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Their Holiday media obligations have changed over the years, and Ilya is beyond grateful for the changes.
Before, he would shoot three commercials, be really itchy in ugly sweaters, and go from commercial shoot to the airport to a game to another commercial shoot to the airport to a game and so on.
There would be one hospital visit every year, but never around the holidays, which was annoying. But the Boston Bears did what they wanted.
When Ilya moved to the Ottawa Centaurs, the change was very big.
Instead of itchy sweater commercials, he got to go to hospitals and pass out presents, play games, and color in holiday themed coloring books with kids.
When Shane joined them, they started doing week-long visits at the hospital.
They'd bring games to play with the kids as well as gifts. Coach Weibe dressed as Santa for the whole week. The Rookies dressed as elves and helped put together toys along with Bood and Wyatt overlooking them. Plus, there were three straight days of therapy animals wearing holiday sweaters spending time in the hospital going room to room for those that couldn't leave as well as resting in a lounge room with nothing else to do.
Ilya's happy to see the change in their media obligations, grateful for the change, but the best part of all is that he's spending these obligations side-by-side with the love of his life.
Their week will also include spending Christmas with each other, their friends, and their family.
It's the best week of the year, and Ilya dares anyone to try to tell him otherwise.