The ice going in at Amalie Arena for a new season of Tampa Bay Lightning hockey.
Geno / BBGIIt's a sure sign that another hockey season is about to begin. Ice installation day at Amalie Arena is tomorrow. The cold front, as short-lived as it was, may have left Florida. But it'll be nice and chilly inside Amalie for the next few months. I got to take a first-hand look at the Tampa Bay Lightning ice installation process back in 2022.
At 1pm tomorrow (August 19), the ice crew at Amalie Arena will begin their work laying down a base coat of water on the concrete floor. After that they will then paint the ice a base white color sometime Monday afternoon. On Tuesday, the crew will wake up bright and early. At 7am, they will begin to paint the lines, markings and logos.
Wildest thing I learned at Ice Install Day at Amalie Arena
Did you know the ice the Tampa Bay Lightning play on is only an inch and a quarter deep!? That blew my mind. For some reason I always assumed it was at least 3 or 4 inches deep. Let's head inside and show you how they do it at ice install day at Amalie Arena.
Geno / BBGIIt's always so weird to walk in and see Amalie Arena completely empty.
This machine is about half the size of the Zamboni. It first lays down water. Then white paint. Then more water.
It sprays the water and paint in a fine mist to keep the ice dense. That's how the ice can be so thin I guess. I mean imagine that abuse that ice takes... all those skates, players digging in deep, sticks taking slapshots, and that enormous heavy Zamboni riding on it to clean the surface.
This is what it looks like when the white paint layer goes on before it's covered with more ice.
The logos are ready to come out and be put on the ice.
The Zamboni makes its first run a day or so after once everything has set.
The Tampa Bay Lightning will play their first preseason game on this fresh coat of ice on September 24th when they face the Carolina Hurricanes. The two teams will meet again when the regular season begins October 11. The first Bolts regular season game at Amalie will be the next night on October 12 against the Hurricanes once again. Tickets for Lightning regular season games just went on sale Friday.
Even back then there were those "Stanley Needs a Tan" signs and t-shirts. It was 20 years ago today the headlines read that your Tampa Bay Lightning win their first Stanley Cup. It wouldn't be their last. Where were you that day?
In 2004, some guy at Harvard created a new website called Facebook in his dorm. President George Bush was reelected. Martha Stewart went to prison. Janet Jackson had the infamous "wardrobe malfunction." The Boston Red Sox won their first World Series since 1918. But the thing we'll always remember about 2004: the Tampa Bay Lightning win their first Stanley Cup.
The Tampa Bay Lightning Win Their First Stanley Cup: Doubt
The Tampa Bay Lightning poured champagne in the locker room after defeating the Calgary Flames in game seven of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals. Back on June 7, 2004, it wasn't Amalie Arena yet. It was the St. Pete Times Forum where the Lightning won the Stanley cup by defeating the Flames 2-1.
2004 was the first year the Bolts would even play in the playoffs. Dave Andreychuk told The Hockey News that he didn't think his team was good enough to pull this off. But as the playoff wins started to pile up, he said the formula was simple: "We stick to the system and we can beat anybody." They did.
We did some digging and found some great photos of even the Stanley Cup winning team. There were appearances by Elvis impersonators, Alexander Ovechkin and Hulk Hogan.
Lightning v Flames, Game 3
Brian Bahr/Getty ImagesDefenseman Robyn Regehr #28 of the Calgary Flames passes the puck against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game four of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals.
Stanley Cup Finals: Lightning v Flames
(Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)Vincent Lecavalier #4 of the Tampa Bay Lightning throws a punch at Jarome Iginla #12 of the Calgary Flames during a fight in the first period in game three of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals on May 29, 2004 at the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta.
Lightning v Flames, Game 7
(Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)Vincent Lecavalier #4 of the Tampa Bay Lightning poses for a photo with wrestler Hulk Hogan, son Nick Hogan and wrestler Brian "Nasty Boy" Knobbs.
2004 Stanely Cup Tampa Bay Lightning victory parade
(Photo by Chris Livingston/Getty Images)Tampa Bay Lightning Captain Dave Andreychuk holds up the NHL Stanley Cup trophy during a victory parade June 9, 2004 in Tampa, Florida.
Lightning v Flames, Game 7
(Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)Camera phones weren't a thing yet! Andre Roy #36 of the Tampa Bay Lightning video tapes the post game celebration after the victory.
Lightning v Flames, Game 7
(Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)Vincent Lecavalier #4 of the Tampa Bay Lightning gets a hug after the victory over the Calgary Flames in Game seven of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals on June 7, 2004 at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida.
Lightning v Flames, Game 7
(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)Vincent Lecavalier #4 of the Tampa Bay Lightning raises the the Stanley Cup over his head in the locker room.
Stanley Cup Finals: Lightning v Flames
(Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images)Pavel Kubina #13 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates with the crowd after defeating the Calgary Flames 2-1 in game seven of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals.
Stanley Cup Finals: Lightning v Flames
(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)Ben Clymer #7 of the Tampa Bay Lightning pours champagne over the head of Vincent Lecavalier #4 in the locker room.
2004 Stanely Cup Tampa Bay Lightning victory parade
(Photo by Chris Livingston/Getty Images)Tampa Bay Lightning Captain Dave Andreychuk holds up the NHL Stanley Cup trophy during a victory parade June 9, 2004 in Tampa, Florida.
Lightning v Flames, Game 7
(Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images)Tampa Bay Lightning players and staff pose for a team photo with the Stanley Cup after defeating the Calgary Flames in Game seven of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals on June 7, 2004 at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida. The Lightning defeated the Flames 2-1.
Lightning v Flames, Game 7
Brian Bahr/Getty ImagesThe Stanley Cup is carried to center ice for the presentation to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Stanley Cup Finals: Lightning v Flames
(Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)Pavel Kubina #13 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates after winning the Stanley Cup.
Lightning v Flames, Game 7
(Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)Nikolai Khabibulin #35 of the Tampa Bay Lightning poses for a photo with a NHL official after the victory.
Lightning v Flames, Game 7
(Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)Eric Perrin #9 of the Tampa Bay Lightning poses for a photo with his daughter Alyssa after the victory.
Lightning v Flames, Game 7
(Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)Vincent Lecavalier #4 of the Tampa Bay Lightning holds the Stanley Cup above his head after the victory over the Calgary Flames in Game seven of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals on June 7, 2004 at the St. Pete Times Forum.
Lightning v Flames, Game 7
(Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)Nikolai Khabibulin #35 and Andre Roy #36 of the Tampa Bay Lightning pose for a photo after the victory.
Lightning v Flames, Game 7
(Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images)NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman speaks at center ice before presenting the Stanley Cup to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Lightning v Flames, Game 7
(Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images)Brad Richards #19 of the Tampa Bay Lightning smiles as he holds the Stanley Cup in the locker room.
Lightning v Flames, Game 7
(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)Nikolai Khabibulin #35 of the Tampa Bay Lightning eyes the puck to his right as teammate Dan Boyle #22 defends the crease against Dave Lowry #10 of the Calgary Flames in Game seven of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals on June 7, 2004 at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida. The Lightning defeated the Flames 2-1.
Lightning v Flames, Game 7
(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)Cory Sarich #21 of the Tampa Bay Lightning drinks from the Stanley Cup in the locker room.
Lightning v Flames, Game 7
(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)Martin Cibak #8 and John Grahame #47 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrate with cigars while Grahame readies to pop the cork on a bottle of chilled Totts champagne.
Stanley Cup Finals: Lightning v Flames
(Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images)Darren Rumble #38 of the Tampa Bay Lightning hoists the Stanley Cup after defeating the Calgary Flames in game seven of the NHL Stanley Cup Final on June 7, 2004 at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida.
Stanley Cup Finals: Lightning v Flames
(Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images)Thousands of fans that couldn't get tickets, watch the Calgary Flames take on the Tampa Bay Lightning from outside the St. Pete Times Forum in game seven of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals on June 7, 2004 at the St. Pete Times Forum (now Amalie Arena).
