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Saturday, November 20, 1999
Short shrift
St. Louis brings something elusive to Calgary -- scoring touch
We're going to let you in on a Calgary Flames little white lie.
That press release you heard about announcing the call-up of Martin St. Louis wasn't quite true.
In fact, it's a lie that has been perpetrated since St. Louis was playing college hockey at the University of Vermont.
The lie is that St. Louis stands 5-ft. 9-in. tall.
Not true.
The lie was exposed for all last season in the bowels of Maple Leaf Gardens, before a doubting newspaper writer and a dressing room full of skeptical teammates.
St. Louis strutted to the middle of the room for the face-off.
Back to back with the champion runt -- Theo Fleury.
The measure was close.
St. Louis taller by an inch.
But if Fleury is 5-ft. 6-in., then how can St. Louis be 5-ft. 9-in?
"Yeah, I got busted," laughed St. Louis, 24, who played his first NHL game this season last night.
"It's a little white lie that started in college when they didn't want the other teams to know we had a small team, so they boosted my height to help the team average."
In one sense, St. Louis has been a victim of that little white lie.
At every level since he began playing the game, St. Louis has had to overcome the doubters. No matter what numbers he put up on the scoreboard, it was the measuring stick that held him back.
"In a lot of people's eyes, it wasn't realistic to think I could play in the NHL but there were guys like Fleury, and Paul Kariya and Cliff Ronning who kept me going," says St. Louis, who led the AHL with 26 points before his call-up.
"They had done it, so why can't I? At every level I played, I dominated. So why can't I make that jump? Here, some guys take longer than others. I was pretty much a nobody, and when that is the case, it's harder to earn that opportunity to prove yourself.
"In the last couple of years with this organization, I think I've earned it in the minors. It's great to be back.
"Hopefully I'll turn some heads. I've got to. I can't let them think I should be back down."
But scoring in the minors is one thing. The NHL level represents a quantum leap that some players can never make.
Is St. Louis such a player?
In 13 NHL games, he has one goal and one assist.
"I don't know if you can say I have had the opportunity here," said St. Louis. "What is a good opportunity -- is it one game or how many?
"I made the team out of training camp last year, but the butterflies of being in the NHL stayed way too long. I wasn't playing with confidence.
"I was trying not to make a mistake. I'm at a point now where, contract-wise, this could be my last year with this organization and I have nothing to lose and everything to gain."
In his two previous call-ups, St. Louis had not impressed. But again, he wasn't a guy who was always used properly. Playmakers need to play with other skilled players.
"Scoring is what I've been doing all my life. I don't think my physical play is going to bring me up here. I have to score goals and this is the hardest level to do it at.
"I'm trying to show people I deserve to play in this league and to help this team get some wins.
"To do that, I have to be creative and help guys around me produce. I've been good at that at the AHL level and I know I'm a small guy, but that shouldn't stop me. It hasn't before at every other level."
The jury remains out on St. Louis -- if anything, this is an ideal time for him to showcase his talents and prove that he deserves to play here.
And that little white lie?
Well, it's not really hurting anyone, is it?
"Hey, if a guy is 5 feet 11 inches, I'd give him that extra inch to say he's six feet," laughs St. Louis.
"OK, I'm 5 feet 7 inches ... and change, don't forget the change.
"I can't afford to sell myself short."
Now, there is the truth.
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