Last Saturday marked the tenth anniversary of the Tampa Bay Lightning’s 2004 Stanley Cup Championship. Fans and media alike spent the day remembering and reminiscing in a variety of ways. The Lightning themselves joined up with the Tampa Bay History Center to commemorate the date. The History Center was kicking off their “Show & Tell” program to feature some of the items in their collection. The first event featured some of the individual trophies the Bolts won in ’04. Dave Andreychuk, Jassen Cullimore, and Rick Peckham were on hand to share some of their stories from the Cup winning team and its journey.
Captain Dave began his talk by going all the way back to the 2003 playoffs and where Tampa Bay’s championship run truly began. He discussed the journey through the following season when the entire league wondered just what this upstart team from Tampa was doing at the top of their division and conference. As the talk turned to the postseason, a number of forgotten memories were brought back to light. For example: CoachJohn Tortorella and then New York Islanders’ GM Mike Milbury feuded in the Eastern Conference Finals. Fans even got an inside view of what occurred on the team bus as they left the Saddledome in Calgary after winning Game 6 of the Cup Final in double overtime. To borrow a phrase from Dave, Andre Roy was up to his usual hijinks and showed the Flames fans a full moon as they rode along the “Red Mile”.
Former Lightning defenseman Jassen Cullimore was up next, offering his view on the Lightning championship and being part of the Chicago Blackhawks team in 2010. Cullimore came to Tampa in 1998 and witnessed the tumultuous nature of the club. He spoke highly of the stability that men like Jay Feaster, John Tortorella, and Dave Andreychuk brought to the team, especially in the locker room. After the event Cullimore said he didn’t know he would be speaking until he arrived at the center. He did a great job and it’s fantastic to see a long time member of the Lightning involved with the team after his playing days.
Sun Sports play by play commentator Rick Peckham led the discussion of the 
individual trophies on display. A case at the front of the room held miniature versions of the Stanley Cup, the Jack Adams Award, the Conn Smythe Trophy, the Lady Byng Trophy, The Art Ross Trophy, the Hart Trophy and The Prince of Wales Trophy. Getting to hear Dave and Jassen discuss their time with the Cup and what it still means to them was a great way to kick off the anniversary.
After the Lightning won the Stanley Cup in 2004, Tim Taylor said that the team would “walk together forever.” 2004 and those men most certainly live on in the hearts and minds of Lightning fans.
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