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Mikhail Sergachev’s parents travelled from Russia to Montreal to watch their son play in the Canadiens’ home opener Tuesday night at the Bell Centre against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Meanwhile, his second set of parents were watching on TV from their home in Tecumseh, Ont.

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tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Stu Cowan: Billet family helped Canadiens' Mikhail Sergachev adjust to North America Back to video

Brian and Michelle Reid are a billet family for the junior Windsor Spitfires and Sergachev lived with them last season after leaving his home in Nizhnekamsk, Russia, to pursue his dream of playing in the National Hockey League. When Sergachev arrived in Windsor, Ont., he was a 17-year-old who barely spoke a word of English. He travelled to North America along with fellow Russian Daniil Vertiy, who had already played one season with the Spitfires, and they both moved in with the Reids as their billet family.

“It was a really good transition for him to have another Russian in the house to get him adjusted to North America and customs and food, lifestyle … just everything,” Michelle Reid said.