Chapter 3 · Behind the Blurry Photo

Okay I was at practice today and I need to tell you what I overheard

So I got glass seats for the practice (yes I'm bragging) and I was close enough to hear some of the guys talking during a water break.

Wes Donovan skated up to Dragunov and I SWEAR TO GOD this is what I heard:

Donovan:

"So when do we get to meet your girlfriend?"Ruslan:

[laughing] "Is not like that"Decker:

"Then what is it like?"Ruslan:

"Is ... complicated family situation"Sterling:

"WHOSE family?"Ruslan:

[just smirks and skates away]

THE BOYS THINK HE'S ACTUALLY DOING IT

They think he's actually fucking Thorne Ashworth's mom and they're like ... in AWE of him?

I'm losing my mind.

1.8k comments

u/GrizzFan2017 567 points • 1h ago

"Complicated family situation" WHAT DOES THAT MEAN

u/pucknut81 489 points • 1h ago

Either he's banging her or something EVEN WEIRDER is happening and I can't imagine what that would be

u/PuckLife_902 421 points • 1h ago

His teammates absolutely believe it and that's the funniest part.

They think their center is out here living some kind of porno plot.

@midori.ashworth • 3h ago

[Photo of a beautiful home-cooked Feronian meal laid out on a table: salmon teriyaki, miso soup, rice, pickled vegetables.

"Sunday family dinner prep ️ There's nothing I love more than cooking for the people I love ❤️"]

@kenji.ashworth Lucky man to come home to this

@ruslandragunovofficial Cannot wait

@hockeyupdates247 HE COMMENTED AGAIN

@bearsforlife "Cannot wait" HE'S GOING TO DINNER AT THEIR HOUSE

@mtl_hockey Thorne Ashworth is somewhere screaming into a pillow

@pucknews THIS KEEPS GETTING BETTER

@lauraknows_ott Midori you're handling this internet insanity with such grace

@midori.ashworth Life's too short to take everything so seriously!

Did you just comment on my MOTHER'S Picto post

About coming to DINNER

Where everyone can SEE IT

Yes?

Your mama invite me for Sunday dinner

I say I am excited

Is polite!

PEOPLE ARE GOING INSANE

There are ARTICLES about you going to my family's house

Is good!

More people think I am there for your mama

Nobody suspects I am there for you

I'm going to lose my mind

Thorne

Relax

Is actually perfect cover

Think about it

I don't WANT to think about it

I want to think about literally anything else

I think you are maybe little bit jealous

I AM NOT JEALOUS

You are!

You are jealous people think I want your mama instead of you

That's not

I'm not

Okay MAYBE a little

Everyone keeps talking about how gorgeous she is

And how you "have good taste"

And I'm just sitting here like ... what about ME

I'm the one you're actually with!

Thorne

You are most beautiful person I know

Your mama is lovely but she is not you

Nobody compares to you

Okay that was smooth

I'm still mad though

How mad?

Like a 4 out of 10

I can work with that

I make it up to you on Sunday

After dinner

Your papa say I can stay in guest room

But actually I sneak to your room

Like old times

We're not teenagers sneaking around anymore

We're grown men having a fake affair scandal involving my mother

Is romantic, no?

NO.

I think is romantic

Like Orion and Vega

But with more hockey

And your mama

I'm going to murder you

But first dinner on Sunday?

... yes

But I'm still mad

Sure, Thorne

Sure

"Dragunov Doubles Down:

Grizzlies Star Spotted Shopping With Midori Ashworth in Kestrel"

By Thomas Reid

Published 2 hours ago

Just when you thought this story couldn't get any stranger.

Ruslan Dragunov was spotted yesterday afternoon at the Waverly Galleria in Kestrel — shopping with Midori Ashworth.

Multiple witnesses report seeing the pair browsing in Bayside Kitchen (Ashworth purchased new dish towels and a ceramic baking dish, according to sources) before stopping for tea at a nearby café.

"They looked like a couple," says Carina Walsh, 28, who took a photo of the two at the tea shop.

"He was carrying her shopping bags and everything.

It was actually really sweet."

The photo, which has since gone viral, shows Dragunov listening attentively as Midori gestures while speaking, both of them with cups of tea in front of them.

When reached for comment, Kenji Ashworth — Midori's husband and Thorne's father — simply laughed.

"I trust my wife completely," he said.

"And I like Ruslan.

He's a good kid."

A good kid who is rumored to be romantically involved with his wife?

I had to ask.

"The internet believes what it wants to believe," Kenji said.

"We know the truth.

Thorne Ashworth, meanwhile, has still not commented publicly on the situation.

His teammates report that he's been "quieter than usual" at practice.

"Ashworth's going through it," said Renegades defenseman.

Ty Bergeron

"Can't say I blame him.

This whole thing is wild."

Dragunov, for his part, seems to be enjoying the attention.

When asked after practice about the shopping trip, he simply winked and said, "I am gentleman.

Gentleman carries bags."

The internet, predictably, has lost what remains of its collective mind.

[Comments: 4,192]

@puckgossip247 • 4h ago

[Video opens on the same woman, now looking exhausted]

"OKAY.

OKAY.

So there's been an UPDATE."

[Cut to screenshots of the shopping photos]

"Ruslan Dragunov went SHOPPING with Midori Ashworth.

In KESTREL.

He was carrying her BAGS."

[Cut to close-up of photo]

"And people who saw them say they looked like a COUPLE.

Like an actual couple on a date."

[The woman holds up her hands]

"At this point I don't even know what to believe anymore.

Either:"

[She counts on her fingers]

"One:

This is real and Dragunov is actually dating his rival's mom, which is UNHINGED."

"Two:

This is the most elaborate prank in PHL history."

"Three:

There's a secret third option that none of us have figured out yet."

[Cut to clip of Thorne Ashworth from recent game, looking absolutely miserable]

"But the real victim here is Thorne Ashworth, who looks like he's been through twelve wars."

[She leans into camera]

"Thorne, buddy, if you're watching this — and let's be real, you probably are because what else are you gonna do — I'm so sorry.

This is your personal hell and we're all just living in it."

[Video ends]

@thorneashworth_hockey Can confirm it's my personal hell

@puckgossip247 THORNE ASHWORTH JUST COMMENTED ON MY CLIPLOOP

@puckgossip247 I'M DEAD

@puckgossip247 THORNE I'M SO SORRY

@bearsforever LMAOOOOO HE COMMENTED

@mtlhockey78 THORNE NOOOO

@pucklife247 this is the best day of my life

@ruslandragunovofficial

@sandraloveshockey RUSLAN NO

@hockeyinsider HE'S MAKING IT WORSE

@bearsandvoys THE AUDACITY OF THIS MAN

Chapter 3

Okay I was at practice today and I need to tell you what I overheard

So I got glass seats for the practice (yes I'm bragging) and I was close enough to hear some of the guys talking during a water break.

Wes Donovan skated up to Dragunov and I SWEAR TO GOD this is what I heard:

Donovan:

"So when do we get to meet your girlfriend?"Ruslan:

[laughing] "Is not like that"Decker:

"Then what is it like?"Ruslan:

"Is ... complicated family situation"Sterling:

"WHOSE family?"Ruslan:

[just smirks and skates away]

THE BOYS THINK HE'S ACTUALLY DOING IT

They think he's actually fucking Thorne Ashworth's mom and they're like ... in AWE of him?

I'm losing my mind.

1.8k comments

u/GrizzFan2017 567 points • 1h ago

"Complicated family situation" WHAT DOES THAT MEAN

u/pucknut81 489 points • 1h ago

Either he's banging her or something EVEN WEIRDER is happening and I can't imagine what that would be

u/PuckLife_902 421 points • 1h ago

His teammates absolutely believe it and that's the funniest part.

They think their center is out here living some kind of porno plot.

@midori.ashworth • 3h ago

[Photo of a beautiful home-cooked Feronian meal laid out on a table: salmon teriyaki, miso soup, rice, pickled vegetables.

"Sunday family dinner prep ️ There's nothing I love more than cooking for the people I love ❤️"]

@kenji.ashworth Lucky man to come home to this

@ruslandragunovofficial Cannot wait

@hockeyupdates247 HE COMMENTED AGAIN

@bearsforlife "Cannot wait" HE'S GOING TO DINNER AT THEIR HOUSE

@mtl_hockey Thorne Ashworth is somewhere screaming into a pillow

@pucknews THIS KEEPS GETTING BETTER

@lauraknows_ott Midori you're handling this internet insanity with such grace

@midori.ashworth Life's too short to take everything so seriously!

Did you just comment on my MOTHER'S Picto post

About coming to DINNER

Where everyone can SEE IT

Yes?

Your mama invite me for Sunday dinner

I say I am excited

Is polite!

PEOPLE ARE GOING INSANE

There are ARTICLES about you going to my family's house

Is good!

More people think I am there for your mama

Nobody suspects I am there for you

I'm going to lose my mind

Thorne

Relax

Is actually perfect cover

Think about it

I don't WANT to think about it

I want to think about literally anything else

I think you are maybe little bit jealous

I AM NOT JEALOUS

You are!

You are jealous people think I want your mama instead of you

That's not

I'm not

Okay MAYBE a little

Everyone keeps talking about how gorgeous she is

And how you "have good taste"

And I'm just sitting here like ... what about ME

I'm the one you're actually with!

Thorne

You are most beautiful person I know

Your mama is lovely but she is not you

Nobody compares to you

Okay that was smooth

I'm still mad though

How mad?

Like a 4 out of 10

I can work with that

I make it up to you on Sunday

After dinner

Your papa say I can stay in guest room

But actually I sneak to your room

Like old times

We're not teenagers sneaking around anymore

We're grown men having a fake affair scandal involving my mother

Is romantic, no?

NO.

I think is romantic

Like Orion and Vega

But with more hockey

And your mama

I'm going to murder you

But first dinner on Sunday?

... yes

But I'm still mad

Sure, Thorne

Sure

"Dragunov Doubles Down:

Grizzlies Star Spotted Shopping With Midori Ashworth in Kestrel"

By Thomas Reid

Published 2 hours ago

Just when you thought this story couldn't get any stranger.

Ruslan Dragunov was spotted yesterday afternoon at the Waverly Galleria in Kestrel — shopping with Midori Ashworth.

Multiple witnesses report seeing the pair browsing in Bayside Kitchen (Ashworth purchased new dish towels and a ceramic baking dish, according to sources) before stopping for tea at a nearby café.

"They looked like a couple," says Carina Walsh, 28, who took a photo of the two at the tea shop.

"He was carrying her shopping bags and everything.

It was actually really sweet."

The photo, which has since gone viral, shows Dragunov listening attentively as Midori gestures while speaking, both of them with cups of tea in front of them.

When reached for comment, Kenji Ashworth — Midori's husband and Thorne's father — simply laughed.

"I trust my wife completely," he said.

"And I like Ruslan.

He's a good kid."

A good kid who is rumored to be romantically involved with his wife?

I had to ask.

"The internet believes what it wants to believe," Kenji said.

"We know the truth.

Thorne Ashworth, meanwhile, has still not commented publicly on the situation.

His teammates report that he's been "quieter than usual" at practice.

"Ashworth's going through it," said Renegades defenseman.

Ty Bergeron

"Can't say I blame him.

This whole thing is wild."

Dragunov, for his part, seems to be enjoying the attention.

When asked after practice about the shopping trip, he simply winked and said, "I am gentleman.

Gentleman carries bags."

The internet, predictably, has lost what remains of its collective mind.

[Comments: 4,192]

@puckgossip247 • 4h ago

[Video opens on the same woman, now looking exhausted]

"OKAY.

OKAY.

So there's been an UPDATE."

[Cut to screenshots of the shopping photos]

"Ruslan Dragunov went SHOPPING with Midori Ashworth.

In KESTREL.

He was carrying her BAGS."

[Cut to close-up of photo]

"And people who saw them say they looked like a COUPLE.

Like an actual couple on a date."

[The woman holds up her hands]

"At this point I don't even know what to believe anymore.

Either:"

[She counts on her fingers]

"One:

This is real and Dragunov is actually dating his rival's mom, which is UNHINGED."

"Two:

This is the most elaborate prank in PHL history."

"Three:

There's a secret third option that none of us have figured out yet."

[Cut to clip of Thorne Ashworth from recent game, looking absolutely miserable]

"But the real victim here is Thorne Ashworth, who looks like he's been through twelve wars."

[She leans into camera]

"Thorne, buddy, if you're watching this — and let's be real, you probably are because what else are you gonna do — I'm so sorry.

This is your personal hell and we're all just living in it."

[Video ends]

@thorneashworth_hockey Can confirm it's my personal hell

@puckgossip247 THORNE ASHWORTH JUST COMMENTED ON MY CLIPLOOP

@puckgossip247 I'M DEAD

@puckgossip247 THORNE I'M SO SORRY

@bearsforever LMAOOOOO HE COMMENTED

@mtlhockey78 THORNE NOOOO

@pucklife247 this is the best day of my life

@ruslandragunovofficial

@sandraloveshockey RUSLAN NO

@hockeyinsider HE'S MAKING IT WORSE

@bearsandvoys THE AUDACITY OF THIS MAN