Archives 2007/2008 Season
Lightning Finish 2-2 In Chicago
The Lightning finished 2-2 in the Nike/Bauer International Invite in Chicago. After defeating LA Hockey Club & Top Gun decisively (6-1, 7-1), they lost to the U.S. #1 & 2 ranked teams, St. Louis Blues & Fire Hockey Club (5-2, 3-2 OT). The Lightning have now played 3 of the top teams in North America (St. Louis Blues, York-Simcoe Express & Fire Hockey Club). While they have a disappointing record of 0-3 against them, one game (Fire Hockey Club) finished in OT and another (York-Simcoe Express) in 2-OT.
Lightning Record 4-1 Record In Rochester '96 Invitational
The Lightning, playing in their second tournament of the year, lost a heartbreaker to York Simcoe Express (Ranked 3rd In North America) 4-3 in double overtime. The Lightning fell behind 3-0 in the second period, but showed a lot of heart and determination to battle back and tie the game 3-3 late in the third period. Both teams had scoring chances, but had it not been for spectacular goaltending by Lightning goalie Kevin Resop, the game would have ended much earlier. The rink was packed with players and parents, of other teams, to watch what was easily the most exciting game of the tournament. The Lightning advanced to the playoff rounds by defeating Richmond Hill Stars (2-1), Philadelphia Jr. Flyers (6-0), Cleveland Barons (3-2), and Ottawa Valley Titans (6-1). Congratulations Lightning!!
Archives 2006/2007 Season
Lightning Finish 3-2 In Detroit
The 96' AAA Lightning traveled to Detroit to play 5 games against four of Detroit's, and North America's best hockey clubs. The Lightning came away with a 3-2 record. The coaches, managers, players, and parents would like to extend their most sincere appreciation and gratitude to everyone in Detroit who made these exhibition games possible. All the clubs went out of their way, and in several cases, changed their schedules, to accommodate the Lightning. We look forward to seeing these teams again next year in Detroit...Actually, we would rather see them in Tampa as the temperature was -4 degrees on our last day there!!
Lightning Defeat The Jr. Everblades Pee Wee AA Twice To Close Out Season Series
The Lightning closed their season series with the Jr. Everblades by defeating them in consecutive games (6-4, 6-5). The Everblades were gracious enough to play the Lightning six times. The Everblades won the first 3 and the Lightning won the last 3 in a row. Every game was fast and physical, and great sportsmanship was displayed by all the coaches and players.
The Tampa Bay 96' AAA Lightning Were Congratulated For Their Ottawa Bell Cup Championship At The St. Pete Times Forum In Front of A Sold Out Crowd, And Opened The Game With The Traditional "Let's Play Hockey!!"
The Tampa Bay 96' AAA Lightning traveled to Ottawa to compete in the 2007 Bell Capital Cup, one of the most prestigious youth hockey tournaments in the world, and skated away as World Champions!! The tournament drew 510 teams from 8 countries competing in the Atom (Squirt) and Pee Wee divisions, setting a new Guinness World Record for the world's largest tournament. The Lightning competed in the 20 team "Boys Atom Major AAA" division (the highest level in international youth hockey), going undefeated in 6 games against elite teams from the U.S.& Canada, and were crowned the 2007 Bell Cup World Champions!! The Lightning opened up with a 4-1 win over the New Jersey Colonials. This was the first AAA game the Lightning had played in since facing the Russian Red Army team in Chicago on November 5, 2006. The Lightning started out slow, but by the end of the second period, had adjusted to the game speed of AAA competition. In their second game, the Lightning defeated the Elgin Middlesex Chiefs 5-0, playing much sharper than in game one. In the final game of the preliminary round, the Lightning played the Ottawa Valley Titans, one of the host teams. Ottawa took a 2-1 lead midway through the first period, but the Lightning came storming back with 6 straight goals for a convincing 7-2 win. In the opening quarterfinal playoff round game, the Lightning faced the Rochester Americans, one of North America's premier youth hockey organizations. The Lightning beat Rochester 4-2 in a very intense and fast paced game. That victory earned them a semi-final playoff game against the Mississauga Rebels, the number 1 seed of the tournament. By now, everyone was talking about the Tampa Bay Lightning. Spectators packed into the arena to watch the showdown between, what many believed to be, the two best teams of the tournament. When the game began, the Lightning shocked the crowd by jumping out to a quick 2-0 lead, but the Rebels came charging back to tie the game at 2. The Lightning scored the next 2 goals, but the Rebels brought it to within 1 with 1:30 to go. The Lightning advanced to the finals by defeating Mississauga 4-3 in what was the best, and toughest, game of the tournament. The championship game was against the Halton Hurricanes at the Scotiabank Place, home of the Ottawa Senators, and was broadcast live throughout Ontario. The Lightning jumped out to a 4-0 lead and dominated play throughout the game. Halton scored it's first and only goal with 6 minutes remaining, but the Lightning answered and went on to win the championship 5-1. Players, coaches, and parents stood proud as the United States National Anthem was played to honor the Tampa Bay Lightning, the 2007 Bell Capital Cup World Champions. Congratulations to the Tampa Bay Lightning for such an amazing accomplishment. Twelve players, Head Coach Brian Bradley, and Assistant Coach Mike Mika have not only put Tampa youth hockey on the map, but on top of the world!!
Lightning Sweep Bracket, & Play The Russian Red Army In Chicago
The Tampa Bay '96 AAA Lightning traveled to Chicago just 4 days after returning from Detroit Little Caesars with a 2nd place finish. The Tournament was loaded with some of the best teams from the U.S., Canada, and Russia. While every teams goal was to win the tournament, having the opportunity to play the Russian Red Army team was a close second. For the Lightning to have that opportunity, they would have to win their bracket, which they did convincingly. The Lightning opened up against the Texas Attack. Texas threw everything they had at the Lightning in the first 3 minutes, but it was the Lightning who scored first and went on to defeat Texas 3-1. In their second game the Lightning defeated the Green Bay Gamblers 5-3. There was a lot of nervous anticipation with the game being played at 9:20pm CST, which was 10:20pm EST for the Lightning players. The game was close early, but the Lightning's superior play in all 3 facets of the game (offense, defense and goaltending) proved to be too much for Green Bay. The Lightning closed out their bracket play by routing the New Jersey Colonials 7-0. By sweeping their bracket, the Lightning earned the opportunity to play the Russian Red Army in the Quarterfinals. The Red Army cruised through their bracket undefeated as well. Their style of play was reminiscent of the Russian hockey that North Americans were accustomed to watching during Red Army's glory days. Their blazing speed & skill, combined with cross ice [tape to tape] passing set up one break away after another in the preliminary rounds. Coach Bradley broke down a film of the Russians dismantling the Providence Capitals with his team. His game planning called for a fore-checking scheme that would eliminate the breakaways and odd man rushes that the Russians successfully executed against their preliminary round opponents. In the early stages of the game, the Lightning picked off cross ice passes to create scoring chances of their own, but it was the Russians who scored first on a power play midway through the first period. They went on to take a 2-0 lead as the first period expired. The Russians scored again on a power play in the second period, but the Lightning responded, bringing the score to within 2 to end the period. In the third period, it was goaltenders who stole the show. Both teams had plenty of scoring chances, but were robbed by great saves at both ends of the ice. With 2 minutes to go, the Lightning called time out to regroup. When play resumed, the Lighting pulled their goalie and put tremendous pressure on the Russians. The Lightning hit the post, just missing the opportunity to bring the score to within 1. With 1 minute to go, and the Lightning pressing, the Russians scored on an empty net to make the score 4-1. Although the Lightning were eliminated by the Russians, they were very fortunate to have been one of the 5 teams to be able to play them. As the players exchanged handshakes after the game, the Russian players respectfully told the Lightning, [in a heavy accent], "good play," as it was their closest game of the tournament at that point. In fact, the Lightning gave up the fewest goals to the Russians, less than any other team in the tournament, with the exception of the Toronto Marlboros 7-2 tournament championship game.
Tampa Bay 96 AAA Lightning Finish 2nd In Little Caesars!!
The Tampa Bay '96 AAA Lightning, playing in their second '96 AAA tournament this season [Little Caesars Hockeytown Invitational], reached the finals but dropped a 2-1 decision to the host team [Little Caesars], in a close & exciting game. In the preliminary rounds, the Lightning, although not well known, were being talked about as possibly "the team to beat" by parents, coaches and tournament organizers. Those rumors seemed more like truths as the Lightning entered the playoff rounds as the only undefeated team and number 1 seed in the tournament. In their opening game, it took only 14 seconds for the Lightning take the lead, in route to a 7-3 victory over Livonia (Michigan). Next up was Brantford (the organization Wayne Gretsky played for), who the Lightning beat 4-2 in a very close & fast paced game. Last in the preliminary rounds was Troy (Michigan), who the Lightning beat 8-1. The Lightning opened up the playoffs by defeating Colorado 4-0 in the quarterfinals. In the semi finals, the Lightning defeated Oakville (Ontario) 4-1. In the finals, the Lightning didn't match the intensity of Little Caesars for the first period and one half and fell behind 2-0. Midway through the second period, as if a light switch went on, the Lightning came alive and matched the pace of the game. The Lightning pulled to within 1 goal midway though the third period, and missed on a handful of scoring chances with just minutes to play. The game ended Little Caesars - 2 - Tampa Bay Lighting - 1. This was the biggest game the Lightning have ever played in. Had the Lightning started the game like they finished it, the outcome may have been different. This was an important step in the learning and development process of both players and the team. Congratulations Tampa Bay '96 AAA Lightning!!!
The Tampa Bay 96 AAA Lightning Win 2006 Summer Shootout Championship!!
Pee Wee AA Division Champions!!
The Tampa Bay 96 AAA Lightning, a Squirt Major team, won the 2006 Summer Shootout Pee Wee Division by defeating the Golden Wolves 3-2 in a fast paced, hard hitting championship game. The Lightning, playing up an age division, raised eyebrows immediately by crushing the Space Coast Hurricanes 10-0 in their opening game. They showed it was no fluke by beating the Golden Wolves AA team 5-1, then the Florida Eels AA 9-0. In those qualifying games, the Lightning outscored their opponents 24-1. The team "put on a clinic" as stated by several coaches of opposing teams watching the games. Many observers commented about the unbelievable chemistry and team play of the Lightning. Little did they know, however, it was the result of only 2 practices and 1 scrimmage. The Lightning showed a lot of character by beating the Golden Wolves 3-2 in the final after trailing 2-1 through much of the second period. The Wolves were a big physical team, and from the drop of the puck, it was apparent they were determined to use that to their advantage with hard hitting and intimidation. It was only effective, however, for a little more than half the game. The Lightning defense became the aggressor by the end of the second period, hitting everything that moved around them, and clearing out everyone in front of the net. The offense's superior speed and skill began to take its toll while the Lightning goaltending denied shot after shot down the stretch. The Lightning scored a shorthanded goal to tie it up at 2, then got the game winner midway through the third period. Every player on the team made an impact. On day 1, the first line lit up the scoreboard with pinpoint and unselfish passing, resulting in highlight reel type goals. On day 2, the second line put on their show and did the same. The defense was solid in every game and pounded opponents all over the ice. The goalies were spectacular, coming up with huge saves in every game. Not bad for a bunch of "Squirts!!" What a way to start off the inaugural season. Congratulations Lightning!!!