Early June is a special time for hockey fans in North America. The Stanley Cup Final has begun and a new champion will raise the coolest trophy in sports in celebration of their accomplishment. It’s an exciting thing to witness even if that team isn’t yours. This time of year holds a special place in the hearts of Tampa Bay Lightning fans as well. This Saturday, June 7th, will mark the 10 year anniversary since our team hoisted the Cup themselves.
The Lightning’s championship win was transformational for this city, this franchise and many of its fans. Like it or not, Tampa is a hockey town. New fans fell in love with the sport after seeing the hometown team go the distance. Kids who watched Game 7 have grown up as a new generation of puckheads buying tickets and expanding the fan base. The Stanley Cup win impacted many of us on an extremely personal level.
I had the opportunity to watch a game last season in the North Party Suite with many alumni from the Stanley Cup winning team. Some like Dave Andreychuk, Chris Dingman and Stan Neckar have become familiar fixtures for the Lightning. Having other guys like Tim Taylor, Andre Roy and Brad Lukowich back in the building was an incredible experience. It was more than worth the price of admission to shake their hands and thank them. It was priceless seeing old teammates fit back together seamlessly and seeing how much 2004 still means to them as well. (Photo/ Alexis Boucher)
We tend to spend a lot of time looking back fondly at that championship run at this time of year. For a while it was all we had. A lockout took the 2004 team’s chance at legitimately defending their title. Poor ownership and mis-management sent the team to the bottom of the standings. When the Bolts did make the playoffs, they exited early more often than not. No matter what happened or how bleak things became, we had the memories of that victory. Nothing can take away the names etched into the Stanley Cup and for a long time that was enough for many fans.
A decade later those warm fuzzy feelings aren’t enough. An early playoff exit this spring left us wanting more. The big difference is the Lightning are a different team on the ice and in the front office. They have been remade and move forward with no ties to the 2004 championship team. They are free to forge their own identity with great young players like Steven Stamkos, Ben Bishop and Tyler Johnson. The rebuilding process has taken time, but it’s starting to pay off in spades.
Ten years later we remember the Tampa Bay Lightning’s first championship. Take a moment and raise a glass to that team. Here’s hoping the next thing the Lightning raise will be the Stanley Cup.
Follow me on Twitter @alexis_b82 and please “like” LightningShout on Facebook. You can email us at [email protected].
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
