Ilya accidentally lets slip during a lowkey interview that he doesn't have a lot of free time lately because he's been studying for his Canadian citizenship test between games, practice, and other obligations, so that he can pass his first try at it.
"What even is riding? What is governer general? So many weird English words. Don't get me started on history. Why do I have to remember there was strike in Winnipeg a hundred years ago? Was Scott Hunter there?"
The clip goes somewhat viral, but it doesn't spread far until he's doing a post-game interview where one reporter, after asking their question about the game, asks, "Where does the name 'Canada' come from?"
The reporter kind of embarresedly repeats, "Where does the word 'Canada' come from? It's on the Canadian citizenship test."
Ilya stares blankly for a moment then says, slowly, "It means village, I think. From Indigenous language? Why are you asking questions from citizenship test?"
The reporter shrugs. "You said you were having dfficulty studying for the test. Maybe it helps with studying?"
And THAT clip goes viral along with the first. It starts a trend of reporters asking questions from the Discover Canada study guide whenever the opportunity arises. It starts as a bit, but soon people get in invested and genuinely want to see Ilya pass his citizenship test. Fans start asking him questions from the study guide too, whenever they meet him at official events or out and about.
The first thing he does when he gets the results (after celebrating with the Hollanders and going to the bathroom to have a little cry over it), he posts them online and thanks everyone who helped him study.
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