The Long Game: Here's what happened after the Heated Rivalry epilogue ended

The Long Game, the sequel novel, opens a few years post the last epilogue in Heated Rivalry, showcasing Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander madly in love but keeping their relationship a secret. Ilya has become a star player in Ottawa while Shane remains focused on building his legacy in Montreal. They are maintaining a public image as close friends, but it is taking a toll, especially on Ilya.

Ilya starts to take therapy to understand his deep grief and depression, and thinks that Shane's devotion is limited to his sport. Eventually, Ilya's team's plane experiences an emergency landing, and this hostile situation makes them realize how much they mean to each other. That is when Shane finally steps in and proposes to Ilya to end the secrecy and make their relationship official, at least between them. Read on to know more.

Here's what happened after the Heated Rivalry epilogue ended

The finale of Heated Rivalry season 1 landed on HBO Max on December 26, 2025, and gives Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov the ending fans were waiting for. The lovers from the two rival hockey teams have finally chosen each other after a long time of secrecy and hidden truths. However, the relationship is only official between them and remains hidden from the world as their career in the NHL progress. This forms the foundation for season 2 and the events it will follow.

Based on Rachel Reid's 2022 sequel novel, The Long Game, Heated Rivalry season 2 would explore more mature and complex themes of identity, ambition, and sacrifice. As mentioned, The Long Game picks up a few years after the events of Heated Rivalry. Now that they have officially started a relationship in the season 1 finale, they are still surrounded by social stigma and pressure to keep their connection hidden from the public. Shane and Ilya are still together, deeply in love, committed, and functioning as a couple, but now one other than they know this.

When it comes to their profession, both doing great. Ilya has become the star player on a struggling Ottawa team while Shane is chasing championships and legacies. In the interviews and conferences, they both present themselves as very close friends and eventually also launch a joint charity to legitimize their bond. In the book, Ilya calls this time of theirs the 11th season of "hiding". This is because they have spent seven years on casual hookups and 3 years on a secret relationship, while even now they can't unveil the truth of their lives to the public.

Heated Rivalry season 2 will be built on the consequences of these "hidings", similar to the book it is based on, The Long Game

As time passes, the secrets will start to take a toll on them. Ilya is suffering more severe burns, having moved from Boston to Ottawa, Shane's hometown. He did so to remain close to him, but Shane's focus on Hockey is on point, and he is unable to see this secrecy taking a toll on Ilya, who wants emotional stability in life more than any trophy.

The book also delves into Ilya's inner life in a way the series hasn't yet. So there are some expectations for season 2. Ilya, in the book, is also having recurring dreams of his mother, who died by suicide when he was 12. He considers therapy and hides this from Shane. With therapy, Ilya is trying to deal with his long-suppressed grief and is ultimately diagnosed with depression. On the other hand, Shane is focused on winning another Stanley Cup. This creates some emotional distance between the 2. Ilya and Shane got into a fight, and Ilya accused Shane of always choosing sport over him.

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This fractured moment is then interrupted by Ilya's team plane making an emergency landing. This disturbs Shane, and he realizes how important Ilya is to him. This disaster becomes a wake-up call for them, and Shane finally proposes that Ilya choose commitment over secrecy for their future.

Therefore, Heated Rivalry season 2 could dig into the same and push the story beyond romance and denial to form a more enduring bond while also balancing success along.

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