Rating:

General Audiences

Archive Warning:

No Archive Warnings Apply

Category:

M/M

Fandoms:

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

Relationship:

Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov

Characters:

Shane Hollander, Ilya Rozanov, Svetlana Vetrova, Ryan Price (Game Changers), Miles (Game Changers), Fabian Salah

Additional Tags:

Press and Tabloids, who wore it best?, fashion - Freeform, hockey fashion, No beta we die like Grigori Rozanov, Fluff, nobody is outed, Sharing Clothes, you can pry the em dash from my cold dead hands, Rick Owens drop crotch black joggers, yeah I'm still thinking about them too, Social Media, Reaction, so much fluff oh my god, fighting as flirting, jealously as flirting, playful slapping, Ilya loves it, playful banter, POV Outsider

Language:

English

Series:

Part 1 of Heated Rivalry Articles and Reactions

Stats:

Published: 2026-02-21 Completed: 2026-02-22 Words: 2,108 Chapters: 2/2

Who Wore it Best: MLH Rivals Edition

Summary

Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov are known for their longtime rivalry on the ice. Off the ice, their personalities—and fashion—contrast as well. Rozanov’s monochrome masculine minimalist in sharp relief to Hollander’s fusion of part athleisure, part soft casual.

Their fashion couldn’t be more opposite, which makes it all the more surprising when they are spotted wearing the same pieces. I’ve collected a few of my favorites.

OR:
A notable tabloid publishes this piece comparing how the two rivals’ dichotomous fashion unexpectedly intersects.

Now with bonus chapter with Ilya and Shane’s reaction!

Notes

Written as a tabloid article set in the world of Heated Rivalry. Characters from other Game Changers books are mentioned, but nothing spoiler-y.

I am by no means a fashion expert. I briefly thought about naming specific brands but decided I would just embarrass myself and anger those who do care about fashion so I am a bit vague about the labels all but one notable piece of clothing.

I am a bit hazy on the timeline of this, but I pictured it coming out in the year after the Cottage, so Ilya is still in Boston, but they’re boyfriends.

Chapter 1: The Article

Chapter Notes

Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov are known for their longtime rivalry on the ice. Off the ice, their personalities—and fashion—contrast as well. Rozanov’s monochrome masculine minimalist in sharp relief to Hollander’s fusion of part athleisure, part soft casual.

Their fashion couldn’t be more opposite, which makes it all the more surprising when they are spotted wearing the same pieces. I’ve collected a few of my favorites.

1. Red and Gold Flannel

In December, Hollander was spotted in downtown Montreal in this red and gold flannel atop a basic white tee, paired with light wash jeans and—as always—Adidas.

In early January, Rozanov stopped on his way into practice to take a selfie with a fan—in the same style red and gold flannel, paired with a black tee and black jeans. An unusual splash of color and pattern in his typically monochrome esthetic.

2. Drop-Crotch Rick Owens Black Joggers

Last October, Rozanov was spotted entering the grocery store in a sleek pair of Drop-crotch Rick Owens black joggers. Typically, these pants come with a long white drawstring which is not seen in this picture.

Here you see Hollander entering practice early January in the same style of Rick Owens joggers—notably missing the drawstring! Could this be a new trend?

3. Black Knit Polo

Hollander entered the Montreal-Boston game in early February in this stylish black cable knit polo paired with a tan suit.

Just days later, Rozanov is seen exiting a club with longtime friend Svetlana wearing the same style black polo (nearly bursting at the seams around his muscular frame) paired with black slacks.

4. Fabian Salah T-Shirt

Last summer, Rozanov was photographed by a fan in the Boston airport wearing what looks to be a Fabian Salah shirt under a jean jacket.

In late February, Hollander wore what seems to be the same graphic tee while meeting his parents for lunch in Ottawa, while he was there for a game.

5. Blue and Cream Landscape Fleece

Hollander stopped for a picture with a fan sporting this blue and cream fleece jacket featuring a unique mountain landscape print.

On an especially cold morning in February, Rozanov ventured out of his house to go for a walk wearing the same style fleece. Although uncharacteristic for Rozanov, it does look very cozy and warm!

For seemingly divergent styles, they sure do have a lot of overlap! But before all you conspiracy theorists bring out the red string, I thought I’d throw in a few other notable celebrities wearing these same items so you can remember how common it is to find two celebrities wearing the same designer on any given day.

Here is Miles (costar of the new X-Force movie set to come out next fall) wearing that very fine black cable knit polo.

Ryan Price seen here wearing a similar Fabian Salah shirt. (Who knew Fabian had such a large number of hockey players as fans?)

Here are literally ten other hockey players wearing those Rick Owens joggers in various states of draw sting usage.

Ottawa’s social media manager just posted a video of himself wearing that same blue and cream fleece.

And seriously, it’s a flannel shirt. Everyone wears flannel shirts occasionally…I couldn’t actually find another celebrity wearing this particular shirt though.

Chapter End Notes

I’ve caught the Heated Rivalry fever and it brought me out of my fanfic slump. This is the fastest I have ever written and published a piece. Thanks Heated Rivalry!

If I get enough interest, I may post a reaction chapter from Shane and Ilya’s point of view! (I have not actually written said chapter yet, so might be a few days at least!)

**UPDATE**
Shane and Ilya reaction chapter is up!

Chapter 2: You, Obviously

Chapter Summary

Social Media response, then Shane and Ilya read the article and react!

Chapter Notes

@Hollandergirlie5000:

Ahhh!! That’s my picture! That's MY picture of ME and SHANE HOLLANDER in that fleece! Can confirm, super cozy and soft! AHHHH! I can die happy now. There’s nothing else I need! ❤️💙

@rozanovwife365:

Oh. My. God. Ilya in the black polo???? Lkdaljdjfo;🥵🤯

@hockeyislife89:

Thank you for compiling all these pictures of hot hockey players in Rick Owens joggers. You are truly doing the lord's work. 😍🙏

@metrosfangirl24

Ok but like, do they share a stylist or something? What the fuck?

@theactualharrisdrover:

Ha! I made it in a tabloid! Look mom, I’m famous!

@magstothedrover replying to @theactualharrisdrover:

lol, it doesn’t actually name you though, does it? 🧐😂

@annawithana95 replying to @magstothedrover:

Oh my gosh this is hilarious! 

@theactualharrisdrover replying to @magstothedrover:

Shuddup and let me have this! 

“Woah.” Shane muttered to himself, pulling himself upright on the couch. He and Ilya had been lounging on their phones cuddling. Ilya on the couch chaise and Shane laying down with his head resting in his lap while Ilya played with his hair. 

“What?” Ilya looked at Shane with worried eyes. 

“There’s an article about us.”

“About rivalry? Or charity?” Ilya pulled Shane back to rest on his chest so that he could read his phone over his shoulder.

“No, it’s—it’s about our clothes.”

“Scroll back up to top, I want to read.” Ilya reached his hand out to scroll up for Shane, but he batted Ilya’s hand away before complying to the request himself.

They started at the top and read the article silently together. Shane only scrolled on when Ilya told him to because he knew his English reading speed was slower. 

“I love that flannel, you look so good in it.” Ilya kissed his neck. 

“So good you had to steal it?” Shane smirked.

“Yes, scroll.” Ilya tapped his hand and Shane obeyed.

“Wait, I stole those joggers from you…

“When you freaked out about tuna melt, don’t remind me.” Ilya rolled his eyes and scoffed.

“It wasn’t the tuna melt–you bought another pair?”

“Did not have to, owned two pair.”

“Of the same joggers?”

“Is good pants. Comfy.” Then a moment later, “Should buy two pairs of everything so still have when you take. Scroll.”

Shane chuckled and obeyed.

A moment later, he was sitting upright again, turning to look at Ilya. “You wore my black polo to a club?! With SVETLANA?”

Ilya shook his head, “No, you agreed no jealousy of Svetlana anymore. Is just friend.”

“But you wore my shirt to a club! That’s one of my favorite shirts! Miles helped me pick it out!” 

“Is that why it’s your favorite? Because Miles helped you pick it out?”

“What? No!” but Shane blushed. “Can we get back to you wearing my clothes while dancing with a woman?” 

“Mm more than one, all very hot women.” Ilya smirked and his gaze turned heated. 

“Ilya!” Shane slapped his chest.

“I wore shirt because I missed you.” Ilya sighed as he stopped playing with his jealous boyfriend. It was so much fun to do, but he knew there were limits to Shane’s willingness to play along without actually getting hurt feelings. “I didn’t want to be alone, so I wore it to the club so that I could think of you all night long.” He drew out those last three words and stuck out his lower lip in a pout.

Shane’s angry expression broke. “Oh,” was all he could think to say, but he turned around completely to pull Ilya into his arms and nuzzled his shoulder. Ilya raised his chin to kiss him. Just then, both of their phones buzzed in their pockets. They pulled apart, remembering why they were fighting in the first place. 

“It’s my mom, she’s probably worried.” 

“Sveta.” Ilya shook his phone. 

“Take it,” Shane nodded and moved to answer his phone.

“Hey.” 

Shane paused, phone still ringing.

“We’ll figure this out, okay. Is just clothes article. Doesn’t say we are together.” 

It could, we haven’t finished it. Shane thought, but nodded. “Yeah.” Then answered his phone and went into the kitchen. “Yeah mom, I saw it. It’s okay…”

Ilya answered his phone and stayed on the couch. 

“Did you see the article?” Svetlana didn’t even say hello, but they never did.

“Yes, we just saw. Is okay, I think.” 

“That picture of us at the club? Is Shane okay?” 

Ilya switched to Russian. “Yeah, he was jealous, but I told him I wore it to think of him and he got over it.” 

“Ilyukha!” Svetlana laughed. “That shirt was bold. Risky.”

“No, don’t tell me, I haven’t finished reading the article. Shane and I are reading it together.” Ilya suddenly had a sinking feeling. “Unless…does it—?”

“No, it doesn’t draw any conclusions. It doesn’t out you. You’re okay.”

Ilya relaxed again as Shane came around the corner saying goodbye to his mom. Ilya switched back to English. “I gotta go, Sveta.”

Svetlana laughed again. “Okay, but text me when you finish the article, I want to talk about that last one!” 

Ilya shushed her and hung up without saying goodbye. Shane just stared at Ilya from where he stood by the couch.

“Everything okay with mom?” Ilya asked.

Shane smiled. He knew Ilya dropped modifiers and adjectives, so it didn’t mean anything, but he loved it when he called Yuna mom by accident because of his accent. “Yeah, she was just making sure I wasn’t  freaking out or anything.” He chuckled and brought his hand up to rub the back of his neck. 

“Come here.” Ilya held out his hand to him, and Shane immediately joined him back on the couch, lying down between his legs, resting his back on Ilya’s chest. 

“Wanna…finish the article?” Shane asked nervously.

“Yes!” Ilya said immediately. 

Shane pulled the article back up on his phone, and they continued from where they left off. 

“Oh,” Ilya said as he saw the picture of him in the Fabian Salah shirt. So that’s what Sveta was talking about. 

“Everything okay?” 

“Yeah, is no big deal.” Ilya ran his hand over Shane’s arm in comfort. “Is just shirt. Can’t even see it all. Scroll.”

“Oh my god Ilya! You have my fleece! You said you didn’t know where it was!” Shane played mad, but couldn’t stop from laughing.

“Sorry.” Ilya said in the same sing-song tone he had in the gym all those years ago after the draft. 

“It’s limited edition! I want it back!” 

“Mm…no. Is too soft. I need it for all those…” He looked back at the article to read,  “especially cold mornings.”

Shane silently vowed to go through his closet the second he got the chance, but said nothing.

“Scroll.” 

Ilya pinched Shane at the picture of Miles in the black polo. “Did you steal it from him first? Is what you mean by ‘..helped pick out’?”

Shane just laughed and squirmed away from Ilya’s finger poking his ribs. Miles had given him the polo. He had said he didn’t want it anymore and offered it to Shane. Shane would not be telling Ilya this, though. 

Ilya motioned with his finger for Shane to swipe up, and he scrolled on.

“Ryan Price is a Fabian Salah fan?” Shane let out incredulously.

“Is nice guy, actually. I told you so.”

“Yeah, but…I just didn’t think he would be into Fabian Salah.” 

“You will see at camp. Big teddy bear. Softer than your fleece.”

At Ilya’s gesture, Shane scrolled up again. They both laughed at all the other hockey players wearing the same joggers. Shane scrolled on.

“Harris!” Ilya smiled when he saw the picture of warm, smiling Harris Drover. “They don’t even name him? Rude.”

“You know this guy?” Shane looks at Ilya quizzically. 

“I follow Ottawa Centaurs Insta. He is so nice. Loud laugh. So funny.” Ilya’s smile grew softer.

Shane glowers at him. “I changed my mind, you can’t go to Ottawa anymore.” He turns back around and scrolls on without Ilya’s permission. 

Ilya just laughed as they finished the article together. “What is this about red string?”

Shane chuckled, “Oh, like–conspiracy theorists will make a board tying together the connections with red string. It’s in movies and shows a lot. You haven’t seen?” He pulled up the meme from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

“Ah, yes. I have seen this. Good joke.” Ilya smirked. “See, not bad article, yes?”

Shane sighed, “Yeah.”

“Wanna….scroll back through and decide who wore it best?” Ilya teased with a smile.

Shane shook his head. “No, there’s no comparison. It was you, obviously.”

Ilya squinted and smiled wider. “Liar. Is you.” He pulled Shane in and kissed at the hinge of his jaw. “You always look so sexy wearing my clothes.” 

Shane blushed and sank into his chest a little more. “Okay, so maybe we will compromise. We agree that you wore my clothes best, and I wore your clothes best?” 

“Mm, yes. Is good compromise.” Ilya said the last word slowly, forming each syllable of the unfamiliar word with care. “Means I win.”

“What?” Shane’s head popped up.

“I win ‘who wore best.’ Is five clothes. Three yours, two mine, I wear your clothes best, I win. Is basic math.”

Shane hit his arm but laughed as he rested back against him with a big grin across his face. “You’re such an asshole.” 

Chapter End Notes

I realized after I posted the last chapter that I accidentally omitted Harris Drover's name, and decided to lean into it, lol.