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They are in shape, physical, and have loads of determination and tons of guts. St. Louis, Cory Stillman, Vinny Lecavalier, and Brad Richards don't play for the wildest, richest, and most influential team in the NHL, but the show is worth it. Hockey seems good these days in Florida.

And sunshine has nothing to do with it.

St. Louis was born June 18, 1975, in Laval, a Montreal suburb. He never stopped believing he could play hockey. He knows what bad comments are all about.

After his midget AAA period with the Regents, Martin had a tough decision to make. Although every one of his coaches mentioned that he would never make it to the NHL, Martin had two choices: whether he was going to try the Quebec junior-major league (then perhaps be drafted) or go for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in the United States.

But it was one alternative or the other: one single game in the junior-major league meant he would never play in collegiate hockey.

He chose Uncle Sam.

From 1993 to 1997, St. Louis led the University of Vermont in scoring for four consecutive seasons, breaking the school record for goals and points.

Signed by Calgary as a free agent Feb. 19, 1998, St. Louis made his NHL debut on Oct. 9, 1998 against San Jose. Eleven days later, against Dallas, he had his first NHL goal. On July 31, 2000, he signed with Tampa Bay as a free agent, and scored 18 goals and 22 assists, in his first year with the Lightning.

Martin St. Louis is now larger than the sport itself, at home and on the road. He lives the same scenario lived by stars such as Denis Savard, Theoren Fleury, Doug Gilmour, Saku Koivu, Gilbert Dionne, Paul Kariya, and even Wayne Gretzky.

According to Tampa Bay executives, St. Louis is definitely a player who gives everything at every game. Opponents are looking to play him physical and pound on him and to clutch and grab and hang onto him.

We wonder how he fights through when the checking is tighter. But he stays there. Nicely said.

Not to mention St. Louis' amazing speed, which often leaves the opponents kind of puzzled. Small is fast. At 29, he is also tough to catch on the leaders in points. As this was written (March 18, 2004), St. Louis is leading with 86 points.

St. Louis feels comfortable even with Joe Sakic in his shadow (82 points). He shares the ranks with teammates Cory Stillman (12th), Brad Richards (13th), and Vinny Lecavalier (27th).

With his ability, roughness, patience, and vision of the game, one thing is sure: Martin St. Louis is getting what he deserves after years and years of contradiction, negativity, and discouragement.

There are times when you must have courage to ignore the barking around you.

In St. Louis' case, it worked out well.

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