Last week's program was provided by Rotarian Bill Hughes. Bill’s guest speaker was Brian Bradley of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Brian talked to the club about his experiences with the Lightning, their history, community involvement and where he sees the Lightning going in the future.
On December 6, 1990, Phil Exposito and his investor group was awarded the franchise and named the team the Lightning, after Tampa Bay's status as the "Lightning Capital of North America." After being awarded the franchise, Phil Esposito installed himself as president and general manager, while Tony became chief scout. Terry Crisp was named as the first head coach. Phil Esposito also hired former teammates from the Boston Bruins of the 1970's. The Lightning played their first regular season game on October 7, 1992 in Tampa's tiny 11,000-seat Expo Hall at the Florida State Fairgrounds. They shocked the visiting Chicago Blackhawks 7–3. The team shot to the top of the Campbell Conference's Norris Division within a month behind Kontos' initial torrid scoring pace and a breakout season by forward Brian Bradley. This was, at the time, one of the best-ever showings by an NHL expansion team. Bradley's 42 goals gave Tampa Bay fans optimism for the next season; it would be a team record until the 2006–07 season.
The following season saw the Lightning shift to the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division, as well as move into the Florida Suncoast Dome (a building originally designed for baseball) in St. Petersburg, which was reconfigured for hockey and renamed the "ThunderDome." Security at the fairgrounds was amazingly…non-existent compared todays standards with “fair-goers” walking into the locker room during intermissions thinking it was the bathroom!
Jeff Vinik is the current owner of the Lightning and considered to be the best owner in the NHL. Brian Bradley believes that Vinik’s leadership makes it a great organization and, that without Vinik, the Lightning wouldn’t be here today. Vinik’s commitment to community service is incredible and well known. Every home game he gives out $50,000 to a deserving “Hometown Hero” and has given over $18 million of his own money to this effort. The Lightning support and are involved in a multitude of different charitable organizations and sports camps throughout the Tampa Bay area.
The Lightning won 62 games last year which is a NHL record…best in history! However, they lost 4 straight games in the first round of the playoffs and failed to move to the Stanley Cup finals. Bradley believes that this will be the year they take the cup! A great team with Vasilevskiy in the goal (best in the NHL), Hedman (#1 defenseman in the NHL), Stamkos, Kucherov, Point and Johnson (top scoring line in the NHL) this should be the year! Very excited about the season, but it is a long season, and as long as they can avoid injuries they should be in the playoffs!
