It was basically the modern-day Canadian fairy tale. A rising NHL star and a global pop sensation. Cole Sillinger and Tate McRae didn’t just date; they became the internet's favorite "what if" story. Honestly, if you were on TikTok or following hockey Twitter back in 2022, you couldn’t escape them. It started with a crush and ended with a viral meme that still haunts the comment sections of the Columbus Blue Jackets' Instagram page.
The whole thing kicked off because Cole Sillinger, a first-round draft pick with plenty of hype, admitted in an interview that Tate McRae was his celebrity crush. It’s the kind of move every guy dreams will work. For him, it actually did.
They weren't just a casual fling. They were at Fashion Week together. They were doing the long-distance thing between Columbus and whatever city Tate was selling out that night. But like most things that burn that bright, it didn't last. By early 2023, the photos were deleted. The unfollows happened. And then came the music.
The Fumble Heard 'Round the NHL
When Tate McRae released "greedy" and "exes," the internet didn't just listen—it investigated. People were convinced these tracks were the post-breakup manifesto. Then came the 2024 NHL All-Star Game in Toronto. Tate was there as a celebrity captain and a performer. Cole? He wasn't on the roster.
A meme went nuclear. It basically said Sillinger "fumbled" so hard that his ex-girlfriend made it to the All-Star Game before he did. It’s harsh. Really harsh. But that’s the internet for you.
Surprisingly, Cole actually responded. Usually, athletes ignore the noise, but he hopped into a comment section to call the cheating rumors "all false." He wanted to set the record straight: the relationship ended, but not because of some "Tinder scandal" or infidelity that fans were cooking up on Reddit.
Breaking Down the Timeline
If you're trying to keep track of how this all went down, here's the gist of it without the fluff:
- Late 2021: The spark. Cole mentions Tate in an interview. They start talking through mutual friends (Tate’s brother Tucker plays hockey, too, so the circles overlapped).
- September 2022: They go "public-public" at the Jason Wu show during New York Fashion Week. They looked like the "it" couple.
- Early 2023: Silence. The social media purge happens. You know the drill—if the pictures are gone, the relationship is usually gone too.
- January 2024: Tate is spotted with The Kid LAROI. The Sillinger era is officially in the rearview mirror.
- 2025-2026: Tate is on her massive "Miss Possessive Tour," and Cole is grinding out his career in Columbus.
Life After the Split
People love to talk about the "breakup songs," but Tate has been pretty chill about the whole thing in interviews. She’s mentioned that she stays on decent terms with her exes. In her 2026 Rolling Stone cover story, she talked about how her third album, So Close to What, deals with the intensity of fame and finding balance.
Cole has had a different road. Hockey fans are ruthless. He’s had to deal with "Tate" chants in opposing arenas and constant memes about "the fumble." On the ice, he’s been finding his footing. In the current 2025-26 season, he’s been a steady presence for the Blue Jackets, putting up decent numbers despite the off-ice distractions.
He recently signed a two-year extension worth $4.5 million. He’s focused on the game. He's not some "ex-boyfriend" character; he’s a 22-year-old center trying to lead a franchise.
Why We’re Still Talking About It
It’s the crossover appeal. You’ve got the sports world and the music world colliding. It’s why people still bring up Mike Comrie and Hilary Duff or Carrie Underwood and Mike Fisher.
There's also the "villain" narrative. Fans love a story where the girl wins the breakup. Seeing Tate perform at the Scotiabank Arena while Cole was watching from home created a cinematic moment that PR teams couldn't even script.
But honestly? They were just two twenty-somethings trying to date while the world watched. It’s messy. It’s awkward. It’s human.
What You Should Know Now
If you're looking for a reunion, don't hold your breath. Tate and The Kid LAROI have been the main focus for a while now, even with their own "are they or aren't they" rumors swirling throughout 2025.
For the fans of the music:
Pay attention to the lyrics in So Close to What. Songs like "tit for tat" and "revolving door" definitely lean into the frustrations of young love, though Tate is smart enough to never name names. She leaves just enough breadcrumbs for the fans to feel the emotion without making it a police report.
For the hockey fans:
Cole Sillinger is more than a meme. His 2025-26 stats show a player who is maturing. He's hovering around a point every other game and has seen his ice time stabilize under the new coaching staff. He’s playing for his next big contract right now.
The "Cole and Tate" era is a closed chapter, but it’s a perfect example of how celebrity culture and professional sports create these weird, permanent digital footprints.
How to Follow Their Careers Today
- Tate McRae: She’s currently mid-tour. If you’re in a major city, chances are she’s coming through soon with her Miss Possessive set. Her choreography is on another level this year.
- Cole Sillinger: Check the Blue Jackets schedule. He’s wearing #4 and playing a gritty, two-way game. If you go to a game, you might still hear a few stray comments from the nosebleeds, but he’s mostly tuned it out.
Focus on the craft. Both of them are at the top of their respective fields for a reason. The relationship was a moment in time, but the work they’re doing now is what’s going to define them in the long run.
📖 Related: Lindsay Lohan in a Bikini: What Most People Get Wrong About Her 2026 Transformation
Instead of searching for old photos, check out Tate's new live versions of "It's ok I'm ok" or look up Cole's latest highlight reel from the Vancouver game. That's where the real story is now.