Welcome in to the DNVR Avalanche podcast. I'm Ruto, that's Megan, that's AJ, and we are joined by special guests today, Sam Balinski, here at the avalanche practice facility. Sam will get into the hockey talk in a second. First, everyone we have on the show, we've got to get a bad food take from. For example, I like mayonnaise on burritos. Very gross.

I know. Is there any kind of food that you like that's a little bit out there that people might think

is not great? Not that I can think of. I mean, ketchup on eggs. I know that's somewhat common,

but some people think that's really gross. So that'll be mine. I'll allow it. Not quite the mustard on pizza level that we've had from a couple of guests. I don't know. Kyle Quincy's was probably grossest. The tuna and tuna. It was like tuna and yogurt. Yeah. It would blend it up and drink it. Oh, it was gross. I put yogurt on waffles, I guess. I don't know if that's considered weird. I think that's better than ketchup on eggs. That sounds a little horrific. Is there any fruit with the yogurt? What did you say? Fruit with the yogurt on the waffles. Sometimes, but I think like a strawberry yogurt, I think, is really good on waffles. All right. I think we're there. I actually see the vision. No, you put fruit on waffles, and it's just sort of an extension of the fruit. I mean, I'll try it. All right. All right. Let's actually jump into the hockey talk here.

I want to start with the question.

I'm sure you've answered a bunch of times by now,

but why the Colorado Avalanche?

Yeah, it just seems like a really special organization.

It was one that stood out to me.

I know there's a lot of opportunity on the right side,

so that was definitely something that stood out to me.

But you know, you just hear great things about the coaching staff

and all the players that have come through here.

And I like the way their defensemen play as well.

So a lot of factors that went into it.

And it seems like a good decision for myself so far.

I'm sure you shared the ice with NHL guys before, but looking at some of the games you got

in the beauty league this summer with Brady Shea, I think was on that team that you're on,

and then just being on the ice for these captain's practices with players like Devon Taves,

what is it you notice about being up close to players of that caliber that really stands out to you about them?

Yeah, it's obviously really special anytime you get on the ice with any NHL guy.

So that's something I always look forward to and I love it.

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