The Long Game
by Rachel Reid
Contents
Overview
Rachel Reid’s The Long Game follows NHL superstars Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, longtime public rivals who are privately in love. At the height of their careers, they have built a life out of stolen summers, coded messages, secret visits, and the careful management of everyone who knows the truth.
The central conflict is not whether they love each other, but whether that love can survive distance, secrecy, league politics, team loyalty, and the demands of elite hockey. Shane is disciplined, anxious, and protective of the future they have planned; Ilya is charismatic, lonely, and increasingly exhausted by hiding. Around them, friends, teammates, family, and other queer players become mirrors for what openness might cost and what it might make possible.
The book explores chosen family, mental health, public image, homophobia in sports, and the long work of building a shared life under pressure. It is a romance about patience and risk: two men deciding how much of themselves they can keep hidden before love requires something braver.
Plot Summary ⚠️ Spoilers
Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov begin the story already deeply committed, but still trapped inside the public image of being NHL rivals. During the off-season, they tell their agent, Farah Jalali, that Shane is gay, Ilya is bisexual, and they are a couple. Farah supports them, but the conversation clarifies the difficulty ahead: endorsements, a rivalry documentary, free agency, charity camps, and constant media attention all depend on maintaining a carefully managed secret. Shane accepts that their love may require patience and resolves to keep playing the long game.
Their summer hockey camp in Montreal shows both the strength and strain of that choice. Shane is anxious about exposure, while Ilya resents the constant rules against touching. Ilya’s jealousy over a reporter flirting with Shane leads to an unprofessional outburst, and the argument that follows exposes his fear that Shane might someday choose an easier public relationship. Shane insists he is fully in love, but near-misses with Ryan Price and the presence of staff keep them guarded. A double date with Ryan and Fabian Salah at a gay bar makes the contrast sharper: Fabian and Ryan can share small public intimacies that Shane and Ilya still deny themselves.
As the season begins, their separation deepens. Shane remains the celebrated face of Montreal after another Stanley Cup, while Ilya captains struggling Ottawa and questions his leadership. Ilya misses Shane, dreams about his late mother, and grows increasingly lonely. Shane’s conversations with friends such as Hayden Pike and Rose force him to admit that being closeted is not simply private; it is a constant, unfair restriction on their lives. Rose urges him to prepare for being outed, while Ilya’s emotional lows push him toward therapy with Dr. Galina Molchalina. In therapy, Ilya begins speaking honestly about his mother’s death, his distant father, his bisexuality, and the decade-long secret relationship that has become the center of his life.
Their hidden life continues through road trips, stolen visits, FaceTime calls, and rushed reunions. Shane and Ilya babysit Hayden’s children, whose pretend wedding for them unexpectedly touches both men and makes their imagined future feel real. But the same scene also triggers conflict when Ilya wonders why children can accept them so easily while adults and institutions might not. Tensions build around secrecy, unequal support systems, and Ilya’s depression. After a Christmas fight, Ilya reveals that he chose Ottawa in order to be closer to Shane, forcing Shane to confront how much Ilya has already sacrificed. They reconcile, but only after Ilya admits he has been seeing a therapist and needs one place in his life without lies.
A terrifying in-flight emergency with the Ottawa team changes the stakes. Believing he might die, Ilya sends Shane raw messages of love and gratitude. Everyone survives, but Shane is shaken by how close he came to losing Ilya while still hiding him. Soon after, Shane surprises Ilya with a candlelit proposal. Ilya accepts, wearing the ring on a chain beside his mother’s crucifix, and they agree to come out publicly in the summer and marry on their own terms.
Meanwhile, Ottawa becomes a stronger source of support for Ilya. He encourages Troy Barrett, a new teammate who is gay and interested in Harris Drover. Troy eventually comes out publicly and is celebrated, which gives Ilya hope but also stirs jealousy and grief over his own secrecy. Ilya expands his support network by telling old friend Svetlana Vetrov about Shane, adopts a rescued dog named Anya, and begins to imagine a more settled life. Shane and Ilya’s private future starts looking more domestic and real, with Anya, wedding plans, and the possibility of Shane someday joining Ottawa.
Their plan collapses when Hayden accidentally captures Shane and Ilya kissing in a reflected image during a FanMail video. The clip goes viral, outing them before they can control the timing. Farah prepares a statement, but Commissioner Roger Crowell orders both men benched. Ottawa coach Brandon Wiebe privately supports Ilya and reveals his own bisexual past, while Montreal coach Theriault reacts harshly and Shane faces hostility from teammates. Hayden defends him, but J.J. feels betrayed and others question Shane’s loyalty.
When Shane and Ilya meet Crowell, he demands they deny the relationship by calling the kiss a prank on Hayden. He threatens their careers, reputations, and plans to marry. Shane refuses to lie, declares that he and Ilya are together and engaged, and leaves with Ilya. Unknown to Crowell, Shane has recorded the meeting on his mother’s advice. With that leverage, they publish their own public statement on Instagram, using Farah’s words and photos that show the history of their relationship. The league backs off enough for them to return to play.
The playoffs force their private love and public rivalry into direct collision. Ottawa and Montreal meet in a seven-game series. Ilya’s team supports him, while Shane remains more isolated in Montreal, even though Hayden and, eventually, J.J. stand by him. In overtime of Game 7, Shane stumbles while trying to stop Ilya, and Ilya scores the series-winning goal. Ottawa advances, but Shane is accused by some teammates and online voices of letting Ilya win. The accusation devastates him and confirms that Montreal no longer feels like home.
Ottawa is later eliminated, and Ilya’s depression resurfaces despite the progress in his life. He tells Shane about recurring darkness and possible suicidal ideation, and plans to seek medication. Shane promises support without making himself the solution. Around them, Scott Hunter invites them into a players’ coalition against toxic hockey culture, showing that their coming out can become part of broader change rather than only personal fallout.
By May, Shane decides to leave Montreal in free agency. He wants balance, honesty, and a team that will accept him as Ilya’s husband. He signs with Ottawa, and in July he and Ilya marry in a backyard ceremony surrounded by family, friends, and teammates. David Hollander embraces Ilya as family, Yuna supports Shane, and their first dance turns the long-hidden relationship into a public celebration. In the epilogue, Shane and Ilya wake as husbands before Ottawa’s home opener. Ilya remains captain, Shane debuts as Ottawa’s new star, and the crowd welcomes them. Their rivalry has become partnership, and together they turn toward a new goal: winning the Stanley Cup side by side.
Characters
- Shane HollanderAn elite Montreal hockey star whose secret relationship with Ilya Rozanov drives the story. Disciplined, anxious, and loyal, he struggles to balance career, team identity, and the desire to live openly before ultimately choosing Ilya and signing with Ottawa.
- Ilya RozanovOttawa’s captain and Shane’s longtime secret partner, publicly known as Shane’s rival. Charismatic and emotionally burdened, he confronts grief, depression, loneliness, and the costs of secrecy while building a more honest life with Shane.
- Farah JalaliShane and Ilya’s agent, who supports their relationship from the beginning. She advises them through the outing crisis and drafts the public statement that helps them reclaim control of the narrative.
- Yuna HollanderShane’s mother, a warm and practical source of support for both Shane and Ilya. She helps with camps, comforts Shane after conflicts, and stands by the couple through their outing and wedding.
- David HollanderShane’s father, who welcomes Ilya as family. His emotional support is especially important at the wedding, where he reassures Ilya and affirms his place in Shane’s life.
- Hayden PikeShane’s close friend and Montreal teammate, whose home and family give Shane and Ilya glimpses of domestic life. His accidental FanMail recording outs the couple, but he defends Shane and remains loyal.
- Jackie PikeHayden’s wife, whose injury leads Shane and Ilya to babysit the Pike children. Her family helps prompt Shane and Ilya to imagine marriage and children more concretely.
- Ruby, Jade, Arthur, and Amber PikeHayden and Jackie’s children, whose easy acceptance of Shane and Ilya culminates in a pretend wedding. Their innocence highlights how natural the relationship can feel outside adult prejudice and professional fear.
- Ryan PriceA retired defenseman and camp coach who knows Shane and Ilya’s secret. His relationship with Fabian provides a model of quieter openness and helps Shane and Ilya examine what they lack.
- Fabian SalahRyan’s charismatic musician boyfriend, comfortable in queer public spaces. His confidence and questions about secrecy push Shane and Ilya to reflect on the cost of hiding.
- J.J. BoiziauShane’s Montreal teammate and friend, initially hurt by Shane’s long deception. Though angry after the outing, he gradually softens, defends Shane against accusations, and attends the wedding.
- Wyatt HayesOttawa’s veteran goalie and Ilya’s teammate, often called Hazy. He contributes to Ottawa’s resilience on the ice and gives Ilya humor, support, and quiet encouragement.
- Zane BoodramIlya’s energetic Ottawa linemate, known as Bood. His leadership, humor, and family life contrast with Ilya’s isolation and help anchor the Centaurs’ locker-room culture.
- Luca HaasA shy Ottawa rookie who earns Ilya’s encouragement after scoring early NHL goals. His developing confidence, artistic talent, and admiration for Ilya deepen Ilya’s role as a mentor.
- Troy BarrettA talented Ottawa forward whose arrival disrupts Ilya’s team dynamic before becoming one of his key friends. Troy comes out as gay, dates Harris, supports Ilya, and participates in broader resistance to toxic hockey culture.
- Harris DroverOttawa’s social media and communications staffer, later connected romantically with Troy. He helps humanize the team environment through Chiron, his family, and steady support during Troy’s coming out.
- Coach Brandon WiebeOttawa’s head coach, who supports Ilya after the viral outing and reveals his own bisexual past. His empathy contrasts with Montreal’s response and helps Ilya face the fallout as captain.
- Coach TheriaultMontreal’s coach, who enforces Crowell’s benching order and reacts harshly to Shane’s relationship with Ilya. His response contributes to Shane’s alienation from the Voyageurs.
- Roger CrowellThe NHL commissioner whose polished language about inclusion masks a priority on league image. He pressures Shane and Ilya to stay closeted, tries to force a fake-prank cover story, and becomes a central institutional antagonist.
- Dr. Galina MolchalinaIlya’s Russian-speaking therapist in Ottawa. She helps him confront grief over his mother, depression, isolation, sexuality, and the need for support beyond Shane.
- Irina RozanovaIlya’s late mother, whose death and hidden struggles shape his grief and mental health. Her memory remains central through Ilya’s dreams, therapy, and the crucifix he wears.
- RoseA famous actress and Shane’s ex, who remains a trusted friend. She urges Shane to think seriously about happiness, visibility, and a contingency plan if he and Ilya are outed.
- Svetlana VetrovIlya’s old friend and former fling from Boston. When Ilya tells her about Shane, her support helps him widen his circle and feel less alone.
- Scott HunterA rival captain and out player who reaches out after Shane and Ilya’s public crisis. He recruits them into a cross-hockey coalition aimed at confronting toxic culture.
- Dallas KentA player associated with homophobia and sexual-violence accusations. The league’s protection of its image around him becomes a key example of the culture Shane, Ilya, Troy, and Scott oppose.
- AnyaThe rescued dog Ilya adopts after visiting Harris’s family farm. She gives Ilya comfort and stability and becomes part of Shane and Ilya’s domestic future.
- ChironOttawa’s team puppy, later adopted by Harris. Chiron lifts Ilya’s mood and helps create moments of connection among Ottawa teammates.
- Evan DykstraAn Ottawa teammate who appears in locker-room, party, and game scenes. His banter and presence help define the Centaurs’ team culture around Ilya.
- Tanner DillonAn Ottawa forward and Ilya’s occasional linemate. His uneven play and locker-room presence reflect the team’s early struggles before Ottawa’s chemistry improves.
- Curtis BarrettTroy Barrett’s intrusive father. His appearance at the team hotel reveals some of Troy’s private distress and gives Ilya a chance to lead with empathy.
- Patrice DrapeauMontreal’s goalie, present during the playoff series against Ottawa. His curt reaction after Ilya’s Game 7 winner contributes to the suspicion Shane faces in Montreal’s room.
- ComeauA Montreal teammate who reacts negatively after Shane is outed. His suggestion that Shane’s Game 7 stumble looked intentional fuels the locker-room doubt that pushes Shane away from Montreal.
- CassieZane Boodram’s partner, whose pregnancy and baby with Bood highlight the settled family lives around Ilya. News of their son Milo prompts Shane and Ilya to joke about future children.
Themes
Rachel Reid’s The Long Game is, above all, a romance about endurance: not just waiting for love to become possible, but learning what kind of life love demands. Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov have spent eleven years hiding a relationship beneath the NHL’s manufactured rivalry, and the book repeatedly asks whether survival is enough if secrecy slowly erodes the self.
- Secrecy versus openness: From the first chapter, where Shane and Ilya tell their agent Farah but still plan to remain hidden, the novel frames privacy as both protection and prison. Public moments—Fabian kissing Ryan, Troy coming out on Pride Night, the children casually “marrying” Shane and Ilya—show how ordinary openness can feel miraculous to men who have trained themselves to deny every instinct. The viral mirror-kiss finally forces the conflict into the open, turning exposure from catastrophe into liberation.
- Love as choice and sacrifice: The title’s “long game” is not passive waiting; it is a series of costly choices. Ilya’s revelation during the Christmas fight—“I already chose you”—recasts his move to Ottawa as an act of devotion Shane has not fully understood. Shane’s later proposal, rejection of Crowell’s lie, and decision to leave Montreal for Ottawa answer that sacrifice with one of his own. Their love matures when both stop assuming the other will simply endure.
- Mental health and the need for support: Ilya’s grief over his mother, smoking, insomnia, loneliness, and eventual therapy form one of the book’s most moving arcs. His sessions with Galina teach him that love cannot be his only support system. Friendships with Troy, Svetlana, Harris, teammates, and even Anya the rescue dog help him build a life wider than secrecy and hockey.
- Hockey culture, image, and resistance: The NHL is portrayed as thrilling but morally compromised: Crowell’s concern for “distraction,” his pressure to silence Troy’s advocacy, and his attempt to script Shane and Ilya’s kiss as a prank expose institutional homophobia and reputation management. Against that, the players’ emerging coalition and Ottawa’s supportive room suggest change begins through solidarity.
- Domesticity as victory: Runs, cooking, dog care, family lunches, toy rings, and the backyard wedding matter as much as goals and Cups. The epilogue’s opening night is triumphant because Shane and Ilya are not merely playing together—they are living together, publicly, imperfectly, and freely.