The annual Hockey Day in Tampa Bay is coming up later this month, and the Tampa Bay Lightning have some special events planned for those fans who attend the celebration of the sport in this region.
For the third straight season, the Tampa Bay Lightning will host Hockey Day in Tampa Bay on Saturday, Feb. 18, at Amalie Arena. This annual event is a big hit among the fans, and it has drawn large crowds in the past. For this year’s celebration of local hockey, the team will hold an alumni game between former players on the Lightning and Boston Bruins.
That’s just one of the many exciting events coming up, and fans will be treated to several others, including a used equipment sale and a championship game between two of the best local high school hockey teams competing in the Lightning High School Hockey League. Fans who cannot make it to the event can watch the championship game live at 7 p.m. on Spectrum Sports.
In addition, there will be a street hockey tournament on Ford Thunder Alley right outside of the arena and a sled hockey game featuring several former members of the Lightning. For the full schedule of events, you can visit this page.
This will be the first time that the Tampa Bay Lightning have included an alumni game against another team at the Hockey Day event, and it will be sponsored by a local organization called the Jason Ritchie Hockey Foundation. Lightning vice president of community hockey development Jay Feaster shared his thoughts on the game and the overall event, saying,
"“We are thrilled to host an alumni game between the Lightning and Bruins. This game is only made possible because of the Jason Ritchie Foundation and their dedication and commitment to growing the sport in our community.”"
Feaster has had a huge part in developing and promoting the sport of hockey locally, and this event is a great way to bring in fans and those who might not watch the sport much or at all as well.
Last year during Hockey Day in Tampa Bay, the Lightning held a Battle of the Badges game, which featured local firefighters and police officers, and a few members from the United States Women’s hockey team participated in several of the events that day. This year, though, the alumni game seems to be one of the main highlights of the schedule.
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Fans looking to attend Hockey Day can purchase tickets in advance for $10 on Ticketmaster or $15 on the day of the event at the Amalie Arena Box Office. It should be another exciting day for Tampa Bay Lightning fans, and if you haven’t made it out yet, grab some friends and family and enjoy a day of fun with the Lightning.