Stewart, a 25-year-old former player for Saint Louis University's club team, got the call to sign an amateur tryout agreement when backup Carter Hutton sustained a lower-body injury and was a late scratch. The Blues recalled Ville Husso from San Antonio of the American Hockey League, but he would not be there in time for the start of the game against the Dallas Stars.
"I just got home from work and I was completely caught off-guard by it. It's just nuts to describe it," Stewart said. "Dream come true, obviously, to be able to do the warmups and everything. I thought maybe there was an off chance I sit on the bench or something like that, but awesome to do the warmups and everything."
When the call first came, Stewart wasn't sure he'd be wearing the home team's sweater.
"I thought it had to do with Dallas, because I heard [goalie Ben] Bishop got hurt," Stewart said. "And then I saw [Stars goalie Mike] McKenna and I was like, 'OK, what could have happened?' There was nothing on Hutton, and all of a sudden, it looks like 'Here we go.'"
Stewart's tenure in a Blues sweater didn't last long, however. Husso arrived on the bench in full gear with less than five minutes to play in the first period of what would become a 3-0 win by Jake Allen. Nevertheless, Stewart went from the stands to the ice, however briefly.
"It was really fun," Stewart said. "I got to be in on the pregame speech with [coach Mike] Yeo and all the stuff they do. It's crazy how loose they are. You would think they might be a little tight maybe. But they were just joking around. You wouldn't think they were even playing a hockey game. A cool environment, nothing like I've ever experienced before."
NHL.com correspondent Louie Korac contributed to this report
