16. Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Sixteen
Stampede Social Media
CODY: Hey everyone, Cody Martinez here from Lone Star State Sports Network, and I'm back with Lone Star Laps — our regular segment with a member of the Austin Stampede where we skate around the Stampede's practice facility and chat about what's going on with the team. Let me get my phone flipped out of selfie mode and get it adjusted on the stick, and let’s get out on the ice with Kevin St. Clair, defense for your Austin Stampede.
CODY: Kevin, most random thing you've ever signed?
KEVIN: A bag of dog food. Someone brought it to a charity thing last year.
CODY: You're kidding.
KEVIN: Nope. Guy said his Lab was obsessed with Ranger and wanted me to sign the bag he was about to feed him. Little does he know Ranger eats this bougie dehydrated salmon food that I have to mix with water and rehydrate. He's spoiled.
CODY: Who on the team has the best style?
KEVIN: Josh Bertrand. Hands down. Best dressed goalie in the league. He won’t tell us where he shops. It’s a mystery.
CODY: When you're on the road, what are you most likely to eat?
KEVIN: Poke bowl if I can find a good spot. Otherwise, I love a good steak. Boring but effective. Although Crash has been trying to get me to branch out. Last time we were in Seattle, he dragged me to this Indonesian place.
CODY: How'd that go?
KEVIN: It was actually amazing, but don't tell him I said that.
CODY: Alright, creative question. If you could design an alternate jersey for the Stampede, what would you do?
KEVIN: Ooh. Okay. Keep the burnt orange as the primary color — really lean into it — with navy and white accents.
But I want it vintage. Like what would it look like if we’d been one of the original teams in the league back a hundred years ago.
I think we’d need an old school kind of longhorn for a secondary logo on the shoulders for sure.
CODY: Who's the lead singer of the Stampede boy band and why?
KEVIN: Momo for sure. He was born to be a front man. We went to a karaoke bar on the first roadtrip of the season. The kid does a full choreographed routine. The works. He made Liam be a backup dancer and I thought Crash was going to commit a crime.
CODY: What song?
KEVIN: Rewrite the Stars from The Greatest Showman.
CODY: No.
KEVIN: I have video. I'm not allowed to share it because Liam threatened my life, but it exists. Tyler hit every note. Full Zac Efron energy. Aiden was crying laughing. Josh left the room.
CODY: I need to see this video.
KEVIN: You really do. But you won't. Because my dog needs me alive to feed him bougie food.
CODY: Last question. Favorite game memory. Could be from anywhere — youth hockey, college, minors, pros. What sticks with you?
KEVIN: I was eight. My brother Cameron was twelve.
I'd finally aged up enough to play on his team — they needed extra skaters for a tournament and I got called up.
I was terrified. These kids were so much bigger than me.
But Cam just... He made sure I was okay.
Talked to me before the game. Told me where to be on the ice.
Set me up for my first-ever goal in a tournament like that.
CODY: That's a good memory.
KEVIN: I don't remember if we won. I don't remember the score. I just remember him skating over after I scored and lifting me off the ice. Like I'd done something incredible. Like I belonged there. I can’t make more memories with him, so I value the ones I have so much.
CODY: There you have it, folks. Kevin St. Clair, defenseman for your Austin Stampede. Thanks for skating with us, Sunshine.
KEVIN: Anytime, Cody.