With Steven Stamkos' disappointment in finding out that he won't be able to play for Team Canada at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, it opened up an opportunity for his Tampa Bay Lightning teammate Martin St. Louis, who will replace him on the squad as the team goes for another gold medal after the 2010 Games.
Stamkos suffered a broken right tibia in a Nov. 11 game with the Boston Bruins after his leg hit the goal post, and he hasn't played since. Stamkos was looking forward to making his Olympic debut, but with his injury not fully healed, the 23-year-old Markham, Ontario native wasn't medically cleared to participate in the Sochi Games.
Stamkos had expressed his disappointment in being held out of the Olympics.
"Today is obviously very disappointing for me," the Lightning center said in a statement released by the team, according to Reuters. "I honestly believe that we did everything possible in order to have my injured leg ready in time for the Olympics, but I realize you can't force healing. I know, in the best interest of my long term health, I cannot represent Canada in Sochi, as much as I would like to."
Stamkos had 14 goals and nine assists for 23 points this season for the Lightning through 17 games played before the injury. His misfortune leads to an opportunity for St. Louis, who is a native of Quebec and will attempt to help Canada win a gold medal.
St. Louis participated in the 2006 Games, but wasn't on Team Canada when the won the gold medal in 2010 in the Vancouver Games.
St. Louis has 25 tallies and 29 assists for 54 points this season for the Lightning, who sit at third place in the Eastern Conference and second place in the Atlantic Division with a 32-19-5 record and 69 points.
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