Warning: Major spoilers ahead

In 2008, Canadian ice hockey player Shane Hollander introduces himself to fellow rookie, Russia’s Ilya Rozanov, who’s smoking a cigarette outside a stadium. Shane praises his ability as a player, but Ilya is stand-offish, giving one-word answers. As Shane takes his leave and wishes him luck in the much, Ilya makes a jab about how Shane won’t act so nice after he loses. Shane laughs it off. In the Canada v Russia game, Shane impresses on the ice, but his team ultimately loses to Ilya’s. Ilya smugly tells Shane he will see him at the draft.

Six months later, at the Major League hockey draft, Shane signs with the Montreal Metros, while Ilya is signed to the team’s rivals, the Boston Raiders. Shane is visibly disappointed to have been selected as second pick behind Ilya. Their tension is palpable, even when taking photographs, with Shane struggling to smile for the cameras.

At the event, both remain attached to their parents as others congratulate them on making their first big team signings. Shane’s parents lap up the attention, helping him brush off one of the Metro bosses' comments on how happy they are he’s part of the Asian community, while Ilya’s dad plays the achievement down, calling his son lazy to the Boston bosses and refusing to allow him to speak. The pair spot each other across the room, but don’t say anything.

That evening, while in his hotel room, Shane is unable to sleep so heads to the gym, where he runs into Ilya. Still in a rival mindset, the pair continue to ‘ignore’ each other, instead competing on stationary bikes to see who’s fastest. When they finally give in to exhaustion, they recover next to each other. In a scene that’s almost post-coital, finally start talking about what the future holds for them both. Ilya comments that they will likely see each other a lot, as the teams play against each other often. The pair share a bottle of water.

While stuck in another hotel room alone ahead of the International Prospect Cup on New Year’s Day, Ilya receives a call from his father, which he ignores. He then takes a call from his brother, Alexei, asking for money. Ilya refuses, knowing he uses it for drugs and partying, having already blown through his signing bonus. Alexei goads his brother, calling him slurs and mocking him for losing his latest game. This is quickly followed up by another call from his dad, who berates Ilya for losing the match to a Czech team, bringing ‘shame on Russia’.

Shortly afterwards, Shane and Ilya face off again on the ice in a Russia v. Canada match – and this time, Shane’s team wins.

Fast forward another six months, and Ilya and Shane’s rivalry continues as they meet up once again – this time to shoot a commercial for the sport. Ilya mocks Shane for wearing make-up for the shoot, despite also having to do so. As the shoot draws on the pair’s focus wanes and the shoot becomes a farce as the pair corpse their way through shot after shot. Ilya later shares it was his idea to have Shane with him in the commercial.

Shane’s mum, Yuna, later speaks to him about his brand deals, telling him he needs to be seen more in Reeboks, and wants him to be seen as an inspiration.

Hitting the showers, Ilya and Shane run into each other again. Ilya begins masturbating in front of him, expressing his interest in Shane. Somewhat shocked, Shane tells him “not here” and in the changing room tells him to forget it. When Ilya asks if that’s what he really wants, Shane says yes, but gives Ilya his hotel room number when asked. Ilya tells him he may knock that evening. Shane tells him he may open.

That night, Shane is nervous as he prepares for his meeting with Ilya – changing his clothes, the ambiance of the room, and practicing what to say when he arrives. Ilya, on route to see Shane, runs into Yuna on the way to the room, though thankfully it’s brief. Once Ilya arrives, Shane is clearly less experienced, so Ilya takes the lead, with the pair sharing a kiss before starting to undress.

As things start to escalate, Shane admits he’s hesitant as he’s never been with a man before, so doesn’t want to go all the way. Ilya admits it’s not his first time, having slept with his coach’s son.

Regardless, the night progresses, with both of them engaging in oral sex, and exchanging playful jabs at each other. Afterwards, Shane begs him not to tell anyone, and Ilya agrees.

Three months later, Shane and Ilya’s on-ice rivalry has become a talking point, with reporters asking Ilya about it after a game, and his answer making Shane laugh as he watches from home. Shane later visits his parents for lunch, with Yuna excitedly sharing that Rolex wants to sign up with him for a brand deal. During the chat, Yuna says she saw an interview with Ilya bragging about his career in interviews – she remarks “Fk him. Fk him up the butt” which makes Shane visibly uncomfortable.

That evening, Boston Raiders and Montreal Metros play against each other, with Shane and Ilya going head-to-head on the ice. Later, Shane is interviewed by a Québécoise station and and asked about his rivalry with Ilya but doesn’t rise to the bait – keeping his responses professional, and somewhat bland, while responding in French. Ilya is watching from his hotel and quietly seethes at how perfect he is.

Shortly afterwards, he gets a call from Alexei – now in a room with a crying baby - demanding $20,000 from him immediately but doesn’t say what for. Ilya reluctantly agrees but says it’s the last time he’s going to do it and can’t do it at that moment as it was the middle of the night. When Ilya asks about their father, saying he’s worried about him as he appeared to forget Ilya wasn’t in the country last time they spoke, but Alexei dismisses him.

Another four months go by, and by this point Ilya and Shane’s career rivalry has become a major talking point, and their teams are utilising it as much as possible ahead of any game they’re set to play against each other. Put in front of the press together for a conference ahead of an All-Star event, Ilya begins to struggle with his English and panics, prompting Shane to step in and help him. Under the table, they keep their feet next to each other for support.

That night, while at the All-Star exhibition event, Ilya and Shane talk briefly together on the sidelines, and Ilya tells him his room number. The New York Admiral's captain, Scott Hunter, notices and asks what they were talking about. Shane passes it off as them talking trash. Scott calls Ilya an asshole and mentions he’s staying next door to him at the hotel.

Shane sneaks over to see Ilya that night, noticeably anxious about getting caught. The pair start getting sexual again, but before they can go all the way, Ilya can tell Shane is uncomfortable. Shane then admits that he’s been trying, experimenting with sex aids, but didn’t want to have sex in the hotel room when Scott Hunter is next door.

Knowing they are set to meet again two weeks later in Montreal, Ilya suggests they have sex for the first time at Shane’s apartment. He reluctantly agrees, and the pair exchange phone numbers, using fake female names to hide who they’re really speaking to – Ilya puts his name under Shane’s phone as Lily, and renames Shane to Jane in his.

Unfortunately for the pair, the game is called off when a snowstorm grounds planes and the Boston team cannot reach Montreal. Ilya is visibly annoyed, and his fellow players joke that the girl he has waiting for him will have to get over it.

Meanwhile, Shane is asked by his teammate Hayden to join him and his family for dinner. With his original plans ruined, Shane agrees. Ilya returns to his apartment to find a girl, Svetlana, waiting for him. While she knows he’s texting someone called Jane, her relationship with Ilya is seemingly casual, and the pair have sex.

As the hockey season comes to an end, Ilya and Shane are once again placed head-to-head, but this time at an awards ceremony for Rookie of the Year.

Shane takes home the win and celebrates at the reception with his parents. Scott Hunter is in attendance and tells him her and some of his fellow veterans want to celebrate over shots with him and the other rookies. He asks where Ilya is, but Shane downplays their friendship and says he doesn’t know. However, as the night wears on, it becomes clear he wants to find him.

Finally finding Ilya on the rooftop alone, Shane is drunk, which makes Ilya laugh as it's so out of character. Shane thinks Ilya is sulking for losing the award, but Ilya hits back that not everything is about him. He then admits he’s going back to Russia in three days, which Shane thinks “must be nice”, but Ilya shoots him a look, making it clear that’s not the case.

Shane says he thought they would see each other again, but when Ilya gets quiet, he goes to leave. Ilya then passionately kisses Shane, and while he initially reciprocates, he then snaps out of it, terrified they might be seen – scolding Ilya for being so carless out in public.

As he walks away from him, Ilya tells Shane he’ll see him next season.