Bolts by the Bay - A Tampa Bay Lightning Blog

This is the time of year when most NHLers get to relax, visit home, etc… and the fans are excited to see all of the super stars of the sport in one game, showcasing their talents together. This year the best talent in the league gather in Ottawa for the 2012 All-Star Weekend. However, not everyone will be taking this week to get away or relax. The Lightning has had some major injuries hit them hard, and some of them are looking forward to returning to the ice when they resume from the break. Victor Hedman, for one, said that he is not going to relax or spend his time at the beach. He is going to spend the break working out and working hard to return his body to game shape. He’s feeling no symptoms of the concussion still, and skated with the team for practice in a red no-contact jersey. He said the only thing that he was having problems with was his breathing, so he has to get himself back into game shape. Ryan Shannon is looking forward to returning as well, he has been skating with the team in practice, also in a red no-contact jersey. He has been strengthening his leg from a lower-body injury, and also is re-building his confidence. Ryan Malone and Tom Pyatt are both expected to return to the line up next week. Continue reading this post »

The NHL All Star Weekend is upon us and already there have been events surrounding the games and skills competition trending mercilessly in the circles that build the picture of professional hockey. Surely, this news of an Ovechkin-less weekend and this news of “Couture Comes Last” have already been pile-driven into the fleeting zeitgeist of we who bow to the whims of the Hockey Gods more quickly than one NHLer can skate or send a puck to the net via stick. The All Star activities are, for the likes of me anyway, a chance to take a miniscule break from the season. As a Tampa Bay Lightning fan, the hiatus is mostly a rather fortuitous period of rest and recovery for the team and staff, despite how Marty St. Louis may have hinted he felt directly following the Bolts fourth straight win over the Columbus Blue Jackets last Tuesday. Odds are,  the “rejuvination” part is now truly being appreciated by #26. On a related note:  Size DOES matter. There is an awful lot of thrust in those with those low centers of gravity.

 Knowing that some of us in the Hockeyverse simply must have our hockey, here is a list of ten things one can do to fill the regular game void:

1) You can watch Bolts forward Steven “Stammer” Stamkos (Mr. Stam Coat) have some fun in Ottawa at the All Star skills competition tomorrow and All Star Game on Sunday.

"Cool, Alfie didn't pick me last. That would be totally harsh."

2) You can read Stammer’s or  ”Spicoli’s ” Blog containing his report of the weekend. (yes, most of us out in Bolts Nation probably agree he DOES resemble a character from a movie, but it’s definitely because we are “old” or know what people may look like when they are friendly with a 4 ft. water “pipe” named “The Fridge” because that’s where one might park oneself upon “meeting” it.) If #91 should ever say “Mr. Hand” in public at any time and I hear it, I will immediately cover my eyeballs. It’s a lock I will then be laughing so vigorously my peepers may pop out of their bio-homes. Better safe than sorry and relying on my ears more heavily I say.

Continue reading this post »

Player Introductions at the 2011 NHL ASG (Source: Jim Courteau)

Over the last few years there has been a few grumblings here and there amongst writers and talk-show hosts that there is no longer a need for an All Star Game, in any league.  Hockey’s All Star Game is brought up more and more as the best example why, as the type of game played is not quite the same as the game we all know and love.  How so?  There is no hitting or hard checking, which is completely understandable as this is supposed to be a fun game and exhibition of the skills of the best skaters and net-minders.  It is also pointed out that with today’s technology (cable TV, satellite TV, and internet) more and more fans are able to watch more and more games, therefore seeing the stars of the whole league throughout the year.  Whereas in decades previous you had just your local broadcasts or a seat at the rink, it made sense to have a game where fans could see the other stars of the game with whom they might not be familiar.  All pretty valid reasons, but as far as I’m concerned not enough to end the game.
Continue reading this post »

As the Lightning rest during this much needed break, let’s take some time as fans to appreciate the current position. To be only three games under .500 and 9 points out of a playoff spot with 32 games left to play is actually not half bad. I mean, if you were to glance at our injuries list, you can see why. At one point, the Tampa Bay Lightning had nine players out due to injury. During the last game played Tuesday against the Blue Jackets, the team was jokingly called the Tampa Bay Admirals several times. It was appropriate, as the Lightning had four call ups playing for the Lightning. At one point, an entire forward line of AHL call-ups playing together at one point. However, there are your share of negatives attributes that the team must work on fixing if they want any chance at a playoff spot. With a four game win streak going into the All-Star break, it seems like the team is on their way to tweaking its issues. Continue reading this post »

I recently published an opinion piece for my college newspaper, The Humber Et Cetera. I focused on the topic of non-concussion head injuries and how they seem to be overlooked by the NHLPA in a time where concussions are happening of a rate close to 100 per game (this is a rough estimate). As serious as concussions are, other head injuries are occuring just as much – potential career-ending injuries that could easily be avoided with the simple implementation of a rule that helmets and visors be mandatory at all times on the ice, especially when pucks are in play. Here is the piece:

Hockey Safety Shouldn’t Be Personal Preference

Follow on Twitter: @do_the_Ryan

In honor of All-Star Game week, I thought I would take a moment to honor past & present players of the Tampa Bay Lightning who have made the All-Star games in years past.

This year, we only have one participant in the All-Star Game, and as we all know, that’s Steven Stamkos. Stamkos is the goal leader in the NHL right now with 32 goals.

The first player in the Tampa Bay Lightning franchise to make it to the All-Star Game was Brian Bradley. Brian Bradley not only made the All-Star Game in 1993 (the Lightning’s first year of existence), but also made it it 1994.

Other players to follow were:

• Roman Hamrlik, D: 1996
• Dino Ciccarelli RW: 1997
• Wendel Clark LW: 1999
• Petr Svoboda, D: 2000
• Fredrik Modin, LW: 2001
• Nikolai Khabibulin, G: 2002, 2003
• Martin St. Louis, RW: 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011 (alternate captain)
• Vincent Lecavalier, C: 2003, 2007, 2008 (captain), 2009
• Steven Stamkos, C: 2011, 2012

Our current Lightning players that have played in the All-Star Game in previous years are Marty St. Louis, Vinny Lecavalier, & Steven Stamkos.

Marty St. Louis has played in 6 All-Star Games (2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011). In 2011 he was the alternate captain. In 2004, St. Louis was named NHL First All-Star and in 2007, 2010, & 2011 he was named NHL Second All-Star.

Vinny Lecavalier has played 4 games All-Star Games (2003, 2007, 2008, & 2009). In 2008, Lecavalier was named Captain. Lecavalier got NHL Second All-Star in 2007.

Steven Stamkos has been on the NHL All-Star Games for only two years (2011 & 2012).  In 2011, Stamkos was named to the NHL Second All-Star team.

While I’m not sure what the past All-Star Games were like, this year Steven Stamkos was picked in the 6th round by Team Alfredsson. The All-Star game is scheduled for January 29th at 4pm. The scheduling of events for the All-Star Game can be found on NHL.com.

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Here’s a thought: with so many teams on the want list for a ‘power forward’ or ‘top-six defenseman’ coming up to the trade deadline in February, why not utilize the upcoming All-Star game in Ottawa as a scouting session? The ASG is designated as a carefree weekend for players and fans alike to have fun. But hear me out – several players participating in this year’s game have openly been declared by their teams to be viable trade possibilities. So while the players play, the scouts should scout. Specifically, it’s teams with players participating in the ASG that could benefit. A team like the Toronto Maple Leafs, who have made it no secret that they are in the market for a power forward, can take the opportunity to see how players from other teams perform on the ice with their own. Continue reading this post »

Brian Bradley plays at an Alumni Charity Game Photo taken by: Dolly Dolce

The All-Star break is upon us already. Let’s take a look back into Lightning history at our first All-Star:

A STAR IS BORN: Born on January 21, 1965 in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, was a baby boy who 27 years later would be on The Tampa Bay Lightning’s inaugural team

and become my all time favorite NHLer. Brian Richard Walter Bradley. 5’10″ 180lbs Position: Center, right shot. He played for the OHL’s London Knights for 3

seasons, totaling 295 pts. In 1983 he was drafted 51st overall in the 3rd round by The Calgary Flames. He remained in the OHL for development and in 1985 he

averaged 2pts a game, taking the Kings to a gold medal in the The Junior World Championship. Making his NHL debue in 1985-86 season, he divided the season

with The Moncton Golden Flames, Calgary’s minor league team, where he was linemates with Brett Hull. Brian took a year of apprenticeship with

David King, determined to break through the barrier of concern over his strength and size and play full time for Calgary in the upcoming 1987-88 season.

Under King, he played for The National Canadian Men’s Team. He had the honor of playing in the 1988 Olypics, which happened to be in Calgary. However he

returned to The Flames full of hope in 1988 to find out that he’d been traded to The Vancouver Canucks. There he tied Rookie Trever Linden’s record of 7pts

in 7 games during the 1989 play-offs. That year he was voted the “Most Exciting Player” by the fans. In 1991 he was traded to The Toronto Maple Leafs.  Continue reading this post »