Dayne St. Clair – a once relatively unknown name is now on the lips of all Major League Soccer and Canadian National Team pundits and fans.

MLS is Something Else

The 25-year-old goalkeeper had a breakout 2022 season securing the starting job at Minnesota United, being named an MLS All-Star, and earning the MLS All-Star Game MVP in front of his home fans at Allianz Field.

After being drafted by Minnesota in 2019 and being sent on a loan a few times, Dayne has found a settled in Minnesota on and off the pitch.

"I’m entering my fifth season now with Minnesota United. I've spent a couple small stints in other places like Madison and San Antonio, but I'm really looking forward to this year because I feel like in the past, I was building relationships and things like that.

I feel like this year I will be able to see those relationships blossom.

An avenue that has fueled some of that comradery has been games – a favorite pastime of St. Clair and some teammates.

Get in the Game

"I think anyone that knows me knows how much I enjoy playing games. Whether it's FIFA, Uno, cards, Dominoes, board games, you name it. And it's a game. I'm willing to play it and to learn it. I just love to compete.

To pick my favorite one is definitely tough. I'd probably either have to say a game called Catan or Partners. They're both just kind of strategic games that allow you to think.

And then of course there's a little bit of luck involved, whether it's the dice or the cards that you're dealt. So, I think those two are definitely my top tier, but I do also have to say that Euchre up there as well. That's been our playing card game for this year that we've been playing a lot.

Of course anytime with the National Team, we're always playing dominoes. A lot of us have Caribbean backgrounds, so there were alot of barbecues, family functions, things like that.

It seemed like there was always a Domino's table around. So we always kind of picked it up.It's just something that allows us to relax off the field, but allows us to still have that competitive edge and that banter with each other as well".

Food Dishes

Speaking of the Caribbean, Dayne’s roots there stem from his Trinadadian father. Dayne’s Caribbean side reveals itself in his cooking which is infused with Caribbean flavors inspired by his dad.

“My love for food is definitely something that I kind of grew up with as a child. My dad was a really good cook, used to love watching the Food Network, and still do... I just think it's a way that you can learn easily and it's the competition in shows that I really enjoy.

It’s the small tips and tricks of the trade that you can pick up from the professionals and apply it on a daily basis. I wouldn't say I have a specialty dish because I kind of just like the challenge of trying new things.

Growing up in a Caribbean household with my dad doing the cooking I think I definitely gathered some of those Caribbean traditions and Caribbean flavors and spices that I like to add to my food. Now funny enough,  if I didn't play soccer, I did say I wanted to be a chef and/or just be involved in the restaurant business”.

The competitiveness in games and cooking that Dayne is drawn to makes it unsurprising that he ended up being a professional athlete. It’s the fierceness in which he competes that thrusted him to the position he’s in today.

As for this season, MLS hasn’t even reached Week 10 yet and that means a clean slate of opportunity for Dayne.

Ambition

“The new season starting always presents new opportunities and new challenges. Personally, I want to build off the season I had last year.

When you start the year fresh, everyone wants to win silverware and I think with new competitions this year as well such as Leagues Cup, it allows teams another shot to win something.

I think that goes without saying the reason why we play is to win, get the results, and excite the fans.

It’s definitely going to be a very busy summer with Leagues Cup, Gold Cup and Nations League but I think in terms of the summer and national team, of course looking to continue to represent my country, as it is always a great honor and one that I don't take lightly.

We have two big tournaments this summer that we're gonna be involved in. Our goal is to go and to win silverware, and to show that we are one of the top teams in our region.

For me, I want to improve my consistency. Of course I had a great start to the season last year but I want to make sure this year that I'm in the conversation for goalkeeper of the year and being one of the top keepers in the league because I know I have that potential.

It's about showing that week in and week out”.

Outside the Box: Dayne St. Clair

In Focus: Mats Drawing

In Focus: Jordan Dawson