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"They Deserve the World": Rose Landry Speaks Out
Teen Vogue presents Actress of the Year Rose Landry on ex-boyfriend Shane Hollander's recent marriage to fellow hockey player Ilya Rozanov, the backlash he's been facing, and his signing with the Ottawa Centaurs.
BY CLAIRE STRUDWICK
SEPTEMBER 7, 2021
The hockey world has never been known as the most progressive of sports. The league has taken massive strides in the right direction following Scott Hunter's post-Cup kiss and Troy Barrett's fierce support of victims of sexual assault, but there is still a lot of slack to be picked up. Now, hockey culture is facing its most severe change yet with its two biggest names, Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov.
Since 2009 when they were drafted first and second respectively, Rozanov and Hollander have been a part of a bitter rivalry that has captivated the league. The two are unanimously the most skilled players in the MLH, though who falls in second place is a common topic of debate. For years, fans have been invested in Hollander and Rozanov's competition both on and off of the ice. It came as a shock to many fans when they came together in November of 2017 to form the Irina Foundation, a charity dedicated to Rozanov's mother who died to suicide.
In March of this year, Hollander's fellow linemate and best friend, Hayden Pike, accidentally released a FanMail video that captured Rozanov and Hollander in an intimate embrace. The video was shared on multiple social media platforms. The freshly-public couple faced major backlash from much of the hockey community, although there were many fans on their side. One of those supporters is Shane Hollander's ex-girlfriend, Rose Landry.
Hollander and Landry briefly dated in 2016 after meeting at an after-hours event in Montreal while Landry was filming the next installment of the X-Men series. While their romantic relationship may have ended, their friendship did not. Hollander has since accredited Landry with him accepting his sexuality, and Landry was rumored to be Shane's groomswoman in his and Rozanov's wedding in July.
Today, we were given the opportunity to get Landry's input on Hollander and Rozanov's relationship, their unfortunate push into the spotlight, and what she has to say about the backlash they're facing online.
Teen Vogue: Rose Landry, we're excited to have you here today. With everything going on in not only the hockey community, but the entirety of sports, the world has been loud lately. Have you been keeping up with it all online?
Rose Landry: Thank you. I'm happy to be here and clear the air. Get my opinion out there, you know? [Smiles.]
And, yeah. It's kind of impossible to ignore right now, honestly. Every time I open my phone, I'm met with one of them.
TV: You've been very vocal about your support of them, especially Hollander. Most people wouldn't expect that from an ex.
RL: I guess not, but Shane's like family to me at this point. Shane and I broke up because we weren't right for each other, and we broke up a long time ago. A lot of people like to cling onto the idea of us. I don't think people really understand how we could love each other and it not be romantic, but it's really not that complicated. We were twenty-five when we met, and we're thirty now. That might not sound like a lot, but so much has changed. Shane has watched me change and grow, and I've done the same with him.
TV: How do you stay in touch despite your conflicting schedules with hockey and filming, as well as living in different countries?
RL: [Laughs.] Honestly, you can thank Ilya for that. Ilya, he likes phone calls and texting and all of that. Shane's very introverted, and I kind of fall in the middle of those two. But Ilya made this group message with the three of us, and we just chat in it. Not all of the time, of course, and it usually isn't some long, drawn-out conversation; it's just, like, someone sending a meme, or a picture of Anya (their pet dog). I'll update them on filming, and they'll send me pictures of their teammates doing dumb sh*t. It's nice to have that when we don't get to see each other often.
TV: On the topic of their teammates, how about Hollander signing with Ottawa?
RL: I think the move will be really good for everyone involved. I've talked before about how I grew up a hockey fan and was raised a Detroit girl. I don't know if I ever mentioned that I was Eric Bennett's biggest fan growing up, but I was. I had a signed jersey that I wore constantly when I was, like, twelve. So, I've never really felt anything for Ottawa until a few years ago. Getting an inside view on the Centaurs from Ilya and, as of the last month or so, from Shane, has made me fall in love with them. Everyone is just so fun and supportive. Luca Haas has my heart, and I obviously love Ilya and Shane, but everyone on the team just wants to be there. It's so amazing to see when so many athletes get discouraged by their own team.
TV: There's a lot of debate going on about the circumstances of Hollander's departure from Montreal. Do you have anything to share about that?
RL: It isn't my place to share any details, but what I will say... [Frowns.] Shane and Ilya had the ability to come out on their own terms taken away from them unfairly. When Shane needed a support system the most, one like his team... [Pause. Sighs.] I just wish some people would remember what all he gave to Montreal.
TV: You said that he needed a support system in that time. Is that to imply that he didn't have one?
RL: No! [Pause.] Well. Yeah, kind of. He had a support system, of course. Ilya was right there with him, and his parents I know were amazing. I think some people believe Hayden Pike caught them on camera intentionally, but I don't think he would do that. He would never do anything to intentionally hurt Shane, and, despite their reputation as enemies, he wouldn't hurt Ilya either. They're better friends than they like to admit.
So, yeah, Shane had a support system. He just... God, it isn't my place to say some of this. All I'll say is that he should have had his boys right there with him, but he didn't. I'll leave it at that.
TV: Some Montreal fans are really upset about losing him.
RL: I can't blame them. That's their captain they're losing, after all. And to Ottawa, who has Ilya Rozanov? If I were an outsider looking in, I would probably be upset too.
TV: You believe that Ottawa is a good fit for Shane Hollander, though.
RL: Absolutely. There's a good mix of rookies and vets, and everyone has really strong potential. I don't know how the top six is going to look with Shane and Ilya both being centers, but I'm not worried. I assume first line is going to be the same as last season, but I'll go out on a limb here and say second is going to be Shane, Haas, and maybe Young. I haven't seen much of the younger players, but I've heard that Young is promising, so.
Also, Ottawa is hungry. They were so f*cking close to a Cup last year—pardon my language—and I think that they're really going to go for it this year. Also, I'm pretty confident that Shane is going to thrive in this environment.
TV: What makes you say that?
RL: Shane is all about stability. When his life off of the ice is stable, he can really pour himself into hockey. Right now, despite it all, he's really happy. He's with his husband, and he can call him his husband as loudly as he wants, and he's with a team that loves and appreciates him in his hometown. He's never had that before.
TV: How do you think being in a public relationship will affect them on the ice?
RL: People are going to be pricks about it. People already are pricks about it. You know, it's funny, you hear all of this stuff about how WAGs are off limits when it comes to chirping, but apparently that doesn't apply when it's two men. I don't think that it will change how they play though. If anything, being together on a team might make them better. It's not like either of them to get distracted when hockey is involved.
TV: There’s been backlash directed at Shane and Ilya since their relationship became public. Some fans feel betrayed by the secrecy.
RL: [Rolls her eyes.] That's so stupid. They don't owe anyone a play-by-play of their lives. People act as if they're entitled to every detail about how their relationship came to be and how it is now, but they aren't. If Shane and Ilya not wanting the entire world to know about their relationship seems shocking, maybe the critics should think about how their anger is the reason they waited so long. For a while, Ilya was, like, the biggest hoe in Boston. I used to see posts of him leaving bars and clubs with random women constantly. Nobody ever cared about that; if anyone complained about it, they were reminded that Ilya is an adult and can do what he wants.
It's funny that people act like that stops being true when he chooses to be with a man that he loves— and trust me, I've been around Ilya Rozanov enough to know that he is nothing if not in love.
TV: How has Hollander been handling everything going on? The season will start soon, and then he will have to face Montreal in November.
RL: He took it hard when they were first outed. He's always wanted to be the best he can be, and he knows how many kids look up to him. That's something really important to him: the kids, especially the Asian kids. We've talked about that several times before. I'm blessed that there's no shortage of people who look like me in the world of film, but Shane isn't that lucky. He is the person that those Asian children will look on, and he wants to be a good role model for them.
He's also very big on control and restraint. It's not my place to go too far into that because it's a sensitive topic to him, but I can say at least that having some of that autonomy wrongfully taken from him wasn't great.
Shane is resilient though. He's one of the strongest people I know, and he's pushed through this while keeping his head high, and I'm so proud of him for that. I'm proud of him and Ilya both.
TV: Obviously, Rozanov knows that you and Hollander were a couple. Now, however, you and Rozanov seem to be friends.
RL: We are! [Laughs.] He definitely used to not like me. I can't really blame him. Actually, the first time we hung out one-on-one was while Shane was in the States for a game and Ilya had food poisoning. I had just wrapped up filming in Chelsea for Highway 79, and Shane called me all panicked because he couldn't care for Ilya. His parents were in, like, the United Kingdom or something like that. So he called me.
TV: So you had to take care of Rozanov, who had food poisoning? Really?
RL: Really. I'm such a bad nurse, so it was mostly just me fanning him while he threw up and making sure Anya got fed and all that. I just enjoyed being in the cottage. I love that house. But Ilya and I were kind of awkward, because I didn't know much about him, and he obviously wasn't super fond of me. By the end of it, though, we were watching Love Island and ordering whatever food he could stomach.
TV: That's a side of Rozanov that I'm sure most of us have never seen.
RL: You'd be surprised. Ilya isn't really that different off of the ice. He's a d*ck, and we know that. He's like that no matter where he is. But he's also really observant, and he makes sure everyone is having fun and is comfortable. His humor is the same either way, but he's a lot more earnest when he isn't playing. He's always an assh*le, sure, but he's an awesome person. He would make an great dad.
TV: How long have you known that Hollander and Rozanov are together?
RL: I don't know what timeline they've revealed of their relationship yet, so I'm hesitant to answer this one. But I guess I'll say probably 2018. I'm pretty sure it was July 4, 2018, because we were drinking wine and I was laughing about being in Canada on my country's birthday.
TV: There's a lot of different reactions that you could have had there.
RL: Yeah. I wasn't really shocked, I'll be honest. I remember seeing them on TV when I was eighteen and they were in their rookie years, and I asked my older brother about them. They've always played with this kind of tension between them that kind of makes them look like they're about to get it on during intermission.
TV: That's true. That's part of why their rivalry was so intense, though.
RL: That's another thing that I get asked a lot, actually. Their rivalry was absolutely not fake. Sure, it wasn't ever comprised of, like, bitter hatred. But they definitely both wanted to win, and they were going to go to great lengths to win. That's why it's so annoying that people are accusing them of throwing games for each other— they treat UNO like it's a custody battle. There's no way in hell that they'd let the other one win a literal f*cking Stanley Cup over them.
TV: You were a part of their wedding, weren't you?
RL: I was. I was Shane's groomswoman, along with J.J. Boiziau, Hayden Pike, and a few others. It was really emotional, and I was just so proud of them. They've gone through hell to get here. If there's anyone who deserves to flash a ring and talk about their spouse constantly, it's Shane and Ilya.
TV: Were Boiziau and Pike the only Montreal players that attended the wedding? Were any others invited?
RL: It's not really my place to say who was or wasn't invited, but I'll say that, yes, Hayden and J.J. were the only two Metros there. Go figure.
TV: Were any Centaurs there?
RL: I think all of them were there. Wait, actually, there might have been a few who couldn't come— I can't remember. I just know I met Luca Haas and Wyatt Hayes for the first time. And Dr. Lisa Hayes, who is actually my role model. That team is just full of really great people who have really great partners.
The WAGs are my favorite, and I can say that because Ilya and Shane are included in there. I guess maybe it'd be WAHAGABs all things considered, but that takes too long to say and, frankly, I know at least Ilya likes to be considered "one of the girls."
TV: You were briefly a WAG in Montreal. How does your experience compare to what you're seeing for the Ottawa WAGs?
RL: I never really got the chance to connect with many of them considering I was filming while in Montreal, but the ones I did meet were really fun. Jackie Pike and I keep in touch, and we go get lunch when I'm nearby.
As for Ottawa, Harris Drover—Troy Barrett's boyfriend—actually called me a WAG by association once. [Laughs.] I'm not going to take away from the actual WAGs by calling myself that, but I'm flattered anyway. Like I said, I met most of the WAGs at Shane and Ilya's wedding, and they're actually amazing. Like, I could spend an hour talking about this. Cassie Boodram was the first to introduce herself, I think, and after that everyone else followed. They're such an amazing group of people, all of them.
TV: There's a rumor going around about Hollander and Rozanov's wedding that fans are dying to know...
RL: I'm sure.
TV: Were there really no chairs?
RL: [Laughs.] Oh my God, that is not what I thought you were going to ask. But, yes, unfortunately that's true. There were no chairs. I guess they're still men at the end of the day, but I'm horrified anyway. I was wearing heels! Heels!
TV: A lot of Hollander and Rozanov's public appearance was built off of their very competitive nature on the ice. How does their dynamic off of the ice reflect that?
RL: They're just as competitive without the skates as they are with them. Maybe worse. Actually, not worse, but it's pretty bad. I feel like I'm babysitting sometimes when I hang out with them, but I love seeing Shane that carefree.
TV: Shane Hollander is often referred to as the golden boy of hockey. In the past, he's been known to hold onto that personality even away from hockey.
RL: In the past, he did. He isn't, like, a different person now, but it's obvious that he's a lot more secure and comfortable with himself. He's more confident. It's nice to see that.
TV: Scott Hunter and Hollander are both labeled as very placid players, but back in 2013, the two got into a scrap after playing against one another. Fans are dying to know what could have happened to cause the nicest players in the league to fight. What do you know about that?
RL: Not nearly enough. [Laughs.] Actual answer is that it isn't my place to say anything, and I also just don't really know. I met Scott Hunter and his husband a year or two ago at their gay bar, the Kingfisher, and he was a really nice guy. He didn't give me the impression that he was the irritable type, and I know Shane isn't when it comes to hockey. So, I'm just as curious as everyone else is when that comes up.
TV: Hollander's last game with the Metros didn't exactly end ideally. Many fans speculated that his overtime trip was intentional to win Ottawa the game.
RL: [Takes a deep breath.] Excuse my language for everything I'm about to say, but the people who genuinely still believe that are stupid as hell. This is Shane-f*cking-Hollander that we're talking about! Shane Hollander! I think he would divorce Ilya if he found out that he let him win something, and vice versa. And it's not even just fans who believe that, which pisses me off even more. How can you play with someone for years, a man's entire f*cking career, and still not understand him? How can you look at Shane Hollander and think that he would do anything to lose himself a game? He won't even lose in a board game against a kid. It just... [Sighs.] It really pisses me off for Shane. It's bullsh*t, and everyone who genuinely believes that needs to get a concussion screening.
TV: There are questions about Rozanov's loyalty given his past promiscuity.
RL: [Rolls her eyes and laughs.] I'm excited for the season to start and for them to see how Ilya acts towards Shane. I'm sure they'll tone it down considering they'll be, you know, at games, but Ilya has heart eyes. That man is absolutely head over heels for Shane, and he doesn't hide it. It's like I said earlier: Ilya is nothing if not in love. They'll see that soon enough.
TV: Last few questions. What do you want the world to know about Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov?
RL: I want the world to know that they're still the same people they've always been. Shane still puts his skates on a very specific way, and Ilya still takes Mario Kart way too seriously. They're still undeniably the two best players in the league. The fact that they're in love with each other and that they're both men doesn't change anything. People like to act as if they woke up completely different people just because they fell in love. They didn't. They're the same men who have been dominating this sport for years, and they're going to continue to do just that.
TV: And, if they read this article, what do you want to say to them?
RL: That I'm so insanely proud of them for not cowering down. For continuing. For saying, 'f*ck it, here we are. Like us or not, here we are.' They've given up so much and fought a helluva lot to get here. They deserve to love each other loudly and publicly, and even if the circumstances of them going public were sh*tty and wrong, I'm glad they took charge of the situation. They're role models for so many people, and honestly, I kind of look up to them myself. They deserve the world.
And also, they better not let me down with Ottawa. I've already ordered a jersey that says 'HOLLANDER-ROZANOV' and has the number '84.'
TV: Thank you for joining us today and doing this interview.
RL: Of course. It feels good to add in my perspective as someone who actually knows Shane and Ilya, because a lot of opinions are coming from people who don't.
Thank you for having me! Go Centaurs!
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Rose Landry @roselandry_
here's to my best friends who will always have my support!
Teen Vogue @TeenVogue
Rose Landry had lots to say regarding ex-boyfriend Shane Hollander and his husband, Ilya Rozanov, who recently had their relationship outed to the world. Read all about it here: https://www.teenvogu… Read More
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MILA 🏒 @lucahaasmyluv
ROSE LANDRY I FUCKING LOVE YOU
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Shane Hollander @shanehollanderhockeyplayer
❤️
Teen Vogue @TeenVogue
Rose Landry had lots to say regarding ex-boyfriend Shane Hollander and his husband, Ilya Rozanov, who recently had their relationship outed to the world. Read all about it here: https://www.teenvogu… Read More
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rozanov @ilyarozanov81
is not so hard to be a good friend is it
Teen Vogue @TeenVogue
Rose Landry had lots to say regarding ex-boyfriend Shane Hollander and his husband, Ilya Rozanov, who recently had their relationship outed to the world. Read all about it here: https://www.teenvogu… Read More
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lululesbian @miraliked
"Hayden and J.J. were the only two Metros there. Go figure." rose landry you are so messy and i'm here for it
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HAYDEN PIKE DEFENDER @fucktros
I KNEW MY BABY WAS INNOCENT
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> braxtly @braxboiziau
yeah let's not get ahead of ourselves here he still outed them
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>> byler enjoyer @thatdrfan
mind you it was an accident and respectfully pike isn't the smartest ... how about we hate on fucking brad who was actually responsible for this
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zierra ★ @gallavichisloml
oh to be in a group chat with rose landry, ilya rozanov, and shane hollander
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Hazy 🤔 @wyatthayess
Dr. Lisa Hayes is my role model too!!! We love you Miss Landry!
Teen Vogue @TeenVogue
Rose Landry had lots to say regarding ex-boyfriend Shane Hollander and his husband, Ilya Rozanov, who recently had their relationship outed to the world. Read all about it here: https://www.teenvogu… Read More
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💌 @billieloomis
ok but like we're not talking enough about the fact that shane trusted rose enough to let her take care of roz while he was sick 💔 they're so family
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> ENDO @ENDOSPHERE
rose landry is actress and ex of the year
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Ottawa Centaurs @OttawaCentaurs
Our favorite honorary WAG ❤️🖤 We won't disappoint you 👀
Teen Vogue @TeenVogue
Rose Landry had lots to say regarding ex-boyfriend Shane Hollander and his husband, Ilya Rozanov, who recently had their relationship outed to the world. Read all about it here: https://www.teenvogu… Read More
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Montreal Metros @MontrealMetrosMLH
The Montreal Metros are proud supporters of the #YouCanPlay movement and strive to make hockey an inclusive sport for all. The Metros take discrimination very seriously and do not tolerate it in any form or fashion. Any allegations to the contrary are being looked into and handled accordingly. We claim no negativity towards former captain, Shane Hollander, and wish him all the best in Ottawa.
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> Rose Landry @roselandry_
.
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