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Stamkos More At Home At Home

The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 14, 2009

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 19-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.

This week was our second trip into Toronto and this one felt a little different. The first trip in there will always be special. It's going to be special forever, playing my first ever game in Toronto in the city where I grew up idolizing the Leafs. But this time it felt a little more right.

You are playing better, you're starting to be a productive player in this league and obviously playing on a line with Marty St. Louis and Ryan Malone is exciting, too. For me, I wasn't as nervous coming into that game as I was the first time.

You have that, not cockiness, but more confidence coming in and that's something that definitely helps. The first time you are a little uncertain of how things are going to go or how much you are going to play.

You know all your friends and family are there and you know you want to have an impact on the game. This time I knew I was going to get out there and have an opportunity to play and to have them there this time, they were all so excited to see me after the game and let me know how great the game was and that I had a good game. It was pretty special.

There was a big group to see me after the game. There were my parents and some of their friends, and then you have cousins and friends of friends. But it's great to see so much support for me.

After, those who could stick around, we went over to Wayne Gretzky's restaurant with my dad and his buddies. We went over there and were able to put some tables together at the last minute so that anybody who was able to come over was there. It was nice to have some food and drinks with friends and family around, some who hadn't had the chance to see me play live. We had a lot of fun.

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