Characters The Long Game--A Gay Sports Romance Rachel Reid

Troy Barrett: From Secrecy to Pride in The Long Game

Overview

Troy Barrett enters The Long Game as a controversial figure—a talented NHL forward traded to the Ottawa Centaurs under a cloud of conflict. His reputation precedes him: he was once best friends with Dallas Kent, a homophobic bully accused of sexual assault, but Troy broke with Kent by calling him out publicly. This act of conscience cost Troy his place on the Toronto team but brought him to Ottawa, where his story takes a transformative turn.

Plot Role

Troy serves several crucial functions in the narrative. First, he is a catalyst for Ilya Rozanov's own journey toward openness. When Troy trusts Ilya with his secret—that he is gay—it creates a reciprocal trust that allows Ilya to reveal his bisexuality. This friendship becomes one of the few authentic connections Ilya has outside of Shane Hollander. Second, Troy represents a new generation of NHL players willing to be visible and activist, contrasting with the older, more cautious approach modeled by Ilya and Shane. Third, his romance with Harris Drover, the team social media manager, provides a parallel love story that mirrors and sometimes challenges Ilya and Shane's relationship.

In the larger plot, Troy's decision to come out at the team's Pride Night game (outline, ch 29) is a pivotal moment that influences Ilya's thinking about his own public identity. Troy also becomes an ally in confronting toxic hockey culture, as seen when Ilya defends Troy's activism to Commissioner Crowell (outline, ch 28).

Motivations and Traits Shown Through Actions

Troy's defining trait is his willingness to act on his conscience, even at great personal cost. His decision to call out Dallas Kent cost him his spot on a contending team and likely alienated him from former teammates. This reveals a moral core that contradicts his earlier reputation as a "total prick" (ch 17).

His vulnerability is equally central. In the Vancouver hotel scene (ch 18), evidence shows Ilya finding Troy hungover, reeking of cheap vodka, his room a mess. Troy admits, "It was stupid," and his voice breaks with tears. He hides alcohol, skips practice, and tries to face his unpleasant father alone. Ilya sees through this performance of toughness and offers understanding, creating the foundation for their friendship.

Troy is shown to be deeply loyal. Once he trusts Ilya, he becomes a steady presence—knocking on Ilya's hotel room door after a bad loss to watch a movie (ch 21), sharing his coming-out plans, and supporting Ilya in return. His jealousy when Ilya seems close to Luca Haas suggests he craves genuine belonging.

Chronological Arc

Troy's arc in The Long Game moves from isolation to community, from secrecy to openness:

  • Arrival (November, ch 17): Troy joins the Centaurs, met with suspicion by Ilya who sees him as a disruption to team chemistry. Ilya complains to Shane: "My team was perfect. Now we have this asshole."

  • Crisis (Vancouver road trip, ch 18): Troy relapses into drinking, is found by Ilya. His father Curtis Barrett's toxic presence triggers this crisis. Ilya extends compassion, noting, "Family can be hard. Fathers."

  • Connection (December, ch 21): Troy comes out to Ilya as gay. Ilya takes him to a gay bar for the first time. Troy confesses his crush on Harris. Their friendship deepens. Ilya later tells Shane that Troy "came out to me first."

  • Coming Out (February, ch 29): Troy decides to come out publicly at the Pride Night game. He announces his relationship with Harris to the team, who cheer. This is the culmination of his personal arc.

  • Activism and Integration (March, ch 31): Troy enjoys the aftermath of coming out, thanks Ilya for support, and the team's culture shifts toward greater acceptance. Troy is now fully part of the Centaurs family, visiting Harris's family apple farm.

Relationships

Ilya Rozanov: This is Troy's most significant relationship in the book. It begins in distrust, moves through mutual recognition of shared pain (difficult fathers, secret sexuality), and becomes a genuine friendship. Troy is the first teammate Ilya trusts with his bisexuality, and Ilya becomes a mentor figure who shows Troy that being a gay NHL player is possible. They share late-night conversations, movie nights, and pivotal secrets.

Harris Drover: Troy's romance with the team social media manager is initially a secret crush that Troy fears to act on. With Ilya's encouragement, Troy pursues this relationship, and by the end, they are openly together. This relationship anchors Troy's sense of belonging in Ottawa.

Curtis Barrett (father): Troy's father is a source of trauma. In the Vancouver hotel scene (ch 18), Curtis Barrett is loud, homophobic, and invasive. Troy's visible distress when learning his father is in the lobby suggests a history of mistreatment. Ilya's line about difficult fathers explicitly connects their experiences.

Dallas Kent: Though never on-page, Troy's former best friend is a crucial off-stage presence. Troy's decision to break with Kent over the assault allegations defines his moral stance and sets his story in motion.

Shane Hollander: Shane initially dislikes Troy, feeling jealousy over Troy's closeness to Ilya (ch 21). However, by the playoffs (ch 36), Troy extends friendship to Shane in the handshake line, suggesting a developing bond.

Key Decisions and Consequences

Calling out Dallas Kent: This decision costs Troy his spot in Toronto but brings him to Ottawa, where he finds community and love. It also makes him a target for Commissioner Crowell, who views his activism as a distraction and questions whether Troy actually witnessed anything (ch 28).

Coming out to Ilya: A risky act of trust that pays off. It creates a reciprocal trust that allows Ilya to share his own bisexuality, deepens their friendship, and gives Troy an ally.

Coming out publicly at Pride Night: This decision is Troy's most courageous act. It makes him visible and vulnerable but also liberates him from hiding. The team's supportive response shows how far the Centaurs have come under Coach Wiebe's leadership.

Theme/Symbol Connections

Secrecy and Coming Out: Troy's journey directly embodies this central theme. He moves from being closeted to coming out first to a trusted friend, then to his team, then to the public. His path mirrors and sometimes contrasts with Ilya's, who takes longer to come out.

Toxic Hockey Culture: Troy's experience with Curtis Barrett and the league's response to his activism (via Commissioner Crowell) illustrates how homophobia and toxic masculinity persist in hockey institutions. Crowell tells Ilya that "one gay player is enough" (ch 28), directly referencing Troy as that player.

Sacrifice and Devotion: Troy sacrifices his career stability in Toronto by speaking out against Kent. Later, he chooses to come out despite knowing it may hurt his career.

Found Family: The Ottawa Centaurs become a found family for Troy. The team's acceptance of him, including the puppy Chiron and the welcoming locker room culture, stands in stark contrast to his biological family.

Mental Health and Depression: Troy's drinking and isolation suggest struggles with mental health. His vulnerability around his father and his relief at finding connection point to these themes, even though the book focuses more directly on Ilya's depression.

Five Book-Specific Questions and Answers

1. Why does Troy decide to come out to Ilya specifically?

Troy comes out to Ilya because he senses a kindred spirit. After Ilya finds him hungover and offers understanding about difficult fathers, Troy sees that Ilya carries similar burdens. Later, when Ilya takes him to a gay bar for the first time, Troy feels safe enough to reveal his sexuality. He recognizes in Ilya someone who might understand, and his instinct proves correct—Ilya reciprocates by sharing his own bisexuality (outline, ch 21).

2. How does Troy's relationship with his father affect his arc?

Curtis Barrett is a toxic influence who embodies the homophobic masculinity Troy grew up with. His unannounced visit in Vancouver triggers Troy's drinking relapse (ch 18). Troy's eventual decision to come out can be read partly as a rejection of his father's values and an assertion of his own identity. By the end, Troy has built a new family in Ottawa that stands in direct opposition to his biological family.

3. What role does Troy play in Ilya's development?

Troy serves as a mirror and catalyst for Ilya. When Troy comes out to Ilya, it creates a space for Ilya to take his own risk—telling someone about his bisexuality. Troy's openness pressures Ilya to examine why he remains closeted. Troy's decision to come out publicly at Pride Night also pushes Ilya toward his own eventual public coming out. In many ways, Troy shows Ilya what courage looks like (outline, ch 29).

4. How does the team respond to Troy's coming out?

The Ottawa Centaurs respond with overwhelming support. When Troy announces his relationship with Harris to the team, they cheer (outline, ch 29). This positive response is crucial to the book's thesis that hockey culture can change and that found family can sustain queer players. The team's acceptance of Troy contrasts sharply with Commissioner Crowell's hostility (ch 28).

5. What does Troy's activism accomplish in the story?

Troy's social media activism following the Dallas Kent accusations draws attention to homophobia and assault in hockey. This activism puts him in conflict with Commissioner Crowell, who dismisses Troy's work and argues players should "focus on hockey" (ch 28). Troy's actions force the league's hypocrisy into view and inspire Ilya and Shane to confront Crowell themselves. His activism creates pressure for change, even if the league resists.

For a full discussion of the book's ending and additional questions and answers, see the related pages. Return to the main book overview for broader context on The Long Game.