Have you visited your home since you arrived in America? If so, what was it like for you?
Yes, I visited back home last summer of 2023. It was a long way to get there, but I was happy to see my family and spend time with them because I hadn’t seen them for two years before that. As soon as I arrived in my city, it felt like home right away.
How was traveling back to Ukraine like from the United States?
I went back home last summer. I took three flights, the first was from Minneapolis to Boston—that flight wasn’t that long, but from Boston to France, it was 12 hours. From France to Poland, it was a three-hour flight. From Poland, I had to take a bus to Kharkiv, my city. The bus ride was 17 hours.
Do any specific professional athletes inspire you?
Ryan Reaves inspires me because there (are) not many players in the league playing like him. I love how tough of a player he is and that he will stand up for his teammates anytime.
What does your routine look like to prepare for a game?
I go on a walk for an hour around the lake, listening to some music to get my mind right. For my pregame meal, I eat Chipotle. My order is a bowl of white rice, chicken, sour cream, cheese, and lettuce.
What is your favorite sport between soccer and hockey, and how has that sport impacted your life?
My favorite sport is definitely hockey and it has had a huge impact on my life. It has made me a lot of friends and the sport has kept me in shape my whole life with practices, lifts and everything beyond that. It’s also the reason I was able to come to America.
What has been your favorite hockey moment so far?
So far, my favorite hockey moment is tying the Benilde St. Margaret’s junior varsity team in my junior year. This is because Benilde is our biggest rival and it was really fun to play in that game, even though it was junior varsity. The Rec Center was packed, and it was loud the whole game, so it was pretty sick tying their team.
What are your expectations for this year’s season and for yourself?
My expectations are really high for my senior season. The goal is to win as many games as possible and to win at least one section game. I hope to keep my team every time and to never let them down.
