No more Gasparilla jerseys for the Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning, like a lot of teams around the NHL, have a wide range of warm up jerseys that they will wear through out the season. And some of the jerseys have developed their own cult like following that can be seen around Amalie Arena throughout the season.
But now thanks to a new directive from the NHL, teams will no longer wear special themed jerseys as they warm up.
Tampa Bay Lightning: So long matey
Per a report from Elliotte Friedman, the NHL Board of Governors have decided that for the 2023-24 season, teams will not wear specialty jerseys during their warm ups.
This means that the fan favorite Gasparilla themed jersey, that a lot of fans think should just be their third jersey anyway, will no longer be worn by the Lightning.
Of course this directive also means that the team will no longer wear special warm up jerseys during Hockey Fights Cancer Night, Military Appreciation Night, St. Patrick’s Day, or Pride Night.
Despite the fact that teams across the NHL had hosted Pride Nights for years without issue, multiple players opted out this year which led to multiple teams axing their traditional Pride warmups this season.
So in an effort to appease everyone, the league has said no warmups beyond their normal jerseys.
This doesn’t stop teams from still having these nights and honoring the various people these nights are designed for, it simply alters what the players wear for 15 minutes.
So farewell Gasparilla jerseys as you head back into the open seas for your next journey and voyage. We here at Bolts by the Bay are going to miss you and wouldn’t mind if the Tampa Bay Lightning made them the third jersey the team wears over the black and metallic mess the team currently sports on Saturdays.