Chapter 2 · Behind the Blurry Photo

In twenty years of sports journalism, I've seen a lot.

I've covered locker room feuds, contract disputes, and even the occasional affair.

But I have never — and I mean never— seen anything quite like this.

Yesterday, a photo surfaced on Chorus showing Northport Grizzlies superstar Ruslan Dragunov having what appeared to be an intimate brunch with Midori Ashworth, the mother of his long-time rival, Waverly Renegades captain Thorne Ashworth.

The internet, predictably, lost its mind.

The prevailing theory?

That Dragunov, known for his cocky demeanor and psychological gamesmanship on the ice, has taken his rivalry with Ashworth to a whole new level by pursuing a romantic relationship with Ashworth's mother.

It sounds absurd.

It sounds like something out of a bad comedy.

And yet, the evidence keeps mounting.

I reached out to both the Grizzlies and Renegades organizations for comment.

Neither would provide one.

Thorne Ashworth's agent, Priya Nair, tersely replied:

"Thorne has no comment on his personal family matters."

Midori Ashworth herself, a elegant 52-year-old former gallery curator who has largely stayed out of the spotlight despite her son's fame, has not responded to requests for comment.

Her husband, Kenji Ashworth, simply laughed when I called and said, "You media folks sure know how to make a story out of nothing."

But is it nothing?

Let's look at the facts:

When I asked former PHL player and current analyst Marcus Webb what he made of the situation, he laughed so hard he started coughing.

"If this is real," Webb said, wiping his eyes, "this is the most legendary power move in PHL history.

Can you imagine?

Your biggest rival is banging your mom?

That's some psychological warfare that would make General Zhao weep."

But others aren't so sure it's romantic.

"Maybe they just happen to get along?" Suggested hockey writer Sam Hollis.

"Maybe there's a perfectly innocent explanation and we're all being ridiculous?"

Perhaps.

But in the age of social media and instant speculation, innocent explanations rarely gain traction.

And Dragunov?

He seems to be enjoying every minute of it.

When approached after practice today, Dragunov simply smirked and said, "Is free country, no?

Can have coffee with whoever I want." When pressed on whether he was dating Midori Ashworth, he laughed and skated away.

Thorne Ashworth, meanwhile, has gone completely silent on social media — unusual for someone who typically posts several times a week.

Make of that what you will.

[Comments: 2,051]

Mom :

Sweetheart, have you seen all this silliness online?

Thorne:

Yes, Mom.

I've seen it.

Everyone thinks you're sleeping with my boyfriend.

Well, technically they think I'm sleeping with your RIVAL

MOM.

I'm sorry, darling, but it IS a little bit funny

It's NOT funny

Do you know what people are saying?

That I'm a cougar who seduced a younger man?

I'm quite flattered, actually

OH MY GOD

Thorne, breathe

Nobody who matters actually believes this

And it's good cover for the real reason I've been spending time with Ruslan

Which is that you've emotionally adopted him because his own mother is dead and you have too much love to give?

Exactly

You understand

I understand that my BOYFRIEND and my MOTHER are now internet famous and everyone thinks they're FUCKING

Do you know what the guys in the locker room are saying to me?

I can imagine

But darling, you know the truth.

We know the truth.

Your father knows the truth.

That's what matters

People are making MEMES

There are MEMES, Mom

I saw the one with the "distracted boyfriend" format

Quite clever, actually

I want to die

So dramatic

You're just like Ruslan

I'm NOTHING like Ruslan

Ruslan thinks this is HILARIOUS

He's actively making it WORSE

He's having fun, sweetheart

You should try it sometime

I'm blocking everyone I know and moving to Avalon

Before you do, we're still on for dinner Sunday, right?

I'm making that salmon you love

Ruslan's coming too

OF COURSE HE IS

He's family, Thorne

Even if the internet thinks he's my boy-toy

I'M BLOCKING YOU TOO

Love you, sweetheart

See you Sunday

@puckgossip247 • 2h ago

[Video opens on a young woman in a Grizzlies jersey sitting in her bedroom]

"Okay, so let me break down this INSANE Ruslan Dragunov situation for you because it just keeps getting better."

[Cut to screenshots of the Chorus post]

"Yesterday, someone spotted Dragunov having brunch with Midori Ashworth — Thorne Ashworth's MOM.

Already weird, right?"

[Cut to the Picto stories side by side]

"Then they BOTH post coffee from the same café.

Like, they're not even trying to hide it."

[Cut to more screenshots]

"And people in Kestrel are saying they've been seen together MULTIPLE times over the past month.

At galleries.

At restaurants.

Just ... hanging out."

[The woman leans into camera]

"Now, there are two possibilities here.

One:

Dragunov is actually dating Ashworth's mom, which would be the most unhinged thing to ever happen in professional sports."

"Or two:

Something else is going on and the universe is just CLOWNING us all."

[She holds up her phone]

"But here's the thing — Dragunov is NOT denying it.

He's doing that smirky thing he does and basically fanning the flames."

"So either he's actually banging his rival's hot mom, or he WANTS us to think he is, which is almost funnier."

[Cut to clip of Thorne Ashworth from a game, looking stressed]

"Meanwhile, Thorne Ashworth looks like he wants to crawl into a hole and die, which honestly?

Relatable."

"This is messy.

This is chaotic.

This is everything I want from PHL drama."

[Video ends with her winking at camera]

"Stay tuned, besties.

This story is far from over."

♬ original sound - puckgossip247

@bearsforever DRAGUNOV IS A LEGEND I DON'T MAKE THE RULES

@mtlvoys4life Thorne Ashworth is somewhere crying into his Champion Flakes

@puck_babe_93 okay but Midori Ashworth really IS gorgeous so like ...

I get it?

@puckedup247 I TOOK THE ORIGINAL PHOTO AND I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS HAPPENING

@ruslandragunovfc the fact that he's not denying it makes me think it's true

From: Priya Nair [email protected]To: Thorne Ashworth [email protected]Subject: RE:

The Situation

Thorne,

I've been fielding calls all day.

ESPN, CSN, GameNet, even fucking TMZ wants to talk to you about your mother and Dragunov.

Obviously, you're not commenting.

But we need to discuss strategy here because this isn't going away.

The longer you stay silent, the more people will assume the rumors are true.

But if you deny them too vehemently, it'll look suspicious for other reasons we've discussed.

My advice?

Make a joke out of it.

Post something light on social media.

Show you're unbothered.

Though between you and me, you seem pretty fucking bothered.

Call me when you can.

Best,Priya

@thorneashworth_hockey • 1h ago

[Photo of Thorne at practice, looking exhausted, leaning against the boards with his helmet off.

Caption:

"some days are harder than others "]

@ruslandragunovofficial Is okay Ashworth, I make your life more interesting

@hockeyfan247 OH MY GOD HE COMMENTED

@bearsandvoys THE AUDACITY

@mtlfan87 DRAGUNOV YOU MESSY BITCH I LOVE YOU

@jessecalloway Hang in there buddy

@ty_bergeron beer later?

@hockeyinsider We see that Dragunov comment Thorne

@sandraloveshockey THORNE BLINK TWICE IF YOU NEED HELP

Ruslan Dragunov Updates @DragunovNews • 47m ago

Ruslan just commented on Thorne Ashworth's Picto post.

I'm-

[Screenshot of Dragunov's comment]

9.1K ReWaves 30.2K Likes

katie @katiepuck • 46m ago

Replying to @DragunovNews

he has NO FEAR

he really doesn't give a single fuck

absolute mad lad

3.2K ReWaves 14.1K Likes

PHL Memes Daily @PHLMemesDaily • 44m ago

Dragunov really out here playing 4D chess while Ashworth is playing checkers

[Meme of Dragunov's face photoshopped onto a guy playing chess in front of multiple monitors]

12.5K ReWaves 49.7K Likes

Reporter: Ruslan, can we talk about the elephant in the room?

Ruslan: [grinning] We have elephant?

Is this new mascot?

Reporter: [laughs] The rumors about you and Midori Ashworth.

Ruslan: Ah.

This.

Reporter: So ... any comment?

Ruslan: [shrugs] Is free country.

I can have coffee with whoever I want, no?

Reporter: But you understand why people are speculating-

Ruslan: People always speculate.

Is part of being famous.

I do not worry about it.

Reporter: So you're not denying that you're seeing her?

Ruslan: [smirks] I am not confirming or denying anything.

But I will say ...

Midori is very lovely woman.

Very smart.

Very interesting to talk to.

Reporter: And Thorne Ashworth — your rival — how do you think he feels about this?

Ruslan: [laughs] You have to ask Ashworth.

But I think he is ... how you say ... adjusting.

Reporter: This has to be the strangest rivalry development we've ever covered.

Ruslan: Hockey is not just about ice, you know?

Is about life.

About connections.

About finding family where you can.

Reporter: That's ... surprisingly deep.

Ruslan: I contain multitudes.

[winks at camera and skates away]

c/NorthportGrizzlies

Posted by u/GrizzDefense_77 • 2h ago

Chapter 2

In twenty years of sports journalism, I've seen a lot.

I've covered locker room feuds, contract disputes, and even the occasional affair.

But I have never — and I mean never— seen anything quite like this.

The internet, predictably, lost its mind.

The prevailing theory?

It sounds absurd.

It sounds like something out of a bad comedy.

And yet, the evidence keeps mounting.

I reached out to both the Grizzlies and Renegades organizations for comment.

Neither would provide one.

Thorne Ashworth's agent, Priya Nair, tersely replied:

"Thorne has no comment on his personal family matters."

Midori Ashworth herself, a elegant 52-year-old former gallery curator who has largely stayed out of the spotlight despite her son's fame, has not responded to requests for comment.

Her husband, Kenji Ashworth, simply laughed when I called and said, "You media folks sure know how to make a story out of nothing."

But is it nothing?

Let's look at the facts:

When I asked former PHL player and current analyst Marcus Webb what he made of the situation, he laughed so hard he started coughing.

"If this is real," Webb said, wiping his eyes, "this is the most legendary power move in PHL history.

Can you imagine?

Your biggest rival is banging your mom?

That's some psychological warfare that would make General Zhao weep."

But others aren't so sure it's romantic.

"Maybe they just happen to get along?" Suggested hockey writer Sam Hollis.

"Maybe there's a perfectly innocent explanation and we're all being ridiculous?"

Perhaps.

But in the age of social media and instant speculation, innocent explanations rarely gain traction.

And Dragunov?

He seems to be enjoying every minute of it.

When approached after practice today, Dragunov simply smirked and said, "Is free country, no?

Can have coffee with whoever I want." When pressed on whether he was dating Midori Ashworth, he laughed and skated away.

Thorne Ashworth, meanwhile, has gone completely silent on social media — unusual for someone who typically posts several times a week.

Make of that what you will.

[Comments: 2,051]

Mom :

Sweetheart, have you seen all this silliness online?

Thorne:

Yes, Mom.

I've seen it.

Everyone thinks you're sleeping with my boyfriend.

Well, technically they think I'm sleeping with your RIVAL

MOM.

I'm sorry, darling, but it IS a little bit funny

It's NOT funny

Do you know what people are saying?

That I'm a cougar who seduced a younger man?

I'm quite flattered, actually

OH MY GOD

Thorne, breathe

Nobody who matters actually believes this

And it's good cover for the real reason I've been spending time with Ruslan

Which is that you've emotionally adopted him because his own mother is dead and you have too much love to give?

Exactly

You understand

I understand that my BOYFRIEND and my MOTHER are now internet famous and everyone thinks they're FUCKING

Do you know what the guys in the locker room are saying to me?

I can imagine

But darling, you know the truth.

We know the truth.

Your father knows the truth.

That's what matters

People are making MEMES

There are MEMES, Mom

I saw the one with the "distracted boyfriend" format

Quite clever, actually

I want to die

So dramatic

You're just like Ruslan

I'm NOTHING like Ruslan

Ruslan thinks this is HILARIOUS

He's actively making it WORSE

He's having fun, sweetheart

You should try it sometime

I'm blocking everyone I know and moving to Avalon

Before you do, we're still on for dinner Sunday, right?

I'm making that salmon you love

Ruslan's coming too

OF COURSE HE IS

He's family, Thorne

Even if the internet thinks he's my boy-toy

I'M BLOCKING YOU TOO

Love you, sweetheart

See you Sunday

@puckgossip247 • 2h ago

[Video opens on a young woman in a Grizzlies jersey sitting in her bedroom]

"Okay, so let me break down this INSANE Ruslan Dragunov situation for you because it just keeps getting better."

[Cut to screenshots of the Chorus post]

"Yesterday, someone spotted Dragunov having brunch with Midori Ashworth — Thorne Ashworth's MOM.

Already weird, right?"

[Cut to the Picto stories side by side]

"Then they BOTH post coffee from the same café.

Like, they're not even trying to hide it."

[Cut to more screenshots]

"And people in Kestrel are saying they've been seen together MULTIPLE times over the past month.

At galleries.

At restaurants.

Just ... hanging out."

[The woman leans into camera]

"Now, there are two possibilities here.

One:

Dragunov is actually dating Ashworth's mom, which would be the most unhinged thing to ever happen in professional sports."

"Or two:

Something else is going on and the universe is just CLOWNING us all."

[She holds up her phone]

"But here's the thing — Dragunov is NOT denying it.

He's doing that smirky thing he does and basically fanning the flames."

"So either he's actually banging his rival's hot mom, or he WANTS us to think he is, which is almost funnier."

[Cut to clip of Thorne Ashworth from a game, looking stressed]

"Meanwhile, Thorne Ashworth looks like he wants to crawl into a hole and die, which honestly?

Relatable."

"This is messy.

This is chaotic.

This is everything I want from PHL drama."

[Video ends with her winking at camera]

"Stay tuned, besties.

This story is far from over."

♬ original sound - puckgossip247

@bearsforever DRAGUNOV IS A LEGEND I DON'T MAKE THE RULES

@mtlvoys4life Thorne Ashworth is somewhere crying into his Champion Flakes

@puck_babe_93 okay but Midori Ashworth really IS gorgeous so like ...

I get it?

@puckedup247 I TOOK THE ORIGINAL PHOTO AND I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS HAPPENING

@ruslandragunovfc the fact that he's not denying it makes me think it's true

From: Priya Nair [email protected]To: Thorne Ashworth [email protected]Subject: RE:

The Situation

Thorne,

I've been fielding calls all day.

ESPN, CSN, GameNet, even fucking TMZ wants to talk to you about your mother and Dragunov.

Obviously, you're not commenting.

But we need to discuss strategy here because this isn't going away.

The longer you stay silent, the more people will assume the rumors are true.

But if you deny them too vehemently, it'll look suspicious for other reasons we've discussed.

My advice?

Make a joke out of it.

Post something light on social media.

Show you're unbothered.

Though between you and me, you seem pretty fucking bothered.

Call me when you can.

Best,Priya

@thorneashworth_hockey • 1h ago

[Photo of Thorne at practice, looking exhausted, leaning against the boards with his helmet off.

Caption:

"some days are harder than others "]

@ruslandragunovofficial Is okay Ashworth, I make your life more interesting

@hockeyfan247 OH MY GOD HE COMMENTED

@bearsandvoys THE AUDACITY

@mtlfan87 DRAGUNOV YOU MESSY BITCH I LOVE YOU

@jessecalloway Hang in there buddy

@ty_bergeron beer later?

@hockeyinsider We see that Dragunov comment Thorne

@sandraloveshockey THORNE BLINK TWICE IF YOU NEED HELP

Ruslan Dragunov Updates @DragunovNews • 47m ago

Ruslan just commented on Thorne Ashworth's Picto post.

I'm-

[Screenshot of Dragunov's comment]

9.1K ReWaves 30.2K Likes

katie @katiepuck • 46m ago

Replying to @DragunovNews

he has NO FEAR

he really doesn't give a single fuck

absolute mad lad

3.2K ReWaves 14.1K Likes

PHL Memes Daily @PHLMemesDaily • 44m ago

Dragunov really out here playing 4D chess while Ashworth is playing checkers

[Meme of Dragunov's face photoshopped onto a guy playing chess in front of multiple monitors]

12.5K ReWaves 49.7K Likes

Reporter: Ruslan, can we talk about the elephant in the room?

Ruslan: [grinning] We have elephant?

Is this new mascot?

Reporter: [laughs] The rumors about you and Midori Ashworth.

Ruslan: Ah.

This.

Reporter: So ... any comment?

Ruslan: [shrugs] Is free country.

I can have coffee with whoever I want, no?

Reporter: But you understand why people are speculating-

Ruslan: People always speculate.

Is part of being famous.

I do not worry about it.

Reporter: So you're not denying that you're seeing her?

Ruslan: [smirks] I am not confirming or denying anything.

But I will say ...

Midori is very lovely woman.

Very smart.

Very interesting to talk to.

Reporter: And Thorne Ashworth — your rival — how do you think he feels about this?

Ruslan: [laughs] You have to ask Ashworth.

But I think he is ... how you say ... adjusting.

Reporter: This has to be the strangest rivalry development we've ever covered.

Ruslan: Hockey is not just about ice, you know?

Is about life.

About connections.

About finding family where you can.

Reporter: That's ... surprisingly deep.

Ruslan: I contain multitudes.

[winks at camera and skates away]

c/NorthportGrizzlies

Posted by u/GrizzDefense_77 • 2h ago