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Creating More Memories

The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 14, 2008

Lightning center and No. 1 overall draft pick Steven Stamkos is making the transition this season from junior star to NHL regular. Throughout the season, the 18-year-old from Markham, Ontario, will share his experiences with Tribune writer Erik Erlendsson to give readers an insight into his new way of life in his rookie journey.

It was pretty cool this week when former President Clinton came into the locker room in Buffalo on Wednesday. They interrupted the warm-up soccer game we had going, and we didn't know what was up because they didn't tell us who was coming in to say hi. So it was cool for President Clinton to come up. You see a lot of him on television when he was president, but you never think you are going to have a chance to meet him. But he came in and wished us good luck, talked a little hockey. I thought it was pretty cool and will be a good memory for years to come.

When we were told to come to the locker room, I thought we were just having a team meeting or we forgot to go over something in the video, but then we heard that the president was coming in, or former president, so then we knew he was going to come in and say something to us. All the security guards were there and coming by.

I think Clinton's pregame skate was a little more interesting than Coach Rick Tocchet's saying how he didn't know anything about hockey when he was growing up, but obviously Tocchet was talking about the game. But it was a neat experience.

I had a bunch of friends and family come from Toronto to see us in Buffalo so I got to spend some time with my parents, which was good because I haven't seen them in a long time. In Montreal, my dad and a bunch of his buddies came down for the game, so we went out and had a bite to eat after the game, had the chance to talk to them for a while, so that was pretty cool.

Then to come here to Ottawa for the first time and come back to the place that I was drafted is a pretty special moment for me because this is where it all started. Hopefully the good karma stays with me because it will always be a special place for me.

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