CASTLETON, Vt. -- As part of a NCAA Division III D3Week three-part feature series, the Castleton Athletic Communications office caught up with Josef Vyvial of the Vermont State University Castleton men's hockey program.

Vyvial is a sophomore forward from Kolin, Czech Republic who plays for the Castleton men's ice hockey team and majors in graphic design. Vyvial provided eight points with five goals and three assists in 24 games this season for the Spartans. Including the game-winning goal in Castleton's 3-1 victory over New England College. In his two seasons on the ice, he has tallied 11 goals and 14 assists for 25 points in 49 career games.  
 
What is your experience like at Castleton? It's been great. Castleton is a smaller school and that suits me well I think. I get a more personal approach from my professors, and I've been getting lots of great opportunities here. I've gotten a great internship as a graphic designer at Casella, and it's been great. Getting to see how a big corporation like that works and gaining lots of experience. I've got to go on some really exciting work trips as well. The last one was to TD Garden in Boston, to film some content during the Hockey East finals. 
 
Why did you choose to play Division III? I saw this as a great opportunity to keep playing hockey on a high level while pursuing my graphic design career and exploring America. Czechia doesn't offer a chance like that. Castleton offers me plenty of other great opportunities thanks to the classes and clubs I'm in. I'm a lead designer and a cartoonist in our newspaper club "The Spartan" and for a second year in a row, I've been able to go with them to New York City for a College Media Convention. Where we as a Newspaper won the best paper in division III colleges. It was an amazing experience and a great success.  
 
What do you enjoy the most about being a Division III student-athlete? I enjoy that I get to combine two worlds that I love: hockey and Graphic design. I've been creating graphics for our team's social media and that's been having lots of success. I'd like to use that page eventually as a part of my portfolio. I have also designed special "Breaking the Ice for Mental Health game" jerseys that were worn during the game and went into an auction for Rutland Regional Hospital.  I also enjoy supporting other Castleton teams, and spending with my friends.