Sometimes life can be unfair, and quite often where sports is involved. Take local hockey player Kevin Remson, for example. The Norwalk High School sophomore forward, one of the top scorers on this year's NHS-Brien McMahon co-op team, spent the entire regular season helping the program get back to the state tournament for the first time since 2005-06. In fact, he scored a pair of crucial goals in the Norwalkers' 4-1 win over the Eastern Connecticut Eagles last Wednesday night to clinch a spot in the CIAC Division III tourney. But shortly after registering his second goal of the game with just over six minutes to go, Remson hurt his wrist and found out later it was broken. "I'm going to have to miss the state tournament and all of lacrosse season," the two-sport athlete said. "I'm pretty disappointed." On the bright side, though, he still has two seasons left with his high school team and another chance to get back and play in the postseason. And he'll be at the Danbury Ice Arena Monday night to support his teammates. On Saturday night, less than 48 hours before the co-op team faces top-ranked New Fairfield-Immaculate in its first state tournament game in a decade, Kevin Remson went "On the Record" with Associate Sports Editor George Albano.
The Remson File
Parents/Siblings: Beth and Kevin Sr.; Shea (15), sophomore at St. Joseph HS, Caylie (14), eighth grader at All-Saints, and Matthew (10), student at Wolfpit School. ("We're all over the place," their brother Kevin said.)
Sports/Activities: Hockey and lacrosse at NHS; Also plays split-season hockey with the Connecticut Barons in the fall and with the New England Freezers out of Massachusetts in the summer; Played with the Connecticut Oilers U18 team as a freshman before joining the co-op team this season.
Future Goals: "I definitely want to go to college for hockey." Possible fields of study: "I'm not really sure, but I'm leaning toward Engineering or Architecture right now."
The Hour: How does it feel for your team to make the state tournament and know you had a big part of it?
Kevin Remson: Feels great for my first year of playing with the team to help them get to states. I couldn't have done it without them, though. We just worked together as a team. We're a real strong and tight-knit team.
TH: You've played so much hockey growing up. How did you start and do you remember the name of your first team?
KR: I started skating when I was four and started playing hockey when I was five. My very first team was Mid-Fairfield.
TH: Up to now, what was the biggest goal you've ever scored?
KR: It was for my Freezer team. We were in the championship game of a tournament and playing the best team, the East Coast Militia. We came into the game pretty nervous, but going into the second period there was still no score. I had the mindset that I had to score and I did to make it 1-0. Then I assisted on the second goal and we won 2-0. For the tournament we scored 27 goals and had zero goals allowed.
TH: Hockey players are known to be pretty superstitious. Do you have any superstitions?
KR: The night before a game I usually like to watch a previous game film or if we're playing a team we played before, watch that game again. I also always tape my stick before every game, I always sit in the same spot in the locker room, and, one more, I always have to put on my skates, shin pads, elbow pads, anything in pairs, I always have to put the left one on first.
TH: Any reason you wear No. 15?
KR: My first year playing travel I had that number and it just stuck. I always had that number except for one team I had No. 29 because the captain wore No. 15 and I couldn't take it. But for about 10 years I've worn 15.
TH: Who's your favorite NHL team?
KR: The New York Rangers.
TH: Your favorite player?
KR: Alex Ovechkin. I used to be a Capitals fan and he was a big role model.
TH: What's your all-time favorite movie?
KR: 'Miracle.' (The true story of the U.S. hockey team's gold medal-winning run at the 1980 Olympics.)
TH: Your favorite actor?
KR: Adam Sandler.
TH: If you could spend 24 hours with anyone in history, past or present, who would you pick?
KR: Probably Wayne Gretzky. I always wanted to meet him.
TH: What's your favorite video game?
KR: Probably NHL. My life is all hockey.
TH: Have you been following the Presidential primaries?
KR: I have a little bit. I know nobody seems to like Trump.
TH: Do you have any favorite quotes or sayings?
KR: Before every single game my dad says to me 'Don't be afraid to be great.'
TH: What was the most embarrassing thing to ever happen to you in a game?
KR: About three years ago, I was playing with the Wizards out of Bridgeport and I was skating up ice when I tripped literally over nothing. I just fell and slid about five feet. I didn't live that down for the rest of the night. All I heard from my teammates was 'Watch out for the blue line. Don't trip over it.'
TH: What's your favorite fast food?
KR: Subway. I like the Turkey Italiano, which is turkey, salami and pepperoni.
TH: What's your favorite healthy food?
KR: Can I say salad?
TH: What's something your parents still have to nag you about?
KR: Cleaning up after myself. I'm very messy.
TH: Do you have any nicknames your friends and teammates call you?
KR: A lot of guys call me 'Remmy' or 'K-Rems.'
TH: How do you like to unwind when you get home after a game or practice?
KR: I usually take a shower then go on my phone and text or go on social media.
TH: What was your favorite cartoon growing up?
KR: 'Family Guy.'
TH: What's your biggest fear?
KR: Getting injured.
TH: What's something you can do better than Alex Ovechkin?
KR: Other than speaking English, I can probably pay attention to something while doing something else better than him. I do it all the time in school. If I'm writing something down, I can still hear what the teacher is saying.
