On Episode 75 of Rinkside Rundown, I’m joined by Vita Poniatovskaia, a standout defender for Yale and one of the most dynamic blue-liners in NCAA hockey.

Vita shares her hockey journey, from playing boys’ hockey in Russia to captaining a team in Toronto and earning her spot at Yale. She talks about adjusting to the North American game, growing as a leader, and what it takes to be a top defender in the ECAC.

We discuss her international experience with Russia, how she balances hockey and Ivy League academics, and what motivates her as she looks ahead to the next level.

This episode is sponsored by MB Performance Nutrition, which offers free resources and coaching to help hockey players perform at their best. Learn more at melissaboufounos.com.

Be sure to subscribe, like, and share Rinkside Rundown, the podcast that brings you inside the world of women’s hockey, one story at a time.