In The Hope Of Something Better
When Ilya Rozanov is just twelve years old, his world gets turned upside down and the trajectory of his life changes forever.
After coming home to find his mother barely alive and managing to save her due to the stars seemingly somehow aligning just that one day, they move from the only home Ilya has ever known in Moscow, Russia, to Ottawa, Canada, in the hopes of a better life. His life in Russia might have been miserable, with a terrifying father and a nasty brother, but it was all he had ever known. Canada seems amazing, and it makes his mother happy, but things are very different and very intimidating for a twelve year old boy who is reeling from the sudden changes that he is experiencing.
That is until one day, when Ilya arrives at the Ottawa Ice Rink to sign up for the local hockey club, and meets Shane Hollander.