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A Special Win For Canada

The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 11, 2009

Updated: 01/11/2009 12:12 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 readers an insight into a new way of life during his rookie journey.

After not being able to watch Canada's overtime win in the semifinals of the World Junior Championships, we were able to watch the gold medal game at a team dinner Monday. They were able to put it on for us at the restaurant. I had some goose bumps watching the game, realizing those guys had worked so hard to accomplish their dream. I was able to talk to some of the guys after the game to congratulate them. It's a great experience, and you watch that since you are a little kid, then to wear that jersey to represent your country and then win a medal, especially in front of the home fans, it was pretty special.

It was pretty intense watching the game with the rest of the team. There was some jabbing going on here and there with some of the different countries represented on our team, but anyone who has represented their country, especially Canada, you feel connected with it whether you did it 10 years ago or last year. You are always part of that unique family that represented your country, whether you won a medal or not. But with the recent success Canada has had, it's pretty special, especially knowing a lot of those guys and playing with them, it definitely felt great to watch them do that.

Then to be named this week to the Young Stars was a great honor, and it will be nice to know a lot of the guys who are going to be going and playing in that. It's going to take place in a great city in Montreal, and it's going to be a pretty cool experience to part of the All-Star festivities. Hopefully we have fun on the ice and have some fun off the ice, as well.

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