All World Hockey by T. Michael Travers

The Player's Tribute below, written by former Tampa Bay Lightning team captain, Steven Stamkos is outstanding. He relives the anxiety he felt as an 18-year-old in 2008 starting an NHL career with lots expected of him. Steven @ 18 He shouldn't have worried. As of this date in 2024, he's played 1082 games over 16 years for his Tampa team and scored 1137 points . And, it appears he has lots still in the tank as he moves on to play for a new team in Nashville that will undoubtedly make use of his leadership and scoring touch.   I loved everything about his article, except for one thing. In his rookie year, Lightning owners reached back into coaching history and hired former NHL player/ coach, Barry Melrose to run the "Bolts" and create an atmosphere for their new superstar to do his best. It looked like a good fit. Melrose was an expert at handling premier players and creating a good workplace. In 1992-93, he'd shown the way for his Kings to the Stanley Cup Final.

  He was an NHL player for 20 seasons with 6 different teams. His playing style was simple. He was a bull who enjoyed creating chaos and could score the odd goal.  The Leaf players christened him "Sweet Daddy Shackie" after a famous wrestler at the time, "Sweet Daddy Sikki" "Sweetness" However, the fans had another name. "Eddie the Entertainer". It fit. His most frequent opponent was Montreal's Henri Richard. The "Pocket Rocket" was lightning on skates He was a handful ... even for #4   For some reason, it didn't take much for him to engage with Henri who was "Rocket" Richard's brother. Shack hounded the 5'9" 165 lbs. centreman who only wanted to score, win the game and get inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame for his 22 years of NHL service and 11 Stanley Cup rings. The crazy part was that Henri had a "protector" ... the league's heavyweight champion, John Ferguson. Shackie should have stayed