LIGHTNING RE-SIGN CENTER BLAIR JONES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE courtesy of the Tampa by Lightning

June 24, 2011

TAMPA BAY – The Tampa Bay Lightning have re-signed center Blair Jones to a
one-year, two-way contract today, vice president and general manager Steve
Yzerman announced.

Jones, 6-foot-2, 216 pounds, played in 18 games with the Lightning last
season, recording a goal and three points. He also averaged 8:00 per game
in ice time during the regular season. He matched career highs for goals,
assists and points. Jones also played in 56 games with the Norfolk
Admirals of the American Hockey League, recording 24 goals and 55 points
with a plus-17 rating. He ranked second on the team for goals, points and
plus/minus.

A native of Central Butte, Saskatchewan, Jones made his debut in both the
Stanley (NHL) and Calder (AHL) Cup playoffs in 2011. The 24-year-old
skated in his first NHL playoff game May 1 in Game 2 of the Eastern
Conference Semifinals against the Washington Capitals. He played in seven
games with the Lightning during the playoffs, averaging 6:24 in ice time
per game. Jones appeared in four postseason games with Norfolk, recording
a goal and eight penalty minutes.

Jones has played in 319 career AHL games with Norfolk and the Springfield
Falcons, recording 72 goals and 202 points. He represented Norfolk in the
2010 AHL All-Star Game, winning the hardest shot competition that year
with a shot of 100.7 mph.

Jones played his junior hockey in the WHL with Moose Jaw and Red Deer. He
played in 249 junior games, recording 61 goals and 112 assists. He was
selected by the Lightning in the fourth round, 102nd overall, of the 2005
NHL Entry Draft.