Game Changer/Heated Rivalry Community

Link roundup

2026-04-11T14:27:57Z

Posted by: nialla

Books/Music

The Hollywood Reporter: ‘Heated Rivalry’ Composer Peter Peter Signs With Range Music

Actor+Author+TPTB Interviews/Features

laufey [Instagram]: Hudson Williams will star in Laufey’s ‘Madwoman’ music video. Premieres April 13th.

Marketing Brew: ‘This famous butt’: How Verizon created that ad with Connor Storrie

The Hollywood Reporter: Red Carpet Royalty: Sabrina Carpenter, Connor Storrie, Chase Infiniti, Kate Hudson and the Stylists Who Help Them Rule

General

Deadline: Jacob Tierney Teases ‘The Long Game’ Might Be Split Between Seasons; Addresses Racial Backlash Against Hudson Williams

Variety: ‘Heated Rivalry,’ ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live,’ ‘The Pitt’ Among Peabody Award 2026 Entertainment Nominees

Out.com: Heated Rivalry lookalike winners went on 'perfect' first date & tease future plans

IndieWire: What Everyone Gets Wrong About Intimacy Coordinators

Video

Heated Rivalry on Crave: Exclusive Interview with Author Rachel Reid

A teaser for "Madwoman", the official music video starring Laufey, Hudson Williams, Alysa Liu, Megan Skiendiel and Lola Tung.

comments

Fic rec

2026-04-06T20:09:51Z

Posted by: chanii

I beta-read a tumblr mutual's gorgeous Hollanov story and now need to rec it far and wide! Feral Shane Hollander my beloved.

2886 Beacon (11092 words) by tafkar
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Heated Rivalry (TV)
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov
Characters: Shane Hollander, Ilya Rozanov, Hayden Pike
Additional Tags: Dom/sub, Oral Sex, Hand Jobs, Light Angst, Masks, Ice Play, Feral Shane Hollander, Sex Club, what happens when you throw a duckling in the deep end, Smut, Mutual Pining, Internalized Homophobia, Jealousy, set during episode 4 sex montage
Summary:

“Rozanov, what the fuck have you gotten me into?” Shane whispered, fists flexing again.
“No names here,” Rozanov said, and then his smirk got wider, a perfect accent to his devil mask. “No real names. Call me Lily.”
“Absolutely fucking not,” Shane said. “Asshole, maybe.”

Shane likes playing games with rules. He knows how to play to win. He will be good, no matter what it costs him.

Click for potential trigger warnings

Characters witness: play piercing (with minor blood), shibari, doggie play, collaring, pegging, bootlicking, oral sex, naked people being used as serving platters for sushi.
Characters participate in: D/s play, sensation play, oral sex, hand jobs, anal penetration, boundary negotiation, exhibitionism, minor spitting, a lot of swearing in multiple languages.

comments

I come bearing fic!

2026-04-06T03:12:48Z

Posted by: ineptshieldmaid

Back in the day the first thing I would've done after posting to the AO3 and then my own DW would have been go cross-post to a relevant community, but it somehow didn't occur to me until last night. So here are 5 HR fics (the last one is a WIP):

Everything You Know (6639 words) by ineptshieldmaid
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Heated Rivalry (TV)
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov
Characters: Shane Hollander, Ilya Rozanov
Additional Tags: Anal Fingering, complicated feelings about sex, non-verbal communication, non-verbal miscommunication, sexual boundaries and the exploring of same, Monogamy, sometimes monogamy is a kink, gratuitous use of zeugma
Summary:

"Is it weird," Ilya says, and Shane turns a little to meet his eyes, "That I have never done this?"

"What, fingered me on a couch? I'm sure…"

"No, Hollander," Ilya says, in the voice he reserves for when Shane is being particularly obtuse. "That is not what I mean."

Contrary to eary indications, a sequel for "Everything You Know" is underway.

Hide nothing from your friend and from your friend fear nothing (6112 words) by ineptshieldmaid
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Heated Rivalry (TV)
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Ilya Rozanov & Svetlana Vetrova, Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov, Ilya Rozanov/Svetlana Vetrova
Characters: Svetlana Vetrova, Ilya Rozanov
Additional Tags: this is a friendship focused fic with a fair bit of sexual detail in it, and it is also about the shane/ilya relationship but shane isn't present, neither gen nor ship fic but a secret third thing, Unreliable Narrator, Multiple Unreliable Narrators, difficult to tag see notes for content preview, aromantic svetlana
Series: Part 1 of Series: Working Title "Ilya Rozanov, Public Bisexual Menace"
Summary:

If worst came to worst, Svetlana would either talk Ilya - and Jane - through humanitarian visa applications, or find them someone who could. That would involve making many things public that neither Ilya nor Jane would want public. She would marry Ilya before it came to that, for the sake of Jane and whatever he was protecting. If Jane wasn't Russian - if he was Indonesian or Saudi or even another athlete - she would still do whatever they needed. The fact of the matter was that Ilya Rozanov was the only man she could actually imagine marrying; but this was really the only scenario in which she could imagine marrying him.

Held Fast; Carried Away (3286 words) by ineptshieldmaid
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Heated Rivalry (TV)
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov
Characters: Shane Hollander, Ilya Rozanov
Additional Tags: emotionally significant handjobs, Intercrural Sex, Clothes Sharing, Top Shane Hollander, arguably - Freeform, although it's unclear to me if the corresponding bottom!ilya tag would be appropriate
Summary:

Ilya can barely see him in the dark, but he doesn't need to. He holds Shane's face in both his hands and kisses him.

"Hi," Ilya says, after a minute or three. "I'm sorry I missed you getting in."

"I'm not," Shane says, quietly. "I like coming home to you." Then - and Ilya can hear the smile creeping up his face - he adds, "You were wearing my clothes."

"Yes, well. I missed you." It's so easy to say that, now. Ilya turns onto his side again, pulling Shane's arm back over him.

Free Dance (466 words) by ineptshieldmaid
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Heated Rivalry (TV)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Rose Landry, Shane Hollander, Svetlana Vetrova
Additional Tags: very lightly implied future rose/svetlana as a treat, actual figure skating, leporova & brissaud 2024-2025 free dance
Summary:

Rose: this feels like something I shouldn't be watching at work.
Shane: Shit, that's hot. I'm gay and that's hot.

This was something of a test of concept for my WIP re Joe the Figure Skater. The video embeds don't work for everyone; Joe the Figure Skater's fic will have still shots instead.

Jackie Pike's List Of Acceptable Hockey Players To Invite To A Threesome, And What Became Of It (17482 words) by ineptshieldmaid
Chapters: 2/5
Fandom: Heated Rivalry (TV)
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Hayden Pike/Jackie Pike, Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov, Shane Hollander/Hayden Pike/Jackie Pike/Ilya Rozanov, Shane Hollander/Hayden Pike, Jackie Pike/Ilya Rozanov, please note those last two are axes not core pairings
Characters: Jackie Pike, Shane Hollander, Hayden Pike, Ilya Rozanov, OFC
Additional Tags: Character Study, Bisexual Jackie Pike, bisexuality-blind hayden pike, marriage study, a surprising number of scenes involving laundry, not "one time foursome" and not "endgame polycule" but a secret third thing, Pegging, also there's pegging, someone should peg ilya rozanov and i say it's jackie pike, more details about figure skating than you'd expect, the author is gazing respectfully at Tessa Virtue, now featuring: pregnant pike pegging, say that three times fast
Summary:

"I'll give you a celebrity pass for Tessa Virtue but not Shane Hollander."
"I wouldn't dream of it," Jackie says. "Not without you."
Hayden's eyes briefly bug out of his head.
"I'm just saying, babe, if you ever want to organise me a hot hockey player threesome, you can start with Shane Hollander. No questions asked."
"Shane would die of embarrassment."

Or: Ten years of the Pikes and Shane Hollander (and, eventually, Ilya Rozanov)

This was originally projected to be 3 chapters, now 5. Slow updates: I have the actual sex scene written and am filling out the lead-up scenes from the first beta-read draft with more detail and more depth to Jackie as a protagonist (and hence to Hayden, Shane, and indeed Ilya as she interacts with them).

comments

I come bearing recs!

2026-04-05T11:09:11Z

Posted by: ineptshieldmaid

Hello hello, I am a person who moved from LJ to DW before even getting an AO3 account, but then many things happened, and most recently I was Not In Fandom for 5-7 years. The Heated Rivalry brainworms got me and I have no regrets.

I have ended up using my DW fandom account more than I expected to because it's much, much better for annotated reclists.

I have posted a few:

Reclist with Commentary: Romantic Monogamy As Kink (I'm not super happy with that as a critical commentary - it's not wrong but I could do better/clearer - but the recs are sound)

Rec post: AO3 user arustyspork, which has a shade more of the commentary style that was aiming for, focused on just one author.

Building on those two I got into a groove and hence:

Annotated Reclist: Heated Rivalry: Outsider POV (with preamble and commentary).

and

Annotated Reclist: Heated Rivalry: fic that breaks with fanon trends in some way

Note: that was posted on 5 March and the fanon currents have shifted a bit since then. Nonetheless, this particular post is a kind of post that can only really exist on DW: in addition to the scaffolding notes and the sections, some of the recs include ["the AO3 metadata + summary" + "a pull quote of my choosing" + a close reading thereof in context of the subsection].

comments

12 fic recs

2026-04-03T20:00:02Z

Posted by: falena

slash and burn | 30K | Shane had everything he'd ever wanted, plus a girlfriend. Ilya Rozanov was not his problem.| This is a re-imagining of episode 4. It has fantastic Shane characterisation, but it's a harsher look at Shane. His breakup with Rose is much more realistic, imo. Fic full of yearning, and heartbreak. Also, mind the infidelity tag.

Heaven is a bedroom | 18K | The one where Shane is a Mormon missionary| What my crappy summary says. This fic is so much more, though! I'm pretty sure everyone has already read it. If you haven't, run! I normally don't go for full AUs (i.e. the ones where neither of our guys is a hockey player), because I usually have a hard time believing Shane could be anything else than what he is...but this Shane is still so fundamentally him. And the fic is funny, hot and tender and (to my completely extraneous eye) handles a tricky subject really gracefully.

Daylight Robbery (of Hayden's Sanity) | 3.4K | “Are you breaking into Shane’s apartment?” “Is to… mess with Hollander’s head,” Rozanov says. “Yes. I break into his house and leave Bears clothes in his wardrobe. Take his boring fucking hockey books. Makes him go crazy.” He sort of waves the hoodie that he’s holding around, showing the Boston logo on it. “Man, that is low.” J. J. sounds somewhat impressed.| Another alternate version of Hayden and J.J. finding out about Ilya. Hilarious. I kept picturing it in my head, Storrie would totally pull it off, he has such great comedic timing.

Shane Hollander & Whatever Professional Women's Hockey Is Called Now | 1.1K | Hollander: Look, I want to play hockey against the best, and I think people should be paid what they’re worth, and I don’t care what— [Hollander gestures awkwardly at his body] Hollander: —whatever. Does someone want to ask me about the hockey game that just finished?| Shane Hollander, unintentional feminist ally. I genuinely believe he only cares about hockey. Great Shane voice, and I love the social media format in this. It's used effectively. And the little Ilya cameo at the end is hilarious but mostly * chef's kiss *

Bitin' List | 6.8K | Shane starts a full blown donnybrook with the Metros when they target and injure Ilya during the playoffs.| Ilike stories where the hockey takes centre stage...and BAMF Shane. This story had excellent game and fight descriptions! Felt like I was there on the ice too. As much as I find fighting a turn-off IRL, it really was hot here to see Shane do it. Poor Ilya never stood a chance...

The Worth of You | 15K | Ilya Rozanov is in a horrible accident right before the playoffs start and Shane Hollander reacts in a normal and rational fashion.| This fic is part of a series, it's my favourite instalment, but the whole series is good. Especially if you, like me, have a preference for a not!Woobiefied version of Shane. Shane here looks very autistic and self-centred and this makes him such a compelling character. Very interesting OCs too.

the hand on the back of your neck | 15.8K | In 2018, during Ilya's last year with the Raiders, an old video is leaked on Twitter. Ilya reacts, or overreacts. Shane does, too.| Canon divergence, in which Ilya is outed by an old video. Mind the tags, this deals with child sex abuse! This fic puts our guy through the ringer, but it's so well-written. It also features a lovely supportive Marleau.

dirty play | 5K | “Good game,” Ilya snarks, he can’t help it, and Hollander shoves him hard enough into the wall that he only narrowly avoids banging his head. “You looked so hot, that goal in the second, you deserve reward—” “Shut the fuck up,” Hollander says, and he slams into Ilya with hardly less ferocity than they’d hit each other during the game, crushing their mouths together.| Some really hot sex, set during the ep 4 montage. And when I say hot, I really mean it.

anybody like you | 50K | It gets lonely at the top. In Sochi, unrivaled generational hockey talent Shane Hollander reconnects with his old skate training buddy, Joe.| This is an AU in which Ilya is a figure-skater, while Shane is still Shane. It is, quite simply, one of the best character studies for Shane out there. And what I love the most about it that tit shows us how toxic hockey culture is, how much of a fish out of water Shane is most of the time, and how it shouldn't have to be this way. And the author does it by giving Shane...friends. Non-hockey friends. And they are some of the most glorious OCs out there. There's of course, a fantastic slow-burn Shane/Ilya, but that is not the main draw here. It's, like, the cherry on top of an already awesome cake. This has been downloaded and gone to my absolute favourite collection on my Kindle. Unititled ficlet| Also when the two weeks of freetime at the cottage are over Shane drives him to the airport and fuck they should've kissed more bc now they are in the parking lot and yes it isn't super busy but there are people around and fuck Shane didn't think about not being able to have a proper goodbye kiss.| Fantastically in character. Great banter. Full of feelings. CANON!

In Which Shane and Ilya Acquire KitKats...and Cats | 3.9K | Ilya learns the joy of stacking things on top of other things, and gets Chunked along the way.| Hilarious and in character. If you need something to cheer you up this is the fic for you.

advice from fools | 22.3K | After Sochi, Shane starts sleeping with another man. After Vegas, he picks back up with Ilya, too| Canon divergent, in the six months when Ilya ghosted Shane after Sochi, Shane starts hooking up with a nice guy from Montreal. It goes about as well as you might expect. This is another cracking look at a messier, selfish version of Shane. Incredibly well-written.

comments

Link roundup

2026-04-03T16:24:12Z

Posted by: nialla

I didn't come across much this week, but please post links in the comments if I missed anything.

Actor+Author+TPTB Interviews/Features

Man About Town: François Arnaud Is Riding the Heatwave

Vogue: The Young Actors and Musicians to Watch Right Now Have High-Flying Style to Spare [ed. note: Connor's on the list]

General

The Express Tribune: 'They all noticed everything': Jacob Tierney praises Heated Rivalry fans for their sharp eye

The Hollywood Reporter: How ‘Heated Rivalry’ Became a Musical (Parody)

Video

TSN: "Heated Rivalry" author Rachel Reid discusses her book becoming a hit TV show

And now for an ad break... ;)

Over 2.1 million views in 3 days, and there's outakes too.

comments

Another one bites the dust

2026-04-02T04:29:00Z

Posted by: mific

I'm feeling sad about the HR fandom wank on other sites causing us to lose some of the more well-known HR writers from AO3, and wrote a post about it, here.

comments

maevedarcy's heated rivalry threesome/triad rec list

2026-04-02T02:02:33Z

Posted by: maevedarcy

so as someone who has been reading and writing threesomes for years, I thought it was my duty to show the world not all the hot, fun sex scenes have to be hollanov. Here's my current top threesome/triad fics in the fandom (will there be more lists like this? probably! I love a good poly/poly-adjacent fic) (also on tumblr)

81-24-21 by maplesalad

Shane/Scott/Ilya | 3k words

Ilya tucked his smile against Shane’s neck and brought his hand down Shane’s front. “He used to be so boring,” he said to Hunter. “Would not let me fuck him because you were next door.”
Shane groaned. “You’re such an asshole—that was a long time ago,” he said. “I was trying to be discreet.”
“Yes, and now look at you,” Ilya said. “Go suck Hunter’s dick.”

have your cake (and eat it too) by ExtraSteps

Shane/Rose/Ilya | 35k words

Rose Landry is a bit more perceptive than Shane had probably been hoping for. She happens to be looking up at his face when he spots Ilya Rozanov at the club.
She sees the heartbreak. She sees the yearning.
And she makes a decision that changes everything.

Old Time's Sake by CypressSunn

Shane/Scott/Ilya | 4k words

Scott slams forward, charging into the kitchen and into Rozanov’s face. “Tell me we didn’t fuck.”
“We didn’t fuck?” Ilya parrots back. “At least not all three of us at the same time. But we did take turns.”

Because Nobody Knows You (but maybe I give a damn) by TheGrimRaptor

Shane/Scott/Ilya | 4k words

After Shane wins his second Stanley Cup and MVP, Ilya decides his reward should be something they’ve joked about for years, a threesome with Scott Hunter.

It’s Always Hollander and Rozanov, Right? by Internerdionality

Shane/Scott/Ilya | 6k words

Five times Scott Hunter thinks about Hollander and Rozanov together, and the one time he gets to watch.

Your Hands, Your Team, Your Vibes by Valonia

Jackie/Hayden/Svetlana | 8k words

"Everything okay?” Hayden asked.
“Sveta is really pretty,” Jackie said. “Like, really, really.”
“And you’re really, really pretty too,” Hayden reminded her.
“Yeah. I don’t mean that I’m comparing myself to her. I’m not jealous of her.” Jackie turned her face into Hayden’s neck.
“Oh. So you mean…” Hayden didn’t know how to finish that sentence.
“I mean, for me. I think I really like her, in a way I haven’t liked anyone but you in a really long time.” Jackie said in hushed tones. “I mean that I think she’s really hot.”

Assist on Hollander by WhatTheBodyGraspsNot

Shane/Ilya/Hayden | 19k words

Getting to fuck his boyfriend and his best friend at the same time is a dream come true on paper - or, more specifically, the google doc that he, Ilya, and Hayden tipsily collabbed on while Jackie oversaw a month ago.
But of course, leave it to Shane to get all tangled up in what role he’s supposed to play, when he’s got two different men with two very different visions of who Shane Hollander is to them. Luckily, Ilya has ten years of experience telling him what to do. And it might even be working on Hayden too.

like nothing matters by Anonymous

Shane/Ilya/Rose | 4k words

“Us, fucking Rose Landry? Would be big headline.” Ilya lets out a low whistle from between his teeth. “We could make film, become movie stars, like Rose.”
“Ilya, the last fucking thing we need is for the world to find out that not only are we gay, but that we’re gay and fucking my ex-girlfriend. We’d be shunned! People would think we’re perverts!”
“Well … ”
--
Or, Shane and Ilya have a proposition. Rose says yes.

comments

Link roundup

2026-03-28T16:10:14Z

Posted by: nialla

Books/Music

Smart Bitches Trashy Books: The Heated Rivalry Hardcover is…Something

Billboard: Let’s Get Physical: ‘Heated Rivalry’ Announces Vinyl & CD Soundtrack Release for TV Show’s Viral Music

Milan Records: FAQ: A Quick Guide to the Heated Rivalry Soundtrack Vinyl & CD Pre-order

Actor+Author+TPTB Interviews/Features

The Hollywood Reporter: ‘Criminal Minds: Evolution’ Renewed at Paramount+, Connor Storrie to Guest in Coming Season
[ed. note: I'm going to be totally normal about this.] [regular ed. note: I found reference to him being in episodes. Plural. No details on which ones, what the character will be, etc., but the show has a history for recurring characters, both law enforcement and serial killers, so... coin toss.]

Entertainment Weekly: Hudson Williams, Dylan O'Brien to maximize their joint fandom, will costar in thriller about 'handheld massagers'
[ed. note: I'm also going to be totally normal about this.]

Parade: ‘Heated Rivalry’ Author Was ‘Grumpy’ About This 1 Element of Connor Storrie’s ‘SNL’ Appearance

Pink News: Heated Rivalry’s Rachel Reid on developing Shane and Ilya, their group chat and queer literature: ‘Ilya changed a lot!’

General

CBC: North of North, Heated Rivalry, 40 Acres lead Canadian Screen Award nominees

Toronto Star: ‘Heated Rivalry’ wasn’t eligible for this year’s Canadian Screen Awards. How did it get 18 nominations?

Variety: ‘Heated Rivalry’ Was Supposed to Be Made With a U.S. Platform but Jacob Tierney ‘Didn’t Have the Freedom He Wanted’: ‘Great Example of Not Being Hollywood – and Being Authentic’

The Wrap: Outstanding LGBTQ Stories Are Winning Audiences — Hollywood Is Leaving Money on the Table | Guest Column

The Nod Mag: Wait, is the underwear in ‘Heated Rivalry’ really Uniqlo? | Costume designer Hanna Puley on the best-in-class T-shirts and undies, fake nudity tricks, and dressing the world’s two most in-demand men

Video

#shanehollander : im not gay

Kaden Connors (Sasha) interview on Lunar Sway at BFI Flare 2026

Aika Flores Interview: Hudson Williams’ Groomer on the Heated Rivalry Press Tour

Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova says 'Heated Rivalry' group chat is BLOWING UP after 18 CSA noms

The Heated Rivalry Effect Documentary (just a short sample)

comments

Link roundup

2026-03-22T14:45:13Z

Posted by: nialla

Rivalry Hub: Links to Hudson and Connor's short films, interviews, and photoshoots

Actor+Author+TPTB Interviews/Features

The Observer: Why I Wrote Heated Rivalry

Numero Netherlands: Nadine Bhabha and  Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova

US Weekly: Franco Lo Presti (Marleau) and wife talk about Heated Rivalry

Variety: Hudson Williams Teases One Word for ‘Heated Rivalry’ Season 2 at the Oscars: ‘Sex’

Variety: ‘Heated Rivalry’ Star Hudson Williams Among Six to Recur in Netflix FTX Series ‘The Altruists’

Vanity Fair: Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie Hit the Vanity Fair Oscar Party Red Carpet 2026

Vanity Fair: Hudson Williams and Girlfriend Katelyn Larson Make Their Red Carpet Debut at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party 2026

Vulture: The Oscars After-party Got Heated

GQ: Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams ‘Didn’t Plan’ on Matching Sheer Shirts at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party

Vogue: Connor Storrie And Hudson Williams Were Everyone’s Favorite Duo at the 2026 Oscars After-Party

General

The Globe and Mail: How steamy fan edits helped Heated Rivalry go global

Glamour: Women’s Hockey Is Giving Heated Rivalry Fans What Men’s Hockey Couldn’t

Video

Vanity Fair: Hudson Williams Gets Ready for the Oscars

Paramount Plus: Tracker | Brandon (Hudson Williams) Is Taken Hostage (clip of Hudson's scenes from an episode of Tracker)

comments

FIC: Out of the Closet (2/2)

2026-03-22T13:59:07Z

Posted by: luthien

So this happened when I was in the middle of writing something else.

Out of the Closet (3867 words) by Luthien
Chapters: 2/2
Fandom: Heated Rivalry (TV), Game Changers Series - Rachel Reid
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov, David Hollander/Yuna Hollander
Characters: Shane Hollander, Ilya Rozanov, David Hollander, Yuna Hollander
Additional Tags: POV Outsider, Episode Tag, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, David Hollander takes charge, Marriage Proposal
Summary: Of the two of them, Yuna is the worrier. Everyone who knows them, knows that. David is the quiet presence in the background, ready with calming words, or a convenient shoulder, always the one providing sustenance —and, if the situation proves sufficiently dire, cracking open a bottle of wine. Or vodka.

That's the face they show the world, anyway.

The truth is a little more complicated. Yuna worries out in the open, wearing her concerns on her sleeve the way lovers—though apparently that word has fallen out of fashion when David wasn't looking—wear hearts. But David is a closet worrier.

David's perspective on the end of season 1, and beyond. He winds up making a suggestion that maybe only he can make.

comments

maevedarcy's hollanov fic recs #4

2026-03-21T13:38:23Z

Posted by: maevedarcy

maevedarcy’s hollanov fic rec #4

Part 1 (tumblr) | Part 2 (tumblr) | Part 3 (tumblr) | Part 4 (tumblr)

( Read more... )

comments

15 fic recs

2026-03-21T10:27:54Z

Posted by: falena

Leave a divot for your eye | 5.9K | Ilya Rozanov regularly gets called out on fighting his husband’s battles. He thinks people should be glad it’s him they’re facing.| I am very much against the extreme woobiefication fandom inflicts on Shane very frequently. This fic is the perfect antidote for that. Shane gets into a fight. And I agree with Ilya, its HOTTT.

Apogee | 50K | Shane Hollander is the youngest Commander in ISS history; straight-backed, closeted, and so tightly on his own leash that seven months in orbit with Ilya Rozanov have not produced a single crack in his composure.Ilya Rozanov is the Russian cosmonaut who should have had his job, won’t stop bouncing a tennis ball off the walls, and is still looking for a fissure. Thankfully, a solar storm finds it for him.| I don't think anyone needs me to rec this, because it's OpalApparition, one of the BNF writers in this fandom for a frigging reason. And the reason is that they're an amazing writer. I'm a completionist, though, I have to rec all the fics I truly like, so I can't leave one out just because everyone is bound to have read it already...I'm normally not one for AUs where neither Ilya nor Shane is a hockey player, but I'd trust OpalApparition to take me to hell and back. And this story is fantastic.

I'll be Jane | 7.1K | After a social media trend mocks Shane's sexting skills, he tries to improve them. It goes about as poorly as you'd expect.| This is hilarious and in character.

A Well-Organized Life | 11.8K | Shane Hollander is a man who thrives on structure, routine, the solid ground of a ten-year plan. Ilya likes that about him, likes the embracing squeeze of having a life organized in tandem with Shane. No one would call Ilya a man who thrives on structure. But it’s there, if not in his DNA then in the patterns of his brain. A call-and-response of: they do this, I do that. When Ilya’s life is flayed open for the world to dissect, how will they push-and-pull their way back towards what was once a well-organized life?| I normally don't rec WIPs, I'm making an exception for this because I was familiar with the author from The Pitt fandom, they are extremely talented, and I love their characterisation of Ilya especially here, it's so full of details, and his voice is perfect. I think this fic needs way more kudos and comments than it currently has. Go forth and make the author feel the love!

Influential | 6.1K| The problem is, no one knows how to market Ilya Rozanov's (in his own words) sexy Euro masculinity to an audience of white straight men.He needs the best. And if it happens to be his secret lover’s mother who despises his very existence, so be it.| Yuna becomes Ilya's manager is probably one of the subsets of the 'The Hollanders adopt Ilya' fan favourites that I enjoy the most. I like Yuna's competence being unleashed on poor unsuspecting Ilya, when it's obvious he needs to be taken care of from a business point of view too. Well, this goes at it from the completely opposite persepective: it's Ilya (pre-Cottage) who tries to convince Yuna to become his manager. Hilarious. And in character! 409_conflict really has one of the best Ilya voices out there.

A Neighborhood of Voluntary Spies | 6.8K | So fuck yes Hayden was a little jealous, shit, he was only human. But he was secure in his position as Shane’s best friend. Rozanov was a shiny fellow hockey god, but he was also an Olympic-caliber asshole, and Shane had spent his entire adult life hating him. He’d get bored of talking about how much he hated Reebok soon enough, and he’d make his way to his usual seat by Hayden’s side and he’d treat himself to one of his vegan cookies, and everything would be as it should be. Hayden leaned back in his seat, stretched his legs into the aisle, and waited. Or: Hayden Pike is slow on the uptake| This is the sequel to Half Agony, Half Hope, an excellent Jane-Austen-Persuasion-inspired AU in which Ilya is traded to Boston, which I'd recced ages ago. I think it can be enjoyed just knowing this simple fact. It's another take on Hayden grappling with Shane's sexuality and the Rozanov of it all and it is so much fun. I love external POVs on our guys, and I like clueless-but-loyal Hayden a lot.

the art of long-term cohabitation | 5.5K | “Sometimes, I wish he was a worse person,” Ilya admits one night, while he and Yuna are doing the dishes. Shane and Ilya had come over for chicken parmesan, and it had been a lovely dinner, right up until David, clearing the plates, mentioned that he had met a guy at the store the other day who was a big fan of Shane’s, had a kid who idolized him. David asked if Shane could sign a piece of merchandise for him, maybe record a video. Shane said yes, because he had a rule, about doing things for child fans. Now, Shane was off shooting a video while Ilya did the dishes, and Ilya already knew the way it would require Shane to drag his public face up from the depths of his stomach, the work it would take him to shed it afterwards, the way it would taint this evening.| The summary doesn't really do justice to what I feel is the strength of this piece: it delves into the negative side of being in a committed relationship, the fighting, the difficulty in adjusting to being with another person who is, fundamentally, very different from you, and also how clinical depression might factor in from both sides. I'm making it sound boring and/or sad, when it's not. It's just so real and thought-provoking. And it has great characterisation. This anonymous author has such an excellent grasp on how Shane and Ilya work.

let's make a deal | 7.1K | Shane wants to talk about Ilya's move to Ottawa. Ilya doesn't want to talk much at all.| Shane wants to discuss the practical details of Ilya's move to Ottawa, Ilya doesn't want to, so he tries to distract him with sex. Fantastic character voices and also very hot.

MINE MINE MINE | 3.6K | “So,” Yuna says, as she polishes off her third glass of cabernet. “When are you boys going to get started on kids?” Shane chokes on his tiramisu. Or: Maybe Shane doesn’t want kids.| Fandom consensus seems to be that Ilya and Shane are just waiting for retirement before starting their family and quite often they get handed a baby even before that (Ilya has a one-night-stand that results in an accidental baby he somehow gets saddled with and/or decide to raise on his own; or even more often, he ends up having to raise his niece). And it's fine if people are into that! One of my all-time favourite fic of any fandom is a baby!fic in Generation Kill where a former marine and an active-duty marine still manage to decide to co-parent an accidental baby...I just can't see Shane wanting kids. Also, the beauty of queer romance is seeing a relationship free from heteronormative societal expectations (says the straight woman who is a mother of two, lol), so I want any parenting choice to be, well, a conscious choice...And if our guys decide to go for kids, I'd like the messy side and difficulties not to be handwaved with a fantastic live-in nanny (which they'd have, fo course, they're multi-millionaires). Anyway, this is sadly the only example of fic I could find where they decide against kids. And it's so well-written and in character. If you guys know of any more, please let me know!

Deep Misunderstanding | 9K | Hayden has always been the guy Shane joked with, the guy he trusted to feed him without mocking him, the guy he roomed with on the road, and Shane is the only man who has ever seen Hayden cry, and Hayden loves Shane. He fucking loves him. They are like brothers, and they have been for almost ten fucking years. He’s always been Shane’s guy, Shane’s best friend. Except all along, maybe that wasn’t true. Ilya Rozanov, apparently, had been the guy. Before Hayden had ever met Shane, Ilya Rozanov had been there. And Hayden had never even noticed. Shane is all over every inch of Hayden’s life. Hayden thought that was reciprocal.| Again, I don't think I need to rec this to anyone, because it's some1_around, but I just love Hayden angst! And this so good.

licked by fire | 5.1K | “You know, there are a lot of kids that look up to you—“It’s the refrain of Shane’s life. Everything circles back to this: a lot of kids looking up to you. That’s why you need to spend your summers doing ad campaigns. That’s why you need to let a social media manager handle your every interaction online. That’s why we need to sit here after family dinner with flash cards rehearsing the different ways you’ll answer reporters’ questions after you face Boston next week, and, oh, when we’re done, let’s do some French vocabulary flashcards, too, because it’s important to the Francophone fans that you’re thinking about them. There are lots of Asian Francophones in Quebec, Shane. Almost 13% of primary schoolers are of Asian descent, compared to less than 4% of hockey players. Isn’t that pathetic? As if Shane doesn’t know that it’s pathetic. As if Shane doesn’t know what he fought through to get here. Abruptly, Shane is furious.| Look, another one for my not!woobiefied Shane folder! And what a cracking one. It's probably me projecting onto Shane, but i find his anger issues in this one are so relatable and plausible and well-handled.

Alligator Bites Never Heal | 72K | Remember when Sidney Crosby caught a puck with his jaw? That doesn't happen to Shane. That happens to Ilya.| One of my fave AUs is finally complete! Definitely on a par with 'Concussion Protocol'. Superb! I'm sure you all know it already, judging from the number of hits, kudos and bookmarks.

Toe Drag | 5.4K | Shane and Ilya take advantage of the cottage's private rink. Or: Ilya's always wanted control over his life. It feels like he's getting it for the first time thanks to Shane.| This is your regular dose of McShrug's steamy stuff. Hot damn.

Ticket Stubs and Your Diaries | 2.5K | A moment in time at the end of an era. Ilya helps Shane pack up the Montreal apartment.| Great vignette, totally feels like canon and excellent Shane characterisation.

It Takes a Village | 13.4K | An exploration of the first few months of Ilya and Shane’s “official” relationship, featuring Shane’s extremely supportive parents who do not do anything by half measures. Starts in September 2017.| More for my 'Ilya is adopted by the Hollanders' collection. What is notable about this one, other than the excellent characterisation for all, is that it has my fave kind of Yuna-momagers-Ilya trope.

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Link roundup

2026-03-14T15:54:56Z

Posted by: nialla

Books/Music

Pop Dust: Cailin Russo on ‘Heated Rivalry’ Track and New Era

Actor+Author+TPTB Interviews/Features

Variety: ‘Heated Rivalry’ Stars Hudson Williams and François Arnaud Say ‘Don’t Call Yourself a Fan’ If You Post Hate Comments: We ‘Are on the Same Side’

Variety: ‘Heated Rivalry’ Star Hudson Williams to Attend Oscars

Elle Canada: François Arnaud Is Hard at Work

Clin d’oeil: Clin d’oeil highlights Sophie Nélisse on the cover of her April 2026 issue [français]

General

The Hollywood Reporter: Top Stylists Spill Secrets on the “Style Arc” of Awards Season

The Hollywood Reporter: What Has Hollywood Learned From ‘Heated Rivalry’?

OutSports: ‘Heated Rivalry’ gets hockey hook-up culture right but not the homophobia, gay referee says

Thriveworks: Did you miss the autism representation in Heated Rivalry? That was the point

Video

Heated Rivalry vs. Shoresy

Gay Hockey Show

nails, hair, hips, heels

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maevedarcy's hollanov fic recs #3

2026-03-14T02:23:41Z

Posted by: maevedarcy

Crossposted from my journal :)

maevedarcy’s hollanov fic rec #3

Part 1 (tumblr) | Part 2 (tumblr) | Part 3 (tumblr)

So, I spent all of February absolutely lost in the Hollanov sauce and as such, I come bearing recs. So without further ado, the recs:
(Below the cut: 26 recs of varying ratings and word counts)

( Read more... )

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recs question

2026-03-13T13:01:44Z

Posted by: princessofgeeks

Does anyone know of a themed rec list specifically for AUs with the plot developments "Shane Plays For Boston" and, separately, "Ilya Plays for Montreal"?

I have read a few of both types of fic and really always enjoy them and would love to find more.

I need to start a list like this myself but was wondering if any one had done that. Perhaps eventually there will be a way to search AO3 for them directly but not yet?

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Consent in Ep 1 and 2

2026-03-11T04:39:30Z

Posted by: impala_chick

For the marchmetamatterschallenge I'd like to do four meta posts this month and cross-post them to comms and/or Tumblr. This one is about consent in the first two episodes of Heated Rivalry! (Also posted to my journal)

( This is based on the show only as I haven't read the books )

OF COURSE Sex scenes can just be enjoyed for what they are, and shouldn't have to be justified. But I'm really grateful the show did not shy away from depicting sex in this way. It's essential for us to see the entire sex scene to understand Shane and Ilya's points of view in these intimate moments.

P.S. I welcome discussion on this topic!

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Link roundup

2026-03-08T15:24:23Z

Posted by: nialla

Books/Music

OUT: Heated Rivalry author Rachel Reid: 'Shane is our hero' in the trilogy

Actor+Author+TPTB Interviews/Features

CBC: Heated Rivalry show creator Jacob Tierney's next project is another CanLit adaptation

Variety: ‘Heated Rivalry’ Creator Jacob Tierney Says Season 2 ‘Still on Track’ to Start Shooting This Summer: ‘I’m in a Room All Day Long Writing’

Extra: ‘Heated Rivalry’s’ Robbie G.K. Would Love a Wedding in Season 2!

Vogue: Connor Storrie for Vogue Adria on sudden fame, (un)seriousness, and the role of art today

Harper's Bazaar: Connor Storrie Accessorizes His Plunging Suit With a Diamond Choker at the 2026 Actor Awards

Swooon: ‘Heated Rivalry’: Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova Talks Svetlana’s Future & Connection with Ilya

Digital Journal: Callan Potter talks about starring in ‘Heated Rivalry’ series on Max

General

GQ: Do Normies Have a Right to Read Heated Rivalry Fanfic?

The Globe and Mail: How Heated Rivalry’s hair and makeup artists transformed Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie

It's Nice That: Heated Rivalry’s cinematographer shares the visual secrets behind the hit series

Mint: ‘Heated Rivalry’ and the rise of the queer male heartthrob

Video

Heated Rivalry on Crave: Official YouTube channel created by Crave with promos, bts, interviews, etc.

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2 Heated Rivalry fics

2026-03-04T16:41:54Z

Posted by: maevedarcy

So, uh, I've had a crazy February! I didn't write that much but I did complete these two fics that I'm quite proud of

I've got a hold on you (at least for the night)

Shane/Ilya
4k words
Explicit
Hurt/Comfort, Porn with Feelings, biblically accurate depictions of a long distance relationship
Summary:

They were still kissing when Ilya groaned, seemingly in pain, on top of him.

"What is it?" Shane asked.

"My ribs are killing me," he said, grimacing.

"Did you hurt your ribs tonight?" Shane asked, though the answer seemed obvious by Ilya's face. "When?"

"Is nothing. Just small fracture," Ilya said, shrugging.

[Or: Ilya has a broken rib and Shane freaks out. Ilya wants something else though]

--

I'd Share A Life (And You'd Share A Life) (Yuna meets Olesya Remix)

Shane/Ilya, Shane & Yuna
4k words
Teen
This fic is a remix of I'd Share A Life (And You'd Share A Life) by noedovenest
Summary

Playing on the same team for the past two years made some things both easier and more complicated; they didn’t need to juggle separate practices or games, but it also meant that one couldn’t fill in for the other when non-hockey responsibilities cropped up. For that, they were exceedingly grateful for Yuna and David. It hadn’t taken long for them to slip into the roles of doting grandparents, despite having no time to prepare. Olesya had already been a rambunctious toddler when she first charged into their lives, and they’d taken each day since in stride.

— I'd Share A Life (And You'd Share A Life) by noedovenest

[Or: Yuna meets Olesya. Alternatively: Yuna unexpectedly becomes a grandmother.]

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Saturday Night Live playlist

2026-03-01T22:58:33Z

Posted by: nialla

SNL has 17 videos in a playlist from Connor's episode. He's not in every bit, but I haven't compared to see if it's everything that aired. I will say I know there's a surprise for Heated Rivalry fans.

Considering this is from a network TV show, I wouldn't be surprised if it's region locked, but a VPN should get around that if you're outside the US.

I also found a BTS video of the photoshoot used for the SNL bumpers.

Connor will also be a presenter at the SAG-AFTRA Actor Awards tonight (Sunday) at 8 p.m. ET, live on Netflix. Not certain about international access.

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Fic: The Student Project

2026-03-01T03:39:00Z

Posted by: adevyish

Title: The Student Project
Pairing: Shane/Ilya
Rating: PG13, eventually probably R
Word Count: 6,800 so far

Summary:

Shane Hollander is a first-year student at the University of British Columbia. He just wants to study, make robots, and maybe not be caught sleeping in the lab overnight again.

Unfortunately for him, Ilya Rozanov is his classmate, and Ilya is looking for a team. Because Ilya has one goal: to pull off the greatest prank in UBC history.

Read on AO3 | Read on Dreamwidth

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16 icons

2026-02-28T20:05:11Z

Posted by: tinny

I've made a few more icons since my last post, here they are! All Ilya/Shane except for #3:

1-4
( 12 more )

All icons shareable. Every single comment is treasured. Credit is appreciated.

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Link roundup

2026-02-28T16:14:30Z

Posted by: nialla

Books/Music

CBC: Heated Rivalry author Rachel Reid delaying release of her next novel

Cult MTL: Heated Rivalry’s soundtrack by Peter Peter helped the series strike the right chord

Actor+Author+TPTB Interviews/Features

Variety: ‘Heated Rivalry’s’ Connor Storrie Shows Off His Accents in Hilarious ‘SNL’ Promo Ahead of Hosting [includes video]

CBC: Heated Rivalry star Connor Storrie to host Saturday Night Live [includes promo videos]

VMAN 56: Game Changers With Connor Storrie

General

CBS News: "Heated Rivalry" Season 2 is coming "as soon as humanly possible," says creator Jacob Tierney [includes video]

Edits and Revisions: Embodying Intimacy: How Chala Hunter approached the storytelling of intimacy on Heated Rivalry

The New York Times: I’m So Used to Gay Tragedies That I Almost Missed Romance

New York and Vulture: Girls Who Love Boys Who Love Boys When did everyone start fujoing out?

Video

SNL Instagram: Bloopers featuring Connor Storrie

Access Hollywood: Connor Storrie Reveals Celebrity Reactions To ‘Heated Rivalry’

Entertainment Tonight: Why Connor Storrie’s Clowning Background Could Make SNL Even 'More Difficult'

Saturday Night Live: SNL Host Connor Storrie and James Austin Johnson Face Off in an Accent Duel

CBC: Why Heated Rivalry is more than a gay, smutty hockey show

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Tuna Melts and Longitudinal Studies - rec

2026-02-26T22:10:16Z

Posted by: mific

Linking to a rec I made on fancake for OpalApparition's wonderful fic Tuna Melts and Longitudinal Studies. It's so good!

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12 HR fic recs

2026-02-24T12:44:21Z

Posted by: falena

the weather of your youth | 14 K | An alternate take on Ilya's mental health after moving to Ottawa, featuring the reality of long distance relationships, Ilya learning to captain a new team, and a series of game tapes made by Ilya's dead father. | I like stories that explore Ilya's depression. Plus, I've always felt that the TLG makes the whole transition to the Centaurs way too smooth. This story delivers what I wanted to see, I guess.

Menace | 4.8K |Shane gets blackmailed. Ilya handles it.| This is a story set after ep 4. A missing bit of canon, I guess? This is so well-written and IC, it is part of my canon. Super Ilya voice. And Ilya-in-avenger-mode is super hot. And a few truly funny lines. Can't recommend this (or anything Chaltotte_Stant writes) enough.

HOLLANDER’S DICK #1 FAN | 9.5K | Shane is finally ready to come out on his own terms in an emotional Instagram post about his relationship with Ilya...The only problem is everyone thinks he was hacked. To be fair, Ilya writing: No is true, I'm gay for Hollander, did not help.| Such a funny premises, so well-exectuted.

The Hollanders Have Acquired Ilya Rozanov | 2.6K | Dinner at the cottage is a family affair. Yuna and Ilya have a conversation.| Just another iteration of what happens at the cottage after 1.06. I've read so many that they all start to blur into each other a bit, but this was a lovely example. Great character voices and economical writing. Which is a plus, in my book.

this home on ice | 23.4K | Shane Hollander learns to stop worrying and love the Art of Sext| Another social media/texting fic. This fandom has made an art form out of this particular kind of story format. I admit that it's not my fave kind of fic, I much prefer good ol' dialogues and narration to do the heavy lifting, but man when a socmed fic is well done (and this is a really great example!) it surely is very enjoyable. I particularly enjoyed the fake articles Shane reads and his internet searches.

speed limit | 1K | 82 games in a season doesn't leave much time for braving traffic on the 417.| Ilya and Shane facing the horrors of long-distance dating. Very short fic, but highly satisfying because our guys are so in character and their banter is spot on.

courage [it couldn't come at a worse time] | 82K | sometimes it takes a little more time, and some courage, to be with the one you love.| I'm pasting here a bit of the author's note because it explains the premise and rationale for the story really well: "ILYA AND SHANE DESERVED BETTER THAN BEING OUTED. Shane deserved to CHOOSE his timing. Ilya deserved for Shane to actually CHOOSE HIM. To choose to love him out loud on Shane's terms, not on the dumb NHL's (and plot devices). this is that story. Canon divergence from Chapter 23 [of the TLG], the scene where Ilya tells Shane to leave" I think this is a valid reading of TLG and makes for a very interesting canon divergence AU. A bit too angsty for me, at times, but well-written and it does stick the landing just as promised.

loosen up my buttons, babe (uh huh) | 8.1K | Shane sends that 'we didn't even kiss' text by mistake| Great AU/missing scene for the Vegas ep. Hot too. Another one for my headcanon folder, for sure.

Drop the Gloves | 8.4K | Shane has been trying to figure out how to ask Ilya to stop using condoms. He finally works up the courage the night Boston eliminates Montreal from the playoffs.| mcshrug writes some of the hottest sex in this fandom (and the bar is quite high). I don't think I need to say more than this. :D

Wrap It Up | | The Olympic Village runs out of condoms on day three. Luckily for Olympians, Shane Hollander took note of exactly how often this has happened previously.| This is hilarious, with excellent character voices. If you're missing the Olympics like I am, run, don't walk, to read this gem.

In the Clutch | 8.1K| Ilya is in charge of when Shane gets off. Shane is testing the limits of that deal.| It's mcshrug again. Supernova hot as usual.

home economics | 38K | The Swiss National League doesn’t care about the legendary Hollander-Rozanov rivalry. When the MLH can’t negotiate with the Hockey Players’ Union in time to prevent a hockey lockout at the start of the 2015 season, the Zürich Lions jump at the chance to sign both Shane and Ilya to short-term contracts. For four months in Switzerland, they share a team, a line, a house, and a bed. Then the lockout ends in January, and it’s time to go back. Back to different countries, cities, lives. Beds.Reentry is harder than expected.| Fantastic canon divergence AU with lots of angst and pining. Love the dual, interlocking timelines.

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