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The camera zoomed into frame, capturing Shane and Ilya sat side by side on the floor whispering to each other while awaiting their cue.
“Boys, are we good to start?” One of the many assistant-stage producers asked, shifting from side to side on his heels in fear of ruining an intimate moment.
Ilya defaulted to Shane, who looked up from smoothing Ilya’s curls with a flushed expression.
“Yeah, all good. Mom?”
Yuna Hollander, the woman behind arranging the interview gave a thumbs-up from behind the set, still on the phone with Rolex discussing their next PR move.
With the last stage light in position, the cameras began to roll.
”Alright, if you could both introduce yourself and tell us what we’re doing today?”
Shane smiled, taking the lead to introduce himself first.
”Hi, I’m Shane Hollander joined by—“
Ilya stalled for a moment, gaze stuck on his hand enveloping Shane’s in his lap. A nudge to his knee got him started.
“Ilya Rozanov and ah, we are doing Buzzfeed’s Puppy Interview.”
Before the puppies came in the two men were asked if they had any pets at home, a customary question given to all interviewees.
“I have my baby at home, Anya. She is very good girl, most perfect dog you will ever meet. A rescue, most polite manners, well trained—“ Ilya listed off on his fingers.
Shane squeezed his hand tightly, meant to reel him in from going on yet another tangent about Anya for the third interview in a row this week. He loved how much Ilya cared for Anya but the Producers were struggling to keep the expectant puppies back from running onto set.
“And we also have the sweetest cat, Pork, who we adopted recently. She’s been a great addition to our family—“
Ilya couldn’t stop himself from grimacing at the mention of their angry daughter who held a personal vendetta against him.
“Is lie, she is not sweet. Shane, tell people the truth.”
Shane blanched, hiding his obvious grin from behind a cough as he tried to defend their pet, someone who Ilya agreed on adopting.
“Ilya’s still getting used to having a hairless cat but I think they’ll work it out soon.”
Between himself and Pork, Shane hoped they never did. It always made for a memorable sight to see Ilya hide behind Anya as the cat hissed at him from the corner.
“That’s great, you both are doing perfect. We’re going to let the first few dogs in now, don’t worry if they run off, just make sure to listen for the questions.”
A moment later, Shane and Ilya were attacked at full-speed by three overexcited puppies, all determined to crawl over the hockey players at various angles.
Ilya laughed, truly giddy by how closely one of them resembled Anya when he rescued her as a puppy. Watching two of them climb over Shane made his heart ache, wishing he could snap a photo to save as his iPhone’s wallpaper.
”Okay, time for the first question. We have to know, when are the wedding photos going to drop?”
Shane felt relieved the light-hearted start, having been previously worried they would be stuck answering intrusive rumors about their personal lives, like the past interviewers had tried to do.
Ilya internally thanked Yuna Hollander for approving the questions beforehand.
“Is a secret,” Ilya said looking directly to the camera, “Maybe I want to keep my husband to myself.”
Shane flushed, playfully rolling his eyes before opening his arms wider to let the two new dogs fight for a spot in his lap.
”I think this one is hungry,” he commented while the golden retriever valiantly bit at his cashmere sweater.
The producers then asked about their favorite memory from their recent honeymoon, which made sense considering the photo-dump Ilya posted last night to his Instagram detailing the different spots they travelled to after the wedding.
“How honest can I be? There are children here after all,” Ilya asked with a poorly concealed smirk, innocently gesturing to the dogs.
Somewhere behind the camera, Yuna snapped her fingers once, sending Shane straight into PR crisis mode.
“I think what Ilya meant to say was that we had a great time exploring Spain, we’re very lucky to have seen so much culture. Overall, I think I liked Ibiza the best, our hotel had a very high-tech gym.”
”Oh-kay. Shane liked honeymoon gym, I liked honeymoon food. My answer is more fun so I win.”
Shane placed a puppy on Ilya’s head to distract him before answering,
“Ilya, it’s not even a competition. But if it was, I’ve already won because these puppies like me more than you.”
Before Ilya could argue back, the Producers cut-in and asked if Ilya needed help, considering one of the pup’s was trying to crawl into his pant-leg.
“No, is their new home. We have decided they will live in my clothes, they like it with me best. Isn’t that true милый щенок?” [Cute puppy]
Shane couldn’t contain his fondness at seeing Ilya sweet-talk the puppy, feeling his heart swell at how young his husband looked in this moment.
”Hi girl, you want some ear rubs? Come here, we’re going to turn you into the best hockey skater pup the world has ever seen, yes we are,” Shane cooed, taking her paws to pretend skate across the floor while she wagged her tail.
“You will not force these poor babies into hard hockey life,” Ilya protested, “They are too, how you say, precious for ice.”
The producers then shifted the conversation to hockey, not without Yuna reminding them of the boundaries they agreed to respect before the interview. Such as not asking invasive questions about their coming-out or their teams’ reactions.
“What has been an unexpected highlight of playing on the same team as your now-spouse?”
”Going home together,” Ilya blurted out, “Not waiting to see each other on FaceTime call. I can just drive us home when we are done.”
”I agree,” Shane added, “I’ve learned there’s nothing more relaxing then unwinding together after a long game.”
Ilya wiggled his eyebrows, teasing Shane by asking what exactly he meant by relaxing and unwinding.
”Like putting our clothes in the wash in the same load so it wastes less water, it’s more cost-effective and better for the environment.” Shane responded simply, unaware of the innuendo and too busy playing catch with a pug.
Ilya could only avoid Yuna’s glare and nod at the quaint response.
“He is right,” Ilya whispered to the puppy nuzzling his hair, “So boring, but so right.”
More puppies trailed in, some carrying toys with expectant glances aimed toward the men.
“At the 2014 Olympics All-Star Game, the entire world saw just how well your chemistry was on the same team. Is that something you guys practice or does it come naturally?”
A dark brown corgi jumped into Shane’s arm while he contemplated his answer.
“I think it was an unexpected plus that Ilya and I clicked despite coming from such different teams, but after this season I think it’s safe to say that we just happen to understand each other both on and off the ice.”
”Da,” Ilya helpfully contributed, too immersed in playing a tug of war battle between two puppies that demanded his sleeve be ripped off.
“Yeah, but it’s obviously more than that. We have a great team in Ottawa and we’re lucky that everyone’s bringing their best to each and every game.”
“I cannot help you, my husband will not give up his sweater to help you hide. Sorry he is bad man.”
Shane offendedly looked down towards the dramatic scene of Ilya pouting at a puppy trying to crawl into Shane’s undershirt.
“C’mon, you want to be warm? Good, you can stay with me. I’m much better anyway,” Shane retorted while Ilya quickly shoveled more puppies into his jacket but still giving them room to escape if they so chose.
”How do you guys spend your downtime in between games on the road?”
”Reading and sight-seeing,” Shane answered, gently stroking the fur of a now-sleeping pug in his lap.
”Sleeping.”
The awkward silence that followed Ilya’s blunt answer only cracked a smile out of one love-sick Shane Hollander.
”What? Shane doesn’t let me sleep in at home so I do what I can.”
The producers began to ask about the positive fan-response to their relationship, and how it felt connecting to so many people who too felt suppressed by a major sports industry.
Ilya took the lead this time, knowing Shane became a little uncomfortable recalling the years he spent being unsure of himself.
”It is shame male-dominated sport is so narrow-minded, even now. But Shane and I agree that little steps lead to big change, and we want that to happen so new players have ah, a space to feel safe.”
Shane smiled at his husband’s thoughtful response, feeling lucky to know someone so loving and so brave.
“Yeah, more than anything. It’s why we started our charity as well, the Irina Foundation, to create more safe spaces for young skaters to feel protected.”
Ilya shoved his face into one of the puppy’s thick fur to avoid showing his vulnerability at hearing the soft way his Mother’s name came out of Shane’s mouth. He would never get tired of it.
The producers switched topics once again, picking a broader topic to ask about. They wanted to know the boys’ celebrity crushes growing up.
Ilya interjected Shane before he could get a word in,
”No, is nothing. Shane did not like anyone, is not true,” he replied, quickly depositing a puppy into Shane’s arms so he fell backward and was attacked by two cocker-spaniels licking his cheeks.
Shane laughed between sentences as he tried to respond,
”That’s a complete lie. I didn’t watch a lot of movies or shows growing up but I actually really liked Stars Wars, so I’d have to say—“
Ilya then fell on top of Shane’s body, careful to shift his weight onto his forearms so the puppies wouldn’t take the brunt of it. Shane’s answer was inevitably muffled by the sudden interruption.
”You will not say because then they will see this clip and think they have chance, but they do not. So no, Shane and I have no crushes growing up, only each other.”
Unsurprisingly, the entire staff melted at Ilya’s panicked confession, moving on to ask about their preferred love languages.
After unceremoniously lifting himself off of Shane, Ilya preoccupied himself with doling out treats while Shane stumbled through an awkward answer.
”Maybe words of affirmation? I like to talk things through because it helps me process stuff, so it’s probably that one.”
Ilya analyzed his words, confused at the meaning of one’s love language. In his ear, Shane briefly explained what it was.
”Ah! Oh-kay, the one of service. Yes, like when I eat Shane’s plant food, I do because I love him.”
The producers gently clarified that they wanted to know what Ilya’s love language was, that helped him feel better in relationships.
”I do not understand difference,” he huffed, “Can I just say Shane is my love language and be done with it? Do his freckles count as an answer?”
Shane turned an impossibly deeper shade of red than before.
”In the event of an emergency, who are your guys’ emergency contact?”
Both men responded at the same exact time,
“Yuna Hollander.”
Accepting that there wasn’t going to be further clarification on that, one of the assistants stepped forward and asked for their favorite trait of one another.
”I love how he sees the world,” Ilya said while giving belly rubs, “He has a way of doing everything that is so him, and it always makes sense. I want to forever know more about his perspective.” His tone carried a hint of unbridled sincerity, like it was second-nature to devout oneself to another so intimately.
Shane looked to Ilya with longing, taking his hand and squeezing it firmly — this time with love.
”He has so much courage that inspires a lot people, I can’t help but want to be a better man — husband, because of him. He makes it easy to love.”
Ilya took a hold of his jaw, cradling Shane close to leave a chaste kiss on his lips.
”What is your guys favorite couples’ activity, outside of hockey?”
Ilya looked mildly offended as he spoke,
”I was not going to say hockey anyway.”
Shane began cuddling as many dogs as he could, deep in thought.
”Probably going to the gym together, or a dinner date at home. It’s hard to pick.”
Ilya blew him a kiss from the side,
”Gym is still boring, but I like cooking with Shane. Food is bad but view is great.”
Ilya welcomed the dog toy that was flung his way. Shane was not enthused.
”I think that’s all we have time for today,” Yuna concluded, walking into the set while carrying two cups of coffee.
Shane and Ilya groaned in unison, far too comfortable surrounded by the eight puppies who couldn’t get enough of the attention.
The stage producers thanked the family profusely for their time, acknowledging the privilege of getting to interview today’s biggest stars of Hockey.
Ilya confronted a meek assistant while Shane went over a few last-minute details with Yuna,
”These puppies, will have home da? They will not be mistreated after interview?”
The boy widened his eyes, instantly nodding his head while slowly stepping back from the 6’3” Russian man.
“Okay, forward details of rescue center to our team, I want to be sure.”
Shane came up from behind, softly wrapping an arm around Ilya’s bicep to pull him away from the conversation.
“Ilya, do you really think my Mom would have us interview at a spot they didn’t treat their dogs with care?”
”Of course not, but sometimes they lie. Have to be sure,” Ilya reassured, once again avoiding the glare of Yuna Hollander.
After individually seeing off each puppy and thanking everyone who came to set, Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov left the studio hand-in-hand, heading home.
Together.