The celebration may have been delayed by the lockout, but that didn’t stop the Tampa Bay Lightning from kicking off their 20th anniversary season in memorable fashion.  Before the game against the Washington Capitals began, a ceremony remembering six men who were part of the inaugural game took place.

Several members of the team were announced before the first puck drop. Center Brian Bradley, goaltender Pat Jablonski, defenseman Joe Reekie, and winger Chris Kontos. In the franchise’s first game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Kontos; 4 goal performance led the Bolts to a 7-3 victory. He remains the only Lightning player to score 4 in a game to date.

» Continue reading “The Memory Remains: 20th Season Celebration Begins”

Scorecard from the Inaugural Game. Photo courtesy: Lightning Facebook Page

The 2012-13 season was supposed to be one filled with memories from the Tampa Bay Lightning. It is their 20th anniversary, after all. Instead the arena is empty and we don’t know when the team will get back on the ice. It’s a little bittersweet to relive these milestones, but time doesn’t stop for labor dispute.

It was 20 years ago today that the Lightning played their inaugural game against the Chicago Blackhawks. The Tampa Bay Times Forum hadn’t been built and the Thunderdome wasn’t in the picture. Their first season was played on a smaller scale, in the Expo Hall at the Florida State Fairgrounds. In front of a crowd of 10,425, the Bolts’ story began.

» Continue reading “It Was 20 Years Ago Today, The Lightning Began To Play”