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Marty’s moment: St. Louis to replace Stamkos on Canadian Olympic team

San Jose Sharks v Tampa Bay Lightning

TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 18: Martin St. Louis #26 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates a goal against the San Jose Sharks at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on January 18, 2014 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)

Mike Carlson

Nearly a month after being passed over for the Canadian Olympic team, Martin St. Louis is headed to Sochi.

On Thursday, Hockey Canada announced the 38-year-old veteran would be replacing the injured Steve Stamkos on the Canadian team headed to the Winter Olympics. It’ll mark St. Louis’ first Olympic appearance since suiting up in Turin in 2006 (he was named as a standby for the ’10 team in Vancouver.)

“It’s well-deserved,” Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said, per the Toronto Sun. “Marty has to be at the top of the list (to replace Stamkos). He was in my book.”

St. Louis has been on fire since first being omitted from the Canadian squad last month. He had eight goals and 15 points in 15 games during the month of January, highlighted by a four-goal performance against San Jose on Jan. 18.

MORE: Olympic hockey coverage at NBCOlympics.com

With the announcement, St. Louis becomes the oldest player on the Canadian roster, a title previously held by 34-year-old Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo. Being the oldest guy at the party is nothing new for St. Louis, though, as he became the oldest scoring champion and Art Ross winner in NHL history last season when he scored 60 points in 48 games -- at the age of 37.

“I’m just happy to be getting the opportunity,” St. Louis said upon learning he’d made the team.

Stamkos was ruled out of action yesterday after the Lightning’s medical staff declared his broken leg wasn’t fully healed. Canada opens up the Olympic tournament on Feb. 13 with a game against Norway.