Captains Corner with Vlad!

Yeah, so, uh, actually Plattsburgh was my, one of my original choices before I committed to Utica.

I didn't have many because I did not know if I was eligible to play in college, um, before I was even talking to any school.

So I didn't really have many offers.

But when I told my junior coach, like, "Hey, I'm gonna try and, uh, I'm gonna try and play college.

I think it'll be, it'll be good for me," and he was, uh, he was doing some calls, and Plattsburgh was one of, uh, the first one that picked up, and they were like, "Yeah, come on in.

We would love to have you." And then, uh, I went for a visit, went to another couple places for a visit, but I ended up staying in Utica 'cause my, uh, family was there, and it was just an easy, easy transition, same rink, almost the same locker room.

So I decided to go there, and I stayed there for a year and a half, and then, uh, decided to make my move here, and I, I don't regret it at all.

It's, uh, it's been a, it's been a blast so far.

And, um, yeah, it's, it was an easy, easy transition, honestly, from Utica to here.

I mean, the guys were awesome.

They welcomed me in, and everybody, the fans, the coaching staff, players, everybody loved to have me there, here, and, uh, it was, it was really welcoming.

First, first time and first couple months were really easy.

So, uh, now it's the third season already.

Felt like it was yesterday when I came in here.

And yeah, it's been, it's been a c-crazy ride.

It's been s-so many good games and unforgettable memories.

Met so many good people.

So yeah, it's been, it's been great.

Yeah, and I think one of the things you said, and, and some of the fans may know, and, you know, we had you on with Spanny last year a couple of times, I think.

But, uh, when you talk about you had to see if you had eligibility, it's 'cause you, you played in a pretty good league for a few games.

Yeah, I, uh, had an experience.

Uh, um, I, I was blessed to play in, uh, one of the best leagues in the world, in the KHL.

I was playing my, uh, second year of juniors in the MHL, which is a Russian junior league similar to all the CHL, um, Canadian leagues.

It's a major junior league where you get paid.

And, uh, how the system works is when a player signs a contract with a system which consists of junior program and, um, pro and a minor team, you can get called up any moment, and that's what happened.