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[gofish05]

I was bored today, and since I recently finished reading all of the "Game Changers" Books, I decided to cast Season 2 of "Heated Rivalry!"

These aren't actual fan casts... a few of the actors I chose probably aren't right for the show; they're just the genre of human I was picturing as I read the books. Many of the photos are just random stock images. Some of them are people who might be too well known for the show, and some are not even actors at all. I included the established characters like Shane and Ilya, Scott and Kip, David and Yuna, etc. so there's nothing I'd change there.

The image I chose for Harris is of an actor I found on Instagram. His name is Conor Perkins. I just think he's adorable! He's said he'd love the opportunity to play Harris, so I hope he gets the chance to bring everyone's favorite apple scented cinnamon roll to life. His is absolutely the face I imagined when I pictured Harris in my head.

I used a picture of Tyler Hoechlin as Troy. Tyler is almost a decade too old to play Troy, but as I read Role Model, I couldn't help but notice a similar dynamic between Troy and Harris, and Derek and Styles from Teen Wolf. It's something I haven't been able to get out of my head. We definitely need someone who can pull off grumpy, sullen, and brooding as well as Tyler Hoechlin. And we also need someone who's as tall, dark, and stunningly handsome as Tyler Hoechlin. Harris deserves a pretty boyfriend!

I also chose to use Omar Rudberg's likeness for Fabian. He seems to be a very popular fancast amongst the fandom, which is why I decided to include him. I know that Omar is Venezuelan/Swedish and not Lebanese, so I wouldn't necessarily cast him as Fabian, but Omar is definitely the genre of man Rachel Reid had in mind when she wrote Fabian. If you've ever seen Omar perform, you know he's got great stage presence and can pull off androgynous makeup and flashy outfits better than anyone!

Derek Theler is the first person I thought of for Ryan. I recently watched the show, Baby Daddy, where Derek plays a tall, humongous hockey player who's a total lover boy! His character, Danny, is much more of a himbo than Ryan, but he's definitely got the sweetness and likeability of Ryan down better than anyone else I considered. He could definitely pull off Ryan's whole gentle giant thing as well as his awkwardness, shyness, and sensitivity. I'm sure he'd look great with a beard, too!

I know Kyle has already made an appearance on the show, he was played by actor Matthew Finlan, who seemed perfectly adorable, but as I was reading "Common Goal," the Kyle on the page and the Kyle on the screen seemed like two very different people. I feel like Kyle needs to be a bit of an Adonis and have a certain amount of charm and sex appeal. He is, after all, a huge flirt. The image I chose reflects the Kyle Swift I saw in my mind's eye, but unless they choose to give Kyle and Eric a full Scott and Kip-esque episode, recasting the actor seems unnecessary.

For Eric, I chose Kevin Zegers to portray Scott's buddy and almost-retired teammate. He's Canadian, He's 41, and he's gorgeous. He'd do very well portraying a mature, sophisticated, elegant man who's struggling with the idea of dating a younger man. Kevin also worked on the first season as a consultant and is a good friend of Jacob Tierney's. He'd need to grow his hair out, but I've been a fan of his for a long time, and I think he'd do a great job! I'm not sure how much of a role Eric and Kyle will have in Season 2, but these are who I imagined in my head as I was reading.

I also found images for all of the additional background characters who have been established, and who we have yet to meet.

We of course know Hayden, J.J., Cliff, Carter, Rose, Svetlana, Elena, Maria, Yuna, and David... but there's a few characters who we have yet to meet.

Dr. Galina Molchalina, Ilya's therapist, is described as a Russian woman in her mid 40s with dark blonde hair that she often wears in a ponytail, so I found a stock image of what I think she'd look like. The woman in the picture has kind eyes and seems like she'd be easy to talk to. I could see Ilya opening up to her.

Noah Reid simply MUST be our Coach Wiebe. He's of an appropriate age and could easily pull off the personality of a laid back, supportive bisexual coach who everyone loves. He's also Canadian and beloved because of his iconic fole as Patrick on "Schitt's Creek." Really hoping we'll get to see him in the Centaur's locker room in Season 2. I just know he gives great hugs!

I found a fan image on Facebook of Luca Haas that perfectly captured his boyish charm and innocence. They need to find us a cutie like the young man in that picture to bring Ilya's biggest fanboy to life. I can't wait to meet him and for him to become a little brother to Ilya!

I cast influencer Jack Innanen as Wyatt since there's already rumors circulating that he's been cast for Season 2. My heart will break if Jacob casts him as Troy because I just don't think he's right for that role, however, I do think he'd make a great Wyatt Hayes. If Jack is going to join the show, his wit and humor would be wasted on Troy.

Zane Boodram is just a random stock image I found on Pinterest. Zane seems like a fun character, and I'm looking forward to seeing which actor (and POC) they get to play him. I can already smell his signature Jerk Chicken and Barbecued Ribs. My mouth is watering!

I absolutely NEED Dylan Playfair to be our Evan Dykstra! I can see it so clearly! We know that he's tight with Jacob from his time on Letterkenney, he's already been credited on Season 1 as a consultant, and I know he'd easily be able to provide us with some great comedic relief with his charm and charisma. He'd also look great in a trucker hat while blasting redneck country music in the locker room to annoy Ilya! LOL

Farah Jalali is Shane and Ilya's agent. The last name Jalali is of Persian origin, so I used an image of an attractive, kind, elegant Middle Eastern woman in her late 30s who looks like she could be from that region. She seems like she would be exceptionally supportive of Shane and Ilya, and would be very willing to help them when the shit hits the fan.

I cast Kelly Keaton as Harris's loveable mother. She was in a very cute and funny Christmas movie called "Make The Yuletide Gay" where she plays the supportive mother to a gay son. I think she'd just be perfect! She's so joyful and jolly! She and Ilya would be so great together, dancing around the kitchen of the Drover Farmhouse, surrounded by all of their adorable pups!

And then, of course, we have Hockey Commissioner Roger Crowell. All we know about his physical appearance is that he's in his late 60s and has gray hair. I found a stock image of a formidable business man who appears to have been a former athlete, and who has a face that's hard to like. He was tough to find, because all of the stock images I found were of friendly looking men with kind eyes. Crowell is a smug, arrogant, self-important jerk and we need someone intimidating who's easy to hate! I think I nailed it with him.

And finally, when I tried to picture Dallas Kent, I couldn't really imagine anyone in particular, but when I searched "douchey unattractive guys" on Google images, Jake Paul's picture came up. Ha! My search had ended right then and there! He's definitely got the smug, unattractive face of an unapologetic douchebag who could absolutely be capable of doing that thing that Troy accused him of. I can't wait to direct my ire and disdain at him!

[damn-write]

Prompt: Gift. ~510 words. @hollanovbingo (My Column 1 BINGO 🎉)

Ilya has a gift. Or was it a curse? He's not really sure.

But since he was a young teenager, he's had a talent for knowing exactly if someone was attracted to him. Even if they were hiding it or lying about it. And apparently, even if they weren't fully aware of it yet.

This was the case for Shane Hollander. Ilya knew Shane was attracted to him long before Shane did. He clocked it when they first met at the parking lot in Saskatchewan. Ilya was almost certain the moment Shane shook his hand for a second time in two minutes.

(Though in hindsight, it should've been obvious from how flustered Shane was to talk to him. But Ilya didn't know this at the time. He knows it now though, after watching Shane's perfect composure in probably way too many interviews. Shane Hollander does not get flustered easily.)

But Ilya wasn't 100% sure until the night of the draft, after they raced on stationary bikes and sat down across each other by the mirrors. There's no way Ilya is missing how Shane couldn't stop staring at his lips, his sweaty neck or even lower.

That wasn't the problem. He knows the attraction is there. The problem was that Shane didn't. That night, Ilya offered him water and touched his hand multiple times. He flirted with him and even winked at him. But none of those things seemed to clue Hollander in at all.

And today, they're at this whole freaking commercial shoot that Ilya set up for them and Shane is still looking as clueless as ever. And that's after Ilya stared straight into his eyes and called him pretty to his face.

Now, it's the end of the day. They just finished filming and they're headed to the locker room to get their stuff before turning in for the night. As he's packing his duffle, Ilya can't help but feel defeated. Maybe he should just let Shane come to him when he's ready. But he's not sure how long it'll take for Shane's conscious mind to catch up to what his body is involuntarily broadcasting to Ilya.

His gift/curse is so annoying. What's the point of knowing when nothing can happen? Ilya lets out a deep breath and tries to shake it off. His eyes track Hollander as he gets into the showers. Oh. Interesting.

Ilya was planning to shower when he got back to the hotel, maybe even draw himself a nice warm bath. And maybe that was the smart thing to do. Leaving Hollander alone would be the safe thing, the best thing, for the both of them. Cause even if something were to happen between them (which is proving to be impossible btw), then what? There is no future with Hollander. They can't be.

Even as Ilya contemplates this, he already knows he's not going to use his gift to do good. He knows himself too well. He wouldn't, not even if he could. So he doesn't. He undresses quickly, grabs a towel and follows Shane into the showers.

[gaynehollander]

I feel like Ilya would definitely get some “ball and chain” type of comments regarding Shane and at one point he ends up in a group of guys who start ragging on him when he's thinking about heading out early, calling him whipped, joking about Shane having him on a tight leash, and Ilya ends up just saying, genuinely confused, “do you guys not like your wives?” There’s complete silence for a second before Ilya continues, “maybe you should give them the chance to find someone who actually enjoys spending time with them." And then he goes home to his husband, who also happens to be his favourite person in the world.

[snowsmoked]

You cannot convince me that Shane doesn’t get private sports massages at his house. I’d imagine Ilya might do them occasionally with the team massage therapist in the Bears recovery room, but Shane has them regularly and refuses to have them done in public.

Mostly because he’s loud. If you’ve ever heard athletes get these massages, they hurt/feel amazing and it is common for athletes to moan/groan/gasp loudly throughout.

So when they’re living together, Ilya is white-nuckled in the kitchen gripping the counters as his husband is laying on his massage table sounding like he’s getting fucked six ways to Sunday.

He can’t even watch because Amanda is there and Ilya doesn’t want to make her uncomfortable.

He finally caves and heads to the shower when Shane gasps out, “yeah, right there, fuck.”

He can’t prove it, but he’s pretty sure Shane used to get these massages in the home gym instead of dragging the massage table into the living room. And people said Ilya was a menace.

[shaneswetbrowneyes]

i actually think that what's being missed in the 'why does everyone love heated rivalry' conversation is just that it's good

it's well made, well shot, well directed, the music is interesting, the costumes are both thoughtful and subtly period accurate, the sex scenes are intentional and, again, accurate to what hooking up when you're like 18 actually feels like...the actors are of course attractive but they look like real people. the characters are varied and well fleshed out, the acting is really, really strong

so many shows and films shoot and then slot in whatever music kind of fits or could be licenced in the budget after time, but you can tell that the scenes in hr were shot with that specific music in mind. and the same intentional approach runs through the whole thing

it feels...so nice to watch a show that cares about itself

[sweetangelfart]

I bet David and Yuna have a bet going on whenever the boys stay over in their house for the night on whether or not they do naughty things.

Yuna at the beginning is like 'urgh David not our shane, not under our roof' 😆😆 and David will just smile with a cheeky twinkle in his eye with a 'sure dear so 20 dollars?' 'You're on!'

The bed in their son's childhood room is heard creaking very lightly at 11 pm and Yuna is the first to notice. She glances the sleeping man next to her hoping that he's fast asleep, but a heavy arm drapes across her waist pulling her into the warmth of her husband.

He sleepily murmers, "I think this is round 2 actually." And she feels her cheeks burning.

"Oh my god David, how do you even know that?"

"I know my sons"

"Ew that sounds so wrong"

"My love, they've been together for nearly 15 years now. Surely you know they're having sex with each other."

"I know that! I just.... I don't need to hear my literal child having sex!"

"Well, he's an adult who has a husband he's happily married to and they'reboth in their prime years of life while they play a physically straining game for a living...i would suggest you use your ear plugs. But then again, They're not even being that loud"

"David!" Yuna hisses, giving his arm a slap which results in David chuckling.

"Want me to distract you darling?" He says rubbing her stomach and pressing a gentle kiss to the top of her shoulder

"David I swear to god!"

"uh huh, then you better be quiet and let me take care of you"

And David is anything if not efficient. Yuna needs to press a pillow to her face in order to not moan outloud as her thighs shake.

Down the hallway, shane has had to stuff his mouth with a pair of (clean!) Underwear while ilya fucks him cause he will not have his mother finding out the noises he makes in bed!

Yuna pretends to not notice purple spot on her son's stomach as his shirt rides up while he's trying to get flour out of the top cabinet and ilya can barely suppress the smirk growing on his face as he notices a hickey at the base of Yuna's throat that he's certain wasn't there yesterday.

Ahh the horny hollanders agenda stays strong 💪 💖

[amanitamoment]

I just know baby Shane loved roughhousing with David. David would throw that little chonk around and around and he would just giggle and say "again! again!"

[letsfindouttomorrow]

My low stakes heated rivalry headcanon is that Shane 100% had a brief cameo in Crazy Rich Asians. Like maybe he was on a poster or a billboard in the background, or they briefly show one of his commercials or post-game interviews where he’s all sweaty and handsome

[snowsmoked]

The MHL decides to partner with Heartthrobs Against Heart Disease for their 2018 fundraising calendar. It's a Canadian non-profit that features various Heartthrobs in various states of undress at their various jobs. They had firefighter editions, teacher editions, and even farmer editions. The MHL sent out an email to a few dozen of Canadian players, asking if anyone had a free day over the summer.

Yuna Hollander does not hesitate to scoop that charitable opportunity up.

They get their 12 players, one for each month. Shane gets his birth month, May. The tagline on top of his photo is: "I may be a two-time Stanley Cup winner, but I still get checked regularly for early onset heart disease."

During the following preseason, Ilya walks in on the Bears howling with laughter about something. Never one to be left out, Ilya demands to know what's so funny. He's passed a Heartthrob Against Heart Disease 2018-2019 calendar and joins in on the laughter as he flips through these idiots. That is, until he gets to May.

Shane is on the ice, a hockey stick slotted across his broad shoulders, arms draped over it. He's shirtless, only wearing gloves and his baggy hockey pants, ridden down on one side to show off the top of his underwear and the deep V just above his hips. They must have had him do pushups because his abs are more defined than usual, deep cuts across his stomach shimmering with a thin layer of sweat. His hair was messed up, like someone had run their hands through it. He was looking directly at the camera, a little smirk on his face like he knew exactly what he was doing. His biceps...

The calendar was snatched from him, which was probably a good thing, if the saliva pooling in his mouth and the tightness of his pants were anything to go by.

That night, away from any prying eyes and on a private browser, Ilya navigates to the Heartthrobs Against Heart Disease website. He about blacks out when he sees the Special Edition: Oops, All Hollander!

[consumer-of-books]

Shane Hollander is a jock, Shane Hollander does not wear anything but athletic wear, Shane Hollander does not have a skincare routine.

Shane Hollander routinely uses sunscreen(for safety against skin cancer) and washes his face with a sensitive skin friendly soap in the shower. He uses the same bar for his entire body.

Beyond that his smooth skin is entirely coincidental. Ilya is very jealous of this. Ilya wears hair products, styles himself meticulously and has tried multiple skincare routines. None of which are giving him the supple skin he desires.

The first time Ilya goes to Shane's real apartment and not the sex condo he is outraged by the number of unused samples of skincare products, mostly because these brands are choosing to work with Shane when he knows for a fact that Shane does nothing to properly take care of his skin.

Shane's bathroom sink is barren.

Shane *enters Ilya's bathroom*: why do you have so much clutter in here

Ilya *outraged*: is not clutter Hollander we did not all climb out of womb and become world's prettiest man by accident

Shane *having no filter*: why do you bother with it if it doesn't work?

Ilya: 😭

[totearup]

It is so hilarious to me how fandom has decided that the Centaurs rookies introduced in TLG are just eternal rookies. Doesn't matter how far into the future the fic is written, Haas, LaPointe and Holmberg are baby rookies.

It's 2024 and they've won two cups? Rookies.

It's 2026 and they've all been on the team for like six years? Rookies.

They are eternal babies and that's that.

[iwrotemrtambourineman]

ilya telling shane about irina and how they were best friends and he hung out with her all the time and he was her protector and he would skip school on her bad days to brush her hair and make sure she ate something even if it was just tea and she was an angel and you know shane is calculating how best to gently bring up to his husband that that doesn’t sound like it was very fair to child ilya without ilya reacting like a wild fucking animal

[penandinkprincess]

i have an extremely beautiful scene in my mind of shane at home on their couch with ilya's head on one thigh and anya's head on the other and providing simultaneous head scritches and having to try SO hard not to laugh when pausing gets him non-verbal complaints from BOTH of them

he pauses once just because it's funny and gets ilya's hand tapping his knee at the same time it gets him anya swatting the air with her paw in the direction of his hand, and there are TEARS in his eyes resisting the urge to laugh as he resumes because he doesn't want to break the softness of this moment even though it's also objectively hilarious to be part of

[penandinkprincess]

among the reasons i love shane goes to boston as an idea is that cliff marlowe is a fucking GIANT of a man, and i have the very funny idea in my head that being ilya's boyfriend means shane gets auto-included into the Bro Manhandling that i KNOW that man gives out to his friends.

and like. LISTEN. shane is a tough, strong dude, okay? he has played a heavy contact sport since he was an itty bitty. he is no shrinking violet. he can take a hit and get back up and keep going. he's no stranger to like. grabbing shoulders and a little playful jostling. but i also feel like his vibe on the team with the metros made him a little untouchable (first with respect that still made him "other" and then with. well.) beyond things like shoulder punches from jj and helmet taps with hayden.

and now he's gotten tossed into this locker room where he is accepted and welcomed but ALSO maybe getting fucking whiplash on the reg from cliff's affection. like hey! thank you for including me! but also you just fucking RAGDOLLED me the SECOND i walked in here today and i am a little turned on and ALARMED about it. just a little.

like hits on the ice? yeah. shane understands those. gets 'em and deals 'em all the time. no big. a little bro shoulder tapping/shaking? yeah sure.

but cliff just fucking. 🗣️HOLL-ZY! MY GUUUY! 🗣️ and that is shane's ONLY warning that he's about to get borderline shaken adult syndrome. everyone else in the locker room including ilya knows to brace or dodge by this point, but shane is still adjusting.

and like!! it's nice!! thank you for including me!! but also jesus fuck!!! i have a new empathy for anya's favorite toy when she death shakes it!! oh my god!!!

[penandinkprincess]

unreasonably amused by the idea of itty bitty shane not wanting to get off the ice after practice to the point that david gets ON the ice to get him, so itty bitty does the "my bones are gone now" resistance move kids are so good at.

but fails to consider that ice is. so slippery.

like stage your protest all you want, buddy, but you have literally never been more move-able.

[toasted-rivalry]

A ‘Bears walk in to Ilya’s house and see him napping with Shane AU’ where Ilya somehow manages to still keep Shane’s identity a secret.

Ilya always had been a light sleeper, so no matter how lightly they stepped he was awake moments after the first shocked gasp.

Ilya knows it’s over for him. There’s no mistaking that there’s a man asleep on his chest in a clearly non-platonic cuddle. Usually Ilya would be punching the intruder, threatening violence to try and ensure they kept their mouth shut but he has quickly realised something far more important. With the way they are sleeping, Ilya on his underneath on his back and Shane on his stomach on top with his face pressed into the gap between Ilya’s neck and the couch, they can’t see his face.

He quickly pulls Shane’s hood up over his head to hide hair and rests a hand over it to gently discourage Shane from moving it should he start to wake up.

So Ilya just stares down his team and goes “you can be upset, but are going to be fucking quiet about it because if you wake my guest I’m sending all my blackmail on you to your wives, and then start fucking them to help them get over the divorce.”

So the whole “You’re fucking gay!” “No, I’m a fucking bi who is fucking a gay” conversation happens at a furious whisper, with Shane blissfully sleeping on Ilya’s chest as life implodes around him.

Shane may be a deep sleeper - and the argument in whispers - but even he starts to stir at the noise.

Ilya can’t have him moving his face into visibility now, so he just scruffs the back of his neck harshly and pressed him deeper into his shoulder.

Shane lets out a pleased (and not at all quiet) moan, and - worried that he is going to start talking - Ilya realises he needs to shut him up.

So he glares at the Bears to be quiet, while suddenly putting on the softest voice they have ever heard him use as he goes, “shhh quiet time now mоя любовь. Back to sleep.” And then shoves his fingers into Shane’s mouth.

When the Bears leave soon after, some of them have LEARNT some things about themselves. But crucially, none of them have learnt who their captain is fucking.

[mojoscircus]

The first time someone calls Ilya a crazy loon, not knowing it’s just a saying, he looks them dead in the eye and says, “I am nothing like that demonic bird.”