, your support helps make this channel possible. And don’t forget to like and subscribe here on YouTube for more pop culture news! Bye for now!
Shane nearly screams himself hoarse as Ilya hoists the Stanley Cup overhead.
The Centaurs give their Captain a few solo moments in the spotlight before converging on his position.
The trophy passes from player to player as they pose for the cameras, helmets and visors replaced with commemorative championship hats and grinning faces.
This isn’t the first time Shane has gone through the high of winning the Cup, but it is the first time he’s been able to look around the rink and make eye contact with the one person who he wants to share this moment with above all others.
“Ilya!” He calls over the cacophony of the crowd and his teammates.
Whether Ilya actually heard him or was simply drawn to Shane by whatever unknowable force had brought them together in the first place all those years ago is a mystery.
But suddenly Ilya is there, bright, and vibrant and so, so alive.
Red hot blood coursing through his veins and sweat making his skin glow in under the lights of the arena.
Shane likes how they’re both wearing their hats backwards, how they match even when they don’t try to.
“Shane! We did it!” Ilya says as he grabs Shane’s arms.
Shane laughs, the sound bubbling up from the part of him that knows with utter certainty that this is right, that all roads were leading to this—to him and Ilya and a championship season shared between them.
And oh, does Ilya look glorious.
Shane isn’t the most knowledgeable when it comes to art, but he’s been to a few museums and seen the statues of gods and warriors and ancient Olympians carved from marble, and he’s positive Ilya could easily fit in amongst their company without anyone finding it the least bit strange.
“I want to kiss you so badly right now.” Shane admits.
Ilya’s eyes widen and he glances around before he fixes his stare on Shane, gaze boring into him in a way makes him shiver
“And what is stopping you?” Ilya asks, voice deep with the promise of a challenge. “This is your fucking team, your fucking city, your fucking Cup, the people out there are your fucking fans… And you are Shane fucking Hollander.”
Well. Shane thinks as he pulls Ilya close.
I can’t argue with that.
ilyarozanov81✓
[Image #1: A selfie of Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander standing in front of a large wooden sign that reads ‘Yellowstone National Park.’
Image #2: A close-up of Anya. She is staring up at the camera, tennis ball in her mouth.
Image #3: A photo of Troy Barrett taken from above. He is lying on the floor of the Centaurs locker room, eyes closed, covered in confetti and surrounded by empty bottles of champagne and cans of beer. Luca Haas squats next to him, holding up a peace sign at the camera.
Image #4: Rozanov with a lake in the foreground and the three peaks of the Grand Teton mountains in the background. He points up at the mountains with a grin on his face.
Image #5: Zane Boodram holding the Stanley Cup at center ice. The Cup is filled with beer and Boodram is pouring it into the mouth of a kneeling Wyatt Hayes.
Image #6: Rozanov standing in front of a sign reading ‘Jackson Hole, Wyoming’ with a serious expression on his face. The photo is purposefully angled so his arm covers the word ‘Jackson’ making the sign read ‘Hole, Wyoming’ instead.
Image #7: Rozanov and Hollander standing at center ice after the Ottawa Centaurs have been presented with the Stanley Cup. They are wrapped in each other’s arms, giant smiles on both of their faces as they look into each other’s eyes.
Image #8: Almost identical to the previous photo except this time the couple’s eyes are closed as they engage in a passionate kiss.]
june 🦬 🏆 😎
Liked by shanehollanderhockeyplayer and 65,125 others
View all 3,477 comments
theo_the_younger✓
STANLEY CUP CAMPS BABY!!
Bood_in_Ottawa✓
Wooooo!!! 🎉 🎉 🎉
BergBergBergy✓
I LOVE THIS TEAM!!!!!
CliffBarMar(ley)✓
Lookin good brother 🔥
shanes_eyelash
Did you have any close encounters with the bison?
ilyarozanov81✓
shane made sure we stayed correct distance away 👍
TroyBarrett✓
What did I ever do to deserve this Rozanov?
ilyarozanov81✓
😈
Rozanov5ever
This has got to win an award for most insane photo dump of all time.
CentsFan1998
Look at me, I’m Ilya Rozanov. I have a cute dog, I went on vacation, and I kissed my smokeshow of a husband after winning the GODDAMN STANLEY CUP. Girl, FUCK you! 😭
LesbiansforLucaHaas
I can’t believe Roz posted hole on main.
2 hours ago
[Excerpt]
Man in the Crease Podcast
Episode #257: 2023 Draft
July 1st, 2023
Transcript:
Conor: Well Sean, who ever said the off-season wasn’t exciting?
Sean: Certainly not me, you know this is always the craziest time for hockey news.
Conor: To our new and returning listeners, welcome. I’m Conor.
Sean: And I’m Sean.
Conor: And you’re listening to Man in the Crease, North America’s number one hockey podcast!
Sean: Obviously the draft happened last week, so we’re going to spend most of this episode discussing our reactions and thoughts about who drafted who, but before we jump into it, we wanted to talk about an update to the NHL group chat leak story from a couple months ago.
Conor: To recap: six NHL teams had their private group chats leaked on reddit and the fallout from that has been massive—suspensions, jail time, divorce, you name it. Most of the recent chatter has been surrounding Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov’s ongoing legal battle against Hollander’s former team, the Montreal Metros.
Sean: Which brings us to today’s news. ESPN has reported that as of an hour ago, quote: ‘Montreal Metros head coach Jacques Theriault resigns amid ongoing litigation between the Metros and former captain Shane Hollander.’
Conor: I think I can confidently speak for everyone here in the Man in the Crease studio when I say that we saw this coming a mile away.
Sean: 100%. The producers are nodding their heads as well.
Conor: Obviously the courts have to follow due process, and it takes time for decisions to be made. But when it comes to the court of public opinion, the people are definitely on Hollander and Rozanov’s side here.
Sean: I think anyone who’s taken the time to even just skim through some of the Centaurs and Metros group chats can see pretty clearly what happened. And Hollander’s a quiet guy for the most part, I imagine the harassment was probably worse than what he was willing to say even over text.
Conor: Hollander should have sued sooner.
Sean: Maybe, but I imagine suing an entire franchise, even when you no longer work for them, could still get messy.
Conor: I guess that’s true. But as a kid who grew up rooting for the Metros, I’m still having trouble wrapping my head around the fact that Montreal threw away a generational talent like Hollander over his relationship.
Sean: It took a generational blunder to lose a generational talent.
Conor: You said it.
Sean: With Coach Theriault, I feel like this was really the only option for him. His public reputation will likely never recover. He’ll always be remembered as the coach that created an environment so toxic it enabled Hollander to win the 2023 Stanley Cup for a team that wasn’t Montreal. And in an industry as small as professional hockey is, I think he’d be hard-pressed to find anyone willing to hire him after this.
Conor: Do you think he chose to resign because the Metros were planning to fire him anyway?
Sean: It’s hard to say, the Metros have been the most tight-lipped out of the six impacted teams when it comes to any discipline or staffing changes… I’d even go so far as to say they’re protecting Comeau and Drapeau in particular.
Conor: But not Miller.
Sean: Definitely not Miller. Kid got dropped like a sack of potatoes almost immediately.
Conor: I guess only veteran Metros players are allowed to commit crimes and get away with it.
Sean: You jest, but I think that isn’t far from the truth.
Conor: Unless that crime is being gay, and then it’s straight to the sin bin for you.
Sean: I’m laughing, but it’s really not funny.
Conor: No it’s not.
Sean: I have another thought but I’m a little scared to bring it up…
Conor: Well now that you’ve said that you have to.
Sean: Alright, alright… Odds that we see anything similar with the Commissioner?
Conor: Damn.
Sean: I know.
Conor: You really went there.
Sean: I did.
Conor: Well, I’ll tell you what I think.
Sean: Lay it on me.
Conor: And I say this, not to be a downer, but how often do we see people with that much power and money go down easily?
Sean: Rarely.
Conor: Right. And longtime listeners to the pod know that we’ve made our views on Crowell and how he’s decided to run the league abundantly clear, like we’re not fans of the guy by any means.
Sean: Definitely not.
Conor: But I think we have to be realistic. Do the franchise owners have the power to get together and vote him out? Yes. Will they? I think probably not. They have no reason to when they’re still raking in the cash.
Sean: Yeah, now if the revenue starts to dry up, that will be a whole different story.
Conor: Yes, but we already saw ticket and merch sales bounce back after that initial dip in May. The NHL is as profitable as ever and the upcoming 2023-24 season will prove that.
Sean: You think any of the players that he’s allegedly had run-ins with have any legal case?
Conor: Maybe, I’m no legal expert, but I think the most anyone could hope to get would be a cash settlement.
Sean: Bringing it back to the Hollander-Rozanov lawsuit, do you think Crowell has any concerns about that?
Conor: Oh no, I think it’s very good for him actually. If people see the Metros as public enemy number one it deflects the blame. Theriault is by no means an innocent victim, don’t get me wrong, but I also think Crowell and the NHL as a whole are totally cool with using him as a scapegoat, letting him take the fall and a disproportional amount of the blame for problems that started well above his paygrade… And when it comes to Hollander and Rozanov, Crowell is not scared of them. What are their millions to his billions, you know?
Sean: That’s honestly kinda depressing.
Conor: Bet when we started a hockey podcast all those years ago you didn’t imagine we’d be sat here discussing the flaws of late-stage capitalism.
Sean: Definitely not.
Conor: But I agree, let’s segue into something a bit more fun. We’ll cut to a brief commercial and when we come back it will be time to discuss the draft and look at the rumors surrounding the potential establishment of a professional women’s hockey league on the horizon!
From: cybersecurity@nationalhockeyleague.com
To: tommylapointe-hockey@gmail.com
Subject: IMPORTANT CYBERSECURITY UPDATE
This notification is being sent to all players currently under NHL contract.
The NHL Cybersecurity Team has determined that the message leak that occurred on May 3, 2023 was due to some players having compromised personal devices. Hackers gained access to messages by exploiting a security flaw found in iPhones and other Apple devices running older iOS operating systems.
To prevent this from happening in the future, please make sure all of your Apple devices are updated to the most recent version of iOS (iOS 16). It is good practice to update your devices when prompted as many of these updates contain important security fixes from the developer.
Please reach out to our team if you have any questions or concerns.
NHL Cybersecurity
About
Name: LP’s iPhone
iOS Version: 14.1.1
Model Name: iPhone 12
Model Number: A2402
Serial Number: S8XD14W0LT
Private Messages
July 11, 2023
Bergy
Dude, can you believe this?
LP
Believe what?
Bergy
You got the e-mail, right?
LP
Yeah…
Bergy
It’s cause of all these old farts that don’t know how to update their phones that our shit got hacked. 💀💀💀
LP
Haha yeah it’s crazy.
Bergy
Who do you think it was?
My money’s on Dykstra.
LP
Oh it’s him for sure.
Bergy
😂
ilyarozanov81✓
[Image #1: Ilya Rozanov, Shane Hollander, Yuna Hollander, and David Hollander dressed in kimono and standing in front of Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Kyoto, Japan.
Image #2: A top-down photo of four bowls of ramen on a wooden table.
Image #3: A short video clip of Rozanov exchanging bows with a deer at Nara Park. Shane Hollander can be heard laughing from behind the camera after the doe attempts to take a bite out of Ilya’s curls.
Image #4: A nighttime photo taken on a rooftop bar in Tokyo. Rozanov and Hollander’s silhouettes can be seen leaning against a balcony, outlined by the city lights.]
family vacation 🤩
Liked by shanehollanderhockeyplayer and 67,719 others
View all 3,256 comments
shanehollanderhockeyplayer✓
愛してる.
ilyarozanov81✓
Я тебя люблю 😘
HaydenPike✓
Yellowstone, Japan, and a Stanley Cup? You guys really went all out this year.
ilyarozanov81✓
do not worry pike we brought back gifts for your spawn
RoseLandryOfficial✓
Awww that first one is so cute!
Светлана_81✓
Hot 🔥🔥🔥
ilyarozanov81✓
sveta japan in august is very hot i was melting and shane did not help 🫠shanehollanderhockeyplayer✓
All the pictures I have where you’re using the portable electric fan I bought you say otherwise.
Bood_in_Ottawa✓
The food looks amazing!
Dylannn
I thought these guys were mentally traumatized or depressed or some shit
Rozanov5ever
Are depressed people not allowed to go on vacation???zamboni_rights_lawyer
They’re suing the Metros over years of harassment, you’re just being willfully ignorant.ilyarozanov81✓
am still depressed :( but now depressed in japan :D ✨😍🌸 🍣 🗾 🍜CentsFan1998
💀
Harris_Dover🍎✓
Anya misses you!
ilyarozanov81✓
i miss you too sweet girl but airplanes are scary even for papa 😢 will be home soon
2 hours ago
Proud Dad (Captain) to a Few Dumbass Kids
August 30th, 2023
Hollander
Lake party at the cottage, this Saturday.
LaPointe
???
Young
THE COTTAGE??
Hayes
To what do we owe the honor of being invited to Shane Hollander’s fortress of solitude?
Hollander
Ilya and I won the lawsuit.
Bood
HOLY SHIT
Haasy
!!!
Troy
Fuck yeah!
Hollander
Bring your kids, families, dogs, hell you could even bring the Metros for all I care at this point.
Captain
this is fourth best day of my life
best day was seeing shane hollanders freckles for first time and crying myself to sleep
second was marrying shane hollander and crying
third is winning cup and making vegas cry on ice
fourth is making metros lawyers cry in court
Bergy
💀
LaPointe
Wow, congrats!
What are you guys planning to do with the cash? 👀
Hollander
Donate it.
Captain
was never about money
was about
[Image: Gif of Batman saying ‘justice!’]
Hayes
😂
Hollander
Half of it will go to the Irina Foundation and the rest to Egale Canada. They help with legal fees and representation for queer people who need it.
Bergy
I love this fucking team!
Dykstra
Did I miss the party??
Ilya likes wearing sunglasses.
He likes that they look cool.
He likes being able to save his poor, light-sensitive eyes from the wrath of the sun.
But more importantly he likes the hint of anonymity and privacy they provide him.
For example, right now half the people he knows are here at the cottage, spread across the patio, lawn, and out into the lake.
And while it might be obvious to someone that he’s looking in Shane’s general direction, it’s not obvious that he’s staring specifically at the sharp jut of his husband’s hip bones above his low-slung swim shorts. And it’s not obvious when his eye drifts up to the tanned skin stretched across Shane’s right bicep.
Sunglasses allow Ilya to be a stealth pervert.
An incognito pervert.
That was the word on his ‘word-of-the-day’ calendar.
Very useful.
These past few months had been some of the busiest of his life. Between the chat leaks, the lawsuit, vacations, winning the Cup, and the Game Changer camps, it’s a wonder that he’s had any time to think or even breathe.
But that was all over now.
And it left Ilya with nothing on the horizon but his husband, his dog, and two precious weeks until training camp.
The moment the judge had read the verdict and ordered the Metros to pay the 15 million dollars, Ilya’s vision had tunneled. He and Shane couldn’t get out of the courthouse, through their front door, and out of their suits fast enough.
It was later, when they were in bed, the room still smelling of sex, that Shane said he wanted to throw a party and reached for his phone on the bedside table before Ilya had a chance to protest.
Not that he was planning to.
If Shane Hollander wanted a party, then Ilya Rozanov was going to make sure that he got one.
Ilya would have found a way to pull the stars from the sky if Shane had asked.
But thankfully he’d just wanted catering for a few dozen people on short notice.
That was much easier.
“What are you daydreaming about?” Troy’s voice cuts through Ilya’s thoughts and he feels the cushions of the outdoor sofa shift as the other man sits next to him.
“Hm. I am thinking about easy goal you missed against Philadelphia.”
“Fuck off.” Troy says as he passes Ilya a beer.
Ilya raises his eyebrows. “Really Barrett? In my own home.” He pulls the metal tab on the can and hears the hiss of carbonation.
“First, we’re outside, not inside.” Troy says, and cracks open the top of his own beer. “Second, everyone knows this place belongs to Hollzy.”
“Maybe, but Shane is nice and lets me stay here—squatters’ rights.” Ilya says and takes a long drink.
“Is that why you’ve been sitting over here for the past ten minutes staring at him with that dopey expression on your face?”
“You are not any better.” Ilya uses his beer to gesture in the direction of where Harris is chatting with LaPointe and his girlfriend Shelby.
“And I have put a ring on it.” Ilya continues with a meaningful wave of his left hand. “What is taking you so long?”
Troy’s face reddens a bit at that. “This last season was stressful for him; I don’t want to add to that.”
“You think asking him to marry you would be stressful?”
“Yes? No? I don’t know.” Troy sighs and sinks further into the couch.
Ilya considers this. “Does he want to get married?”
“Pretty sure.”
“Do you want to get married?”
“Yes!”
“Then ask him Barrett. It will be your marriage, your wedding, it is only stressful if you decide to make it that way.”
“You’re telling me you weren’t stressed about your wedding?”
“No. Everyone who mattered was there, Shane and I already had plane tickets for Ibiza, and there were no chairs. Was perfect.”
Troy snorts and then goes quiet.
After a few minutes of companionable silence, Ilya stands and claps a hand to Troy’s shoulder. “Let me know if you need help with proposal. Am basically expert.”
Troy frowns. “Didn’t Shane propose to you?”
Ilya waves away the accusation as he walks towards his husband.
Shane is sitting on a beach towel near the dock, watching the handful of people currently swimming and wading around in the shallows.
“You are a very sexy lifeguard.” Ilya says as he sits down next to him.
Without sunglasses, there’s nothing to obscure the dusting of freckles across Shane’s nose and cheeks.
He gives Ilya a soft smile. “You think so?”
Ilya’s eyes roam the length of Shane’s body, assessing. “Hm, maybe too sexy. Someone might get distracted while swimming and drown.”
“Wow.” Shane says but the smile does not leave his face.
“Is honest performance review! I am trying to help you Hollander.”
“With my lifeguarding career?”
“Да, could be your retirement plan.”
“The only plan I see is you scheming to get me to quit while I’m ahead so you won’t have competition. What’s the problem Rozanov? Having trouble keeping up?”
Ilya loves every version of Shane.
He loves the Shane that spends hours working and reworking a plan, he loves the Shane that falls apart at his touch, and he loves the Shane that shoots pucks into the net with terrifying precision.
He loves the Shane that is tired, excited, frustrated, happy, upset, content, or anything in between.
But he will always hold a special fondness for the competitive Shane with his cute little chirps, the Shane whose response to ‘you will not be so nice when we beat you’ was a blush and a confident ‘that’s not happening’ that didn’t contain even a single ounce of a threat.
“Never. It is you who is having trouble keeping up with me.”
Shane scoffs. “You wish.”
“I do, I wish this very much.” Ilya says with sudden sincerity, as his hand slowly stretches out towards where Shane’s rests on the towel. “I wish to always push each other like this. You try to keep up with me, I try to keep up with you, yes?”
“You’re in luck.” Shane says as he links their fingers together. “Because that’s my wish too.”
shanehollanderhockeyplayer✓
[Image: A portrait of Ilya Rozanov. His expression is neutral and there’s an out-of-focus lake in the background. The sun is setting, making Rozanov’s skin and curly hair look almost golden.]
Солнышко моё.
Liked by ilyarozanov81 and 205,391 others
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3 hours ago
Chapter End Notes
Thank you so much for reading. This is the fastest I’ve ever had a fic blow up on this site and I’m overwhelmed by all the support. <3
The next Heated Rivalry work I plan to upload is part two of my “Rookies” series, so if you haven’t read part one you should do that and then subscribe to be notified when I post.
You can find me on tumblr @droids-in-disguise.
Comments and kudos appreciated!
Afterword
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