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Thanksgiving Memories

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 30, 2008

Updated: 11/30/2008 12:44 am

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 Tribune readers an insight into his new way of life in his rookie journey.
Canadian Thanksgiving is celebrated in October, but on Monday night, Gary and Michelle Roberts had us over to the complex and we had a little room downstairs on the main floor of their condominium all set up. It was me, Adam Hall, Ryan Malone and his family, Mark Recchi and his family, Mike Smith was there. We had a great turkey dinner. The Robertses put a lot of effort into it, and it was definitely very good.

Me, Smith and Hall had to drive to get to Vinny Lecavalier's wine-tasting charity event. Obviously, I didn't drink any of the wine, but we told him that we would come by so we stopped in. Then me and Smith drove back for some more food, had some dessert and played with the kids. We had a good mini-stick hockey game going on. It felt like back at home with all the family there and the turkey and stuffing. It was very generous of them to invite us over to enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner.

It was definitely the same feeling as Canadian Thanksgiving - we have the same type of foods. It's just a time to be thankful for everything you have in your life and the people who surround you. To have that and enjoy that moment with all those guys and their families was pretty special. It's something I'll remember for a long time.

Just playing with the kids and the mini-sticks. We had a game, me and Malone against Roberts and Smith, a little two-on-two game going. Unfortunately, they came out on top, 3-2, but it was great. It brought back a lot of memories. I know for me a lot more recent than other guys playing mini-sticks, but it was just something that let us forget about hockey, forget about everything and go have some fun and enjoy ourselves.

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