THE TATTLE OF HASTINGS: The Stanley Cup Summer of Stankoven

Below is the edited-for-length transcript of the interview with Marty Hastings of CFJC Today:

MH: Stanley Cup champion, the big contract just kicked in and the city is coming together to celebrate you on Sunday [Aug. 16]. What’s it like to be you right now?

LS: It’s exciting. I don’t think it’s changed who I am or the way I go about things. I still want to become the best player I can be and keep learning and growing as a player and person. It’s awesome to share that with my family and I’m looking forward to an exciting day on Sunday.

MH: Where are you now in terms of still celebrating the Cup and shifting focus to next season?

LS: Usually the weekends are kind of my time to relax or maybe celebrate with friends and catch up with old buddies. During the week, my Monday to Friday is pretty busy and I try and keep it pretty dialled into training on the ice and in the gym.

MH: It’s been a shorter off-season for you. I don’t think you were able to do your normal vacation in Europe or wherever. What have you been doing mostly for the last month?

LS: Other than the training, on the weekends I try and get out to the lake and get out golfing, too. I’ve been starting to golf a little bit more, so it’s been fun to get out there and get the handicap down.

MH: Where are you golfing mostly?

LS: Lately, I’ve been all over. Usually Bighorn. It’s one of my favorite courses. It’s close. I’ve been out to The Dunes. I haven’t played Kamloops [Golf and Country Club] yet or Tobiano, but maybe I’ll get out there before I leave in a few weeks.

MH: Are you golfing with [New York Rangers’ goaltender Dylan] Garand?

LS: I have played with Garand a few times. I try and get out with different guys all the time. It’s just a good way to catch up and get out and be social.

MH: How is that matchup with you and Garand?

LS: He’s better than me, for sure. I’ve got some work to do. He’s pretty dialled in. Joe Hicketts is impressive on the course. He just steps up and hits the ball and it’s down the middle every time.

MH: Are you noticing an uptick in being recognized when you walk around the city?

LS: I think it’s definitely picked up a lot more since winning the Cup and people are recognizing me a bit more, but I just try and go about my day and if people want to stop and say hi or congratulate me or get a picture, I’m pretty easy going with that.

MH: In terms of inspiring younger people, during your playoff run we ran a couple of videos after you won the Cup. One in particular stands out. It was Mason Giddens, a young guy, and his sister. They were standing with their parents and counting down the seconds before you won the Stanley Cup, just going nuts. He ran over to his dad and jumped and gave him a bear hug. So these are the type of moments that you’re inspiring. When you see that kind of stuff, how does it feel?

LS: It’s incredible. That’s what I was like as a kid growing up watching the Cup finals. I think it’s awesome when you know somebody and a local kid. Hopefully, I can inspire the next up-and-coming stars and kids coming up from Kamloops.

MH: During the playoffs, you were nice enough to talk to us before every series. A quick note to all the comms people out there who are overprotective of players: He still won the Stanley Cup and did that. Did you get a lot of media attention in Carolina? And how do you think it compares to other bigger-market cities?

LS: It’s funny because I think as each series went on and we got deeper and deeper, you could tell there was more of a buzz. The dressing room after practices or after morning skates would be packed. So, it definitely attracted a lot more attention as we got deeper. As soon as we got to the final, everyone kind of hopped on the bandwagon and on the train.

MH: Last year at this time, you gave us some individual goals: 20 goals, 20 assists. You surpassed both of those. Anything top of mind for next season?

LS: I’d love to get to 30 and 30 this year. I think it’s definitely attainable. The thing I’ve been trying to focus on most going to this year is being a more consistent regular season player. I think I’ve been able to have success in playoffs.

MH: Why do you think that has been lacking a little bit, that consistency throughout the whole regular season?

LS: I don’t know. It’s a long year. I am still learning and developing. I think maybe with playoffs there’s so much more on the line, so maybe that’s a little bit of extra motivation. But, this year, I want to be able to just come in right away and not hesitate. I want to pick up right where I left off in playoffs.

MH: Sometimes, when players reach the pinnacle of whatever sport they’re in, there’s almost a feeling of, ‘That’s it?’ I don’t know if empty is the right word, but just kind of a feeling of, ‘What’s next? This is what I’ve worked for and now what?’ Do you feel that at all?

LS: No. I think it’s almost the opposite. I think getting that first taste of winning a Stanley Cup and just the experiences we had in the aftermath of all that, it makes me even hungrier and I want to win again.

MH: I checked this morning and Carolina’s the third-favourite to win the Cup, to repeat. I think it’s Florida and Colorado that are ahead of you. With Florida bringing in [Brady] Tkachuk and the history you have with that team, what did you make of that move and can you foresee perhaps a big matchup in the playoffs with those guys?

LS: It’s a great pickup for them. I think that’s exactly how they want to play. They kind of play it any way you want. If you want to score, they can do that. If you want to play physical, they love to do that, too. Every team is trying to get better. For us, we’re bringing back a pretty similar team. We’ll have a few guys that are injured to start the year, but I’m very excited. I think being able to get back and contribute like I did in playoffs, I think that’d be great for the team and, obviously, great individually.

MH: You’re not a party animal by any means. That’s not your nature. But you were enjoying yourself [after winning the Cup]. What was the best part about that week or two when you were celebrating with your teammates?

LS: I think just having the Cup. You just couldn’t take your eyes off it, whether it was at a few team get togethers or team dinners. For me, the parade that we had was unbelievable. That was probably one of my favourite moments, just being able to see all the people come out and how much support there was. It was one of the coolest things I’ve ever experienced in my whole life, so that’s another reason why I’d love to experience it again and win a Cup again.

MH: You’ve got one more of those coming up this Sunday, with your hometown coming out. What are you looking forward to most about the Stanley Cup celebration at Riverside Park?

LS: I think just being able to share it with Kamloops and how much support there is here … just being able to have the Cup and take lots of photos and for people to come out and see it firsthand, it’ll be a special day and kind of my way of saying thank you to everyone for their support and for cheering me on.

by Marty Hastings

THE TATTLE OF HASTINGS: The Stanley Cup Summer of Stankoven

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