It’s possible that Steven Stamkos was ready for Major Juniors when he was 15 years old, but unlike John Tavares, was not given exceptional player status to play in the Canadian Hockey League a year early (and probably didn’t ask for it). Instead, Stamkos simply lit up the Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA), with a ridiculous stat line that led his team, the Markham Waxers, to the OHL Cup in 2006.
Stamkos, who played in the Markham Waxers’ development program since age 9, worked his way from house league up to the Waxers’ midget-minor team by age 15.