Heated Rivalry

Heated Rivalry (2019) is a contemporary sports romance novel by Canadian author Rachel Reid. The novel centers on two elite professional hockey players, Shane Hollander of the Montreal Voyageurs and Ilya Rozanov of the Boston Bears. Their highly publicized on-ice rivalry conceals a long-term, secret sexual relationship spanning several years. Through Shane and Ilya’s evolving relationship, the novel examines Rivalry as a Mask for Emotional Vulnerability, The Tension Between Personal Fulfillment and Public Expectation, and The Psychological Cost of Compartmentalizing Identity.

Heated Rivalry is the second installment in the Game Changers series, a collection of interconnected LGBTQ+ hockey romances set within the National Hockey League. Heated Rivalry follows Game Changer (2019) and precedes Tough Guy (2020). Heated Rivalry was adapted into a television series in 2025.

This guide uses the 2023 Carina Press eBook edition.

Content Warning: The source material and this guide contain depictions of cursing, substance use, sexual content, death by suicide, and antigay bias

Plot Summary

The novel opens in 2016, with Canadian hockey star Shane Hollander, center for the Montreal Voyageurs, facing off against his longtime rival, Russian center Ilya Rozanov of the Boston Bears. Ilya taunts Shane so aggressively that the referee intervenes. Boston wins, and Shane leaves the arena frustrated and unsettled. Instead of returning to his regular apartment, Shane drives to a three-story condominium building, where he owns a secret condo. After waiting nearly an hour, Ilya arrives. The pair engages in a brief but intense sexual encounter. This meeting reflects a pattern they have repeated for years. Shane considers ending the relationship, even though he knows he will not.

The narrative moves back to 2008, when Shane and Ilya first meet as 17-year-olds at the World Junior Hockey Championships in Regina, Saskatchewan. Media attention already frames them as rivals and future draft stars. Shane attempts a friendly conversation, but Ilya reacts coldly, immediately setting the tone for competition. The Russian team defeats Canada, leaving Shane unsettled by both the loss and his reaction to Ilya.

Six months later, the NHL draft cements their rivalry: Boston selects Ilya first overall, Montreal drafts Shane second. Shane now realizes his career will always be measured against Ilya’s. Restless after the draft, he heads to the gym and encounters Ilya. Their treadmill competition leads to an unexpected conversation. A moment of physical closeness sparks attraction and panic for Shane. He leaves abruptly, reminding himself of his girlfriend.

Shane and Ilya obsessively track one another’s play and media coverage. Their rivalry becomes a spectacle. Their private fixation deepens. At a summer sponsor shoot, they shower together. Ilya taunts Shane over his attraction. He asks for Shane’s room number. That night, they have their first sexual encounter, carefully avoiding penetration. It is Shane’s first such experience. Ilya leaves abruptly, leaving Shane conflicted and shaken.

Their pattern continues. At the All-Star Game, another press conference sparks their rivalry. Shane beats Ilya in the skills competition. Later, Ilya gives Shane his room number. That night, they meet again. Ilya suggests taking things further, but Shane hesitates, saying it can’t happen “here.” They exchange phone numbers under false names (“Lily” and “Jane”) to protect their identities.

As the seasons progress, Shane grows more anxious about his sexuality. He refuses to give Ilya his home address and insists on meeting only in hotels. Eventually, they have penetrative sex for the first time. Ilya leaves soon after, reinforcing their cycle of intimacy and withdrawal. Shane later wins Rookie of the Year. After the awards ceremony, he finds Ilya smoking alone. Ilya tells Shane he is returning to Russia and kisses him goodbye. Shane resolves to end the relationship.

The novel then jumps forward several years. Shane and Ilya continue their secret encounters at the condominium Shane purchased for these meetings. They discuss the Sochi Olympics. Tensions rise when Shane texts Ilya during the games and receives no reply. The Russian team implodes due to internal conflict, and Ilya’s father, Grigori, blames him for the failure. When Shane and Ilya briefly meet afterward, Ilya denies their relationship and walks away.

Six months later, Shane and Ilya serve as co-presenters at the NHL awards. They meet in a hotel room afterward and share an intense encounter, with Ilya taking control. Shane leaves without kissing him goodbye.

The story returns to 2016, shortly before the opening scene. Their hookups continue, with both men closely following each other’s lives. After a game, Shane visits Ilya’s apartment and realizes they have memorized each other’s preferences. During sex, they use each other’s first names for the first time. Shane panics and leaves abruptly.

At a club with teammates, Shane meets actress Rose Landry. They begin dating, and Ilya reacts jealously when he sees media coverage of their relationship. Although Shane and Rose care for each other, Rose notices Shane’s lack of sexual attraction. Shane admits he is gay, and they decide to remain friends.

At the All-Star Game, Shane and Ilya play on the same team for the first time and enjoy it. That night, Shane goes to Ilya’s room and admits he is gay and wants a real relationship. Ilya explains he cannot return to Russia if he is openly gay. He reveals painful details about his family, including his mother’s death by suicide and his father’s decline with Alzheimer’s. They begin communicating more honestly and texting frequently.

After a game against each other, Shane waits for Ilya to text. However, Ilya flies to Russia after learning of his father’s death. Shane and Ilya reconnect by phone. Ilya vents in Russian and admits he thinks he loves Shane. Shane invites him to his cottage in Ottawa. Ilya believes it is impossible and vows to end the relationship. Shane is seriously hurt in a game, and Ilya realizes he cannot let the other man go. While recovering at his parents’ home, Shane watches Scott Hunter kiss his boyfriend after winning the Stanley Cup. Inspired, Ilya decides to come to the cottage.

At the cottage, Shane and Ilya spend uninterrupted time together, sleep together for the first time, and admit their love. When Shane’s father unexpectedly discovers them, Shane comes out to his parents. Though initially shocked, they become supportive. Together, Shane and Ilya form a plan for the future: Ilya joins the Ottawa team, they establish a mental health charity named after Ilya’s mother, and they publicly announce their friendship. While their romantic relationship remains private, they settle into a shared life, even as Ilya struggles with continued secrecy.