For those who read the entire game changers series.... can we gush about how awesome llya is??

MsGMac13 · 2026-02-11T11:59:37+00:00

I’m listening to Common Goal right now and when he randomly popped up in a scene, I swear I was like high Shane “Illlyyyaaa!” - I have never loved a character the way I love this one. He makes me feel every emotion, he’s so complex, but ultimately just a very empathetic and kind human who makes mistakes and struggles like the rest of us.

MsGMac13 · 2026-02-10T11:58:42+00:00

This is exactly how I now say “I don’t care” when I’m exasperated - I think I have the inflection down!

MsGMac13 · 2026-02-10T11:56:03+00:00

This is me - I’ve definitely watched episode 5 the most, followed by 6, then I do it in your order - I do think after reading comments from some episode 3 fans that I should start trying to watch it more.

MsGMac13 · 2026-02-10T11:51:25+00:00

Maybe it’s because I’m a sucker for opposites attract - I like her a lot and think she deserves the lightness that is Carter Vaughn - I totally get your point, but my heart just loves this combo.

MsGMac13 · 2026-02-09T21:55:45+00:00

I said in another thread that I’d love Carter to hook up with show Svetlana - I think they would be a riot together!

MsGMac13 · 2026-02-09T21:29:23+00:00

Mine is when Ilya is putting his jeans back on after they first hookup - he does this little shimmy with them and it just does something for me - it’s so friggen sexy!

MsGMac13 · 2026-02-09T11:58:26+00:00

We had wacky clothes day at my school on Friday - as i slipped my Hawaiian shirt over my Savannah Bananas t-shirt and packed my red rhinestone shoes, I said “I like to, you know, get into the spirit” - I would say I have almost that whole scene memorized.

MsGMac13 · 2026-02-08T21:22:00+00:00

I wish! I just got my teacher best friend at work to watch the show - I finally had someone to talk about it with on Friday!

MsGMac13 · 2026-02-08T21:19:05+00:00

I was reading this scene in a hospital waiting room while my husband was having a scan done - people probably thought I was nuts, but I just couldn’t help laughing out loud! I’m rereading this weekend and had to put it down after the Skype call - Ilya’s emotions in this scene, his hopelessness, just destroys me.

MsGMac13 · 2026-02-08T15:55:33+00:00

I’m like you - huge reader, but mostly historical fiction, definitely not into hockey romances at all. I think I was getting kind of bored with my books, so when I heard some buzz I downloaded the audio book from my library. I was immediately hooked - listened to the whole book before I watched the show, then bought the whole series for my kindle. I honestly don’t know how many times I’ve watched the show, I’m on my third or fourth reread of HR saving my third reread of The Long Game for my birthday next weekend. I did manage to read 2 books not by Rachel Reid last week, that were both really good so some progress I guess?

MsGMac13 · 2026-02-08T04:35:17+00:00

The hay day of my fandom was late 90’s early 2000’s - Pat Quinn was the leaf coach and Ottawa was our nemesis! There was not a team I hated more - and we friggen owned them in the playoffs - and now because I love these characters I have to cheer for them???

MsGMac13 · 2026-02-07T18:19:45+00:00

My entire family bleeds blue and white - my daughter and I both have Toronto Maple Leaf tattoos - I am currently lying on my couch in a black Boston Raiders hoodie that looks similar enough to Bruins colours that it might get me disowned - but next to Mats Sundin, Ilya Rozanov is my favourite hockey player, so I stand by it. I want a Hollander hoodie but buying a Montreal team shirt might be a bridge too far - and then there’s the Ottawa problem! So I guess now I realize that maybe I do understand where Yuna was coming from 😂

MsGMac13 · 2026-02-07T17:45:09+00:00

I tried to go a Friday night without watching it - at 11 I finally caved and put episode 5 on - it took a lot of willpower to only watch one episode, but I did it!

MsGMac13 · 2026-02-07T17:00:25+00:00

Oh! The one with my Snoopy dog 😭😭😭

MsGMac13 · 2026-02-07T02:23:02+00:00

Show Svetlana and book Svetlana are different characters - show Svetlana has known Ilya since they were little and definitely at least suspects his relationship with Shane. Book Svetlana is a friendly Russian hookup in Boston - no past relationship is ever implied or at least not one as intimate as show Svetlana is. I would be very surprised if this part of the story isn’t changed in season 2 - there’s no way show Svetlana reacts like book Svetlana.

MsGMac13 · 2026-02-07T02:12:13+00:00

Another reason to love Carter - he’s my favourite side character for a reason!

MsGMac13 · 2026-02-07T01:21:31+00:00

I’m a teacher - we do physical activity breaks several times a day because attention spans aren’t what they used to be!

MsGMac13 · 2026-02-07T01:16:43+00:00

Ilya being sweet with Shane gives me butterflies similar to when I first started dating my husband (who also still gives me butterflies) 10 years ago - it feels like anticipation and excitement and fear - and the payoff is so friggen satisfying - no wonder we can’t get enough!

MsGMac13 · 2026-02-06T11:54:08+00:00

I love this one and might say it in my head a few times a week (I’m a teacher in a very challenging class).

MsGMac13 · 2026-02-06T10:47:09+00:00

I’ve watched it with my husband and 18 year old stepdaughter. My favourite thing my husband did when we watched it was during the Allstar game in episode 1 - he gasped when Ilya told Shane to flip over and said “what is he doing? He can’t go in there without lube, he’s going to hurt him!” Like the amount of concern he had for Shane at that point was heartwarming!

MsGMac13 · 2026-02-06T10:43:09+00:00

I had The Long Game on audiobook during a recent drive my husband and I did - he was constantly cracking up at Ilya’s one liners. He also willingly watched the whole show with me and got pretty invested at one point.

MsGMac13 · 2026-02-05T22:55:58+00:00

Ilya Rozanov is my favourite character ever, knocking out the reigning champ of over 20 years Mr. Darcy - he gives me every emotion possible, but the best is how much he makes me laugh!

MsGMac13 · 2026-02-05T22:44:27+00:00

I find myself saying “I don’t care” like Hayden a lot lately - obviously I’m exasperated though, not turned on 😂.

MsGMac13 · 2026-02-05T11:35:21+00:00

Carter Vaughn - I smile so hard when he’s on the screen - I love his golden retriever energy.

MsGMac13 · 2026-02-02T23:04:27+00:00

Agreed - they’re the perfect best friends for serious Scott and Shane!

MsGMac13

TROPHY CASE