NHL, Lightning Open Ball Hockey Rink at All-Star Weekend

By NHL Public Relations

The National Hockey League, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Lightning Foundation dropped the puck at a brand new outdoor ball hockey rink, donated as a legacy to the 2018 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend. The rink, donated to the recently renamed Jeff and Penny Vinik Family Boys & Girls Club in Tampa, will service hundreds of youth in the area each year.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay provide safe environments for youth aged 5-18 years with space to engage in physical activities and structured programming after school. Their mission is to help all young people reach their full potential as productive, responsible, caring citizens."To be a part of such an amazing project that is supported by such a great organization is nothing short of incredible," said Chris Letsos, President & CEO for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay. "This Club and all of its resources, including the rink, will bring such positive reinforcement to this community and its residents. And it is through this critical partnership that we are able to continue our mission of building Great Futures."The outdoor ball hockey rink at the Jeff and Penny Vinik Family Boys & Girls Club supports the NHL and the Tampa Bay Lightning's commitment to growing hockey at the grassroots level. The rink will include a large playing surface that can withstand rain; permanent hockey boards; home and away benches; a scorer's table; and expanded lighting to better accommodate outdoor play year-round. The donation also includes brand new youth street hockey equipment."When the opportunity was presented to us by the NHL to create an All-Star legacy leave behind in Tampa, we could not have been more pleased to work together on a street hockey facility for our youth," said Jeff Vinik, Chairman and Governor of the Tampa Bay Lightning. "Developing new hockey players and new hockey fans is mission critical for us as we look to grow the game in our community and we appreciate the opportunity to do that with members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay."Read the full story here.