Drake is one the most popular musicians on the planet and one of Alex Ovechkin’s favorite artists. But how did he get his start 20 years ago?

Because of Sean McIndoe, we now know: through a dumb hockey skit which aired during the 1997 NHL Awards.

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The 10-year-old Toronto native starred in a satirical commercial for a made-up Martin Brodeur vs. Ron Hextall table hockey game. The skit was aired during ESPN’s production of the 1997 NHL Awards show.

This is superb acting.

The commercial was made in mock celebration of Martin Brodeur’s first career goal against the Montreal Canadiens on April 17, 1997. Ron Hextall, who was still in the NHL at that time, had scored twice during his NHL career.

Five years later, Drake, as a 15-year-old, landed the role of Jimmy Brooks on the Canadian television series Degrassi: The Next Generation. In the show, Brooks is a star high school basketball player who ends up in a wheelchair after being shot by a classmate.

This is even more superb acting.

Nine years later, Drake, at that point a massively successful rapper and singer, would reach the pinnacle of his career when he met Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, and Mike Green at a DC concert.

So now when you hear Started From The Bottom, you’ll know exactly what that bottom was.