LIGHTNING SET TO CULMINATE THE CELEBRATION OF ‘HOCKEY IS FOR EVERYONE’ MONTH ON WEDNESDAY

Tampa Bay Lightning

Gold Medal Winning U.S. Women’s National Team to be Recognized

TAMPA , FLA. – The Tampa Bay Lightning will be concluding their month-long Hockey Is For Everyone initiative when they take on the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday, February 28 at AMALIE Arena at 7 p.m. In conjunction with the National Hockey League, the Lightning will dedicate the game to celebrating inclusion of everyone in the sport.

The Lightning will welcome the U.S. Olympic Women’s ice hockey team at AMALIE Arena with a pre-game ceremony that will honor the Gold Medalists from the 2018 Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea. The full team will also sign autographs for fans during the first intermission at various locations at AMALIE Arena. The USA Women’s team practiced in Wesley Chapel since the beginning of September in preparation for the Olympic Games.

Additionally, as part of the Hockey Is For Everyone month, the Bolts will be hosting their second annual Pride Night. Lightning players will once again tape their sticks with rainbow colored tape for morning skate and warmups.  Select sticks will be auctioned off at the Lightning Foundation’s table at Section 123 on the Promenade Level during the game and the remaining sticks will be auctioned off at www.nhl.com until Friday, March 9, with the proceeds benefitting the You Can Play Project. The Lightning will also have numerous promotions throughout the game to highlight Pride Night, including the 50/50 Raffle, the proceeds of which will go to designated local non-profits within the Tampa Bay LGBTQ community. To purchase tickets for the Pride Night, please visit www.TampaBayLightning.com/Pride.

The Lightning has been honored to host a robust and diverse range of activities celebrating Hockey is For Everyone month throughout the entire month of February.  During the Honda NHL All-Star weekend, the NHL and Lightning honored Willie O’Ree, the first black hockey player to play in the NHL as the NHL All-Star Community Hero, and a portion of whose Community Hero donation went towards the creation of a local HIFE program at a Boys & Girls Club.   Other HIFE initiatives throughout the month include: the Guide the Thunder mentoring program at two local middle schools which met every Monday/Tuesday afternoon; Tyler Johnson hosting and meeting with United States Special Operation Command (USSOCOM) Wounded Warriors who were participating in a Sled Hockey Tournament, Sled hockey Thunderstruck skater pre-game; hosting families with autism at designated games throughout the month, and Girls Hockey games throughout the month.