One of the most successful expansion teams in the National Hockey League are the Tampa Bay lighting. They played their first game in 1992 and reached the playoffs only four years later. The Lightning story is full of drama including changes in venue, turmoil over ownership and of course, a championship. Here we will take a look at this unconventional, yet interesting team.

The NHL expanded their league by two teams in 1992, adding Tampa Bay and Ottawa. During the late 1980s two rival groups fought to be awarded the Tampa franchise. Adding to the drama was one of the group’s front men, none other than hall of famer Phil Esposito. Late in the evaluation process Esposito’s investment backers backed out. He did not give up.

During the final moments, Esposito got involved with a Japanese investor group. Not sufficiently satisfied, he then got the financial support of George Steinbrenner, majority owner of the New York Yankees. Steinbrenner would be a limited partner. With all this, Esposito and his group won the rights to a Tampa franchise.

The Lightening opening season was less than encouraging. But it was not as bad as many expected it would be. After the first month of the season, they were number one in their division. However, when the season came to a close, the Lightening found themselves dead last. However they did earn 53 points, the highest total for any expansion team’s debut year.

What really makes that first year limited success remarkable is the where the team had to play. They played at the tiny Expo Hall. It was an indoor arena that could not accommodate even eleven thousand fans. The small crowds were not the worst of it. You see, the Expo Hall was located on the Florida State Fairgrounds. This venue was not exactly endearing to the hockey world. In fact it was the source of more than a few snickers.

Fortunately for them, that would be the only year they had to play in the hall. Unfortunately, they relocated to the Florida Suncoast Dome, which was later renamed the Thunder Dome. The dome, in St. Petersburg, was designed for baseball. Eventually they moved from there and the future baseball team the Devil Rays, moved in. The dome is now named Tropicana Field.

Turmoil over venue was not the only trouble facing the team. In the 1990s the Lightening was being investigated by the IRS and looking at bankruptcy. Further, there were accusations that a Japanese crime syndicate was involved with finances. Art Williams owned the team briefly and then it was bought by Detroit Pistons owner, Bill Davidson. This is about the time that things started looking better for the club.

Things turned around very quickly for them. It could have been the new ownership or it may have been their new arena. Eventually in 1996 they moved into a suitable venue, the Ice Palace, which was later renamed the St. Pete Times Forum. Whatever it was, they saw some good times. Unexpectedly, they became the Stanly Cup winners in 2004 with a victory over the Calgary Flames. They attracted many fans who loved their “underdog” status.

Hockey is a sport in which knowing all the hockey safety tips is vital because otherwise you can’t prevent injuries from occurring simply because of the way the game is played. From flying hockey sticks to hard rubber pucks that get frozen before games and sharp blades on skates, there can be a lot of dangers. Getting hit by a puck will result in a serious bruise, at the very least. That is the best you can hope for with hockey. Then there are considerations involving getting hurt from muscle pulls and various sprains, etc. Hockey is definitely a dangerous sport. That is why players have to be on alert all the time to ensure they know what is going on around them. We will look at a few critical hockey safety tips in this article that will help protect you from sustaining any major injuries down the road. Also, interested in a really effective way to get in shape for the hockey season? Have a look at the Insanity workout DVD by Shaun T. It is excellent.

Knowledge of as many hockey tips as possible and proper preparation are the key to avoiding injury. Getting to know all the safety gear hockey players use is the first thing you should do if you are new to the game. If you are not new to the sport, then you probably know what’s going on. However, you still need to make sure that all your hockey safety equipment is in working order and can offer your protection. If any of your safety equipment has been damaged from a previous season, then you should seriously think about replacing it.

You always need to ensure that your safety gear is a good fit. Equipment that fits well can help protect you against sustaining any serious injuries. When the equipment you wear does not fit right, then that equipment becomes compromised and cannot do the job it was made to do. You will otherwise be placing yourself in danger. For example, your helmet should never be overly loose. If you fall, which is not unusual in hockey, and hit your head you can still sustain serious injuries. So that your pads don’t shift around during the game, you need to make sure they are a snug fit.

The protective visor is one piece of hockey safety equipment that isn’t always used. Despite this, you will often see pro hockey players who are smart enough to use them. Your face and eyes are protected from injury because the visor is made of hard plastic. You can end up with serious injuries if you get hit by a flying hockey stick blade or a puck, and that isn’t as rare as you might think. There isn’t a piece of safety equipment that is 100% infallible. But it can seriously reduce the risks when it is worn properly. Safety is a serious issue in all sports and for players of all skills and abilities. However, the younger players are very much at risk with playing hockey with insufficient safety equipment. You must stay involved if you have a child playing youth hockey. Take the time to learn about potential injuries that can occur and how to best prevent them. Lastly, don’t forget to check out our detailed Insanity review.