Sacrifice and Devotion in The Long Game

Defining the Theme

In The Long Game, sacrifice and devotion form a single, inseparable currency of love. The novel argues that true devotion is not merely a feeling but a sustained choice to give up something valuable—career security, family ties, public honesty, even emotional comfort—for the sake of another person. Both Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov repeatedly choose the hard path: they hide their relationship for years, endure personal crises, and extend compassion to teammates, all because they believe the long game of love is worth the short-term cost.

Trace Across the Plot

The Decade of Hiding (Chapter One)

In the opening chapter, after revealing their relationship to agent Farah, Shane internally resolves to hide their bond for another decade—as long as their NHL careers last. The evidence shows Shane thinking: “another decade of hiding, probably. But Shane would do it.” This is a clear sacrifice of authenticity and public pride. He and Ilya are both twenty‑nine, at their peak, and “both superstars.” Shane commits to living a lie because he “would do anything for Ilya.” The devotion is immediate and unwavering, but it comes at the cost of living openly. The symbol of the long game is introduced here: a strategy of patience that demands constant self‑denial.

Ilya’s Near‑Death Messages (Chapter Twenty‑Four)

When Ilya’s team plane suffers an emergency, he believes he may die. In that terror, his devotion spills out in Instagram messages to Shane. The evidence records him writing: “You are the best thing in my life” and “I am thinking only about you right now.” He sacrifices pride and secrecy—those messages are raw and confessional—and later feels he “wasted so much fucking time hiding.” The near‑death experience forces Ilya to recognize that hiding is itself a sacrifice of time and honest connection. His prayer “to please not let this plane crash” is a desperate plea for more time to “love Shane properly.” Here devotion becomes a promise to stop hiding, to change the game.

Ilya’s Sacrificial Care for Troy Barrett (Chapter Eighteen)

Devotion in The Long Game extends beyond the central romance. When Ilya finds teammate Troy Barrett hungover and ashamed in his hotel room, Ilya chooses mercy over anger. The evidence shows Ilya bringing Gatorade, not reporting the incident, and quietly acknowledging “family can be hard.” He sacrifices his annoyance and his authority as captain to offer compassion. This mirrors his own hidden struggles with family (his absent father) and shows that devotion requires patience even with flawed people. Ilya’s capacity to sacrifice his own frustration for another person’s dignity is a quieter but essential thread of the theme.

Character and Symbol Connections

Both protagonists embody sacrifice differently. Shane Hollander gives up the dream of an open life; his devotion is stoic and future‑focused. Ilya Rozanov struggles more overtly—he cries after sex, experiences depression, and eventually seeks therapy. His emotional openness is itself a sacrifice of macho hockey culture. The symbol of Anya the dog appears in a telling scene: when Anya whimpers, Shane tells Ilya “go get her,” and they sacrifice a sexual encounter to pet the dog to sleep. As the text says, “life was full of surprises.” This small surrender of physical intimacy for comfort and connection illustrates that devotion often means prioritizing another’s need, even a dog’s. Wedding rings (mentioned in the symbol list) may represent the ultimate sacrifice of privacy if the couple eventually marries, though the novel’s ending is left ambiguous.

Complexity and Contradiction

The theme is not without tension. The sacrifice of hiding is also a form of privilege: Shane and Ilya can afford to wait because they are white, wealthy, cisgender men in a sport that increasingly tolerates gay players. Their secrecy protects their careers but also perpetuates the closet. Yet the narrative never condemns them—instead it shows that even chosen sacrifice carries pain. Ilya’s breakdown after the plane incident reveals that devotion can coexist with regret: he loved Shane “maybe from the first time I saw you,” yet he wasted years in silence. The contradiction is that devotion itself caused that waste. The novel suggests that love can be both a source of strength and a reason for self‑denial, and that sometimes devotion means finally choosing to stop sacrificing.

Study Questions and Answers

1. How does Shane’s decision to hide the relationship for another decade exemplify sacrifice?
   Shane’s decision means living a lie for ten more years, missing the chance to love Ilya publicly. The evidence shows he thinks “another decade of hiding” and is willing to do it because he “would do anything for Ilya.” His devotion is measured in years of silence.

2. What does Ilya’s Instagram message during the plane emergency reveal about his view of devotion?
   Ilya writes that he wasted “so much fucking time hiding” his love. His devotion is so deep that even in terror, his final thoughts are of gratitude and a wish to “love Shane properly.” He prioritizes legacy over self‑preservation.

3. Why does Ilya choose not to report Troy Barrett’s hangover, and what does this show about sacrifice?
   Ilya sacrifices his authority and the chance to discipline a teammate, choosing compassion instead. He remembers his own difficult family and offers mercy. This shows that devotion can be extended to someone outside the romantic bond.

4. How does the scene with Anya the dog illustrate a small but meaningful sacrifice?
   Shane and Ilya forgo sex to comfort Anya. By petting the dog together, they choose quiet connection over physical passion. The text says “life was full of surprises,” revealing that devotion often involves putting another’s comfort first.

5. What is the central contradiction in the theme of sacrifice and devotion in The Long Game?
   The contradiction is that devotion itself causes the sacrifice of authenticity and time. Ilya’s love for Shane leads him to hide, which he later regrets as “wasted” time. The novel argues that true devotion may eventually require ending the sacrifice and embracing openness.