Tampa Bay Lightning Alumni Playing in Charity Hockey Game

The Tampa Bay Lightning will host the Battle of the Badges, presented by Bright House Networks, on Saturday, Nov. 17 at the Tampa Bay Times Forum with festivities beginning at 3 p.m.

The charity hockey game pits Tampa Bay-area police and fire departments against each other on the ice at the Times Forum along with Lightning alumni to benefit the Gold Shield Foundation.

The event will get started at 3 p.m. with a used equipment sale, where fans and hockey players alike can find game-used items at a discounted price, on the promenade patio outside Gate A.  

Beginning at 3:30 p.m., Lightning alumni and personalities will sign autographs for all those in attendance on the promenade patio outside Gate B.  The doors to the Tampa Bay Times Forum will open for the Battle of the Badges at 4 p.m. for a youth hockey game between two local teams, the Police Athletic League and the Scorpions, with the puck for the Battle of the Badges dropping at 5 p.m.

"It is an unbelievable honor to share the ice again with these heroes from our
local police and fire departments," vice president of fans and business development Dave Andreychuk said.  "We have done a number of charity games with them in the past and I can speak for myself, as well as the rest of the alumni, when I say we're all looking forward to doing it again for another great cause."

Lightning personalities playing for Team Police include Tampa Bay Founder and
Hockey Hall-of-Famer Phil Esposito, Stanley Cup captain Dave Andreychuk,
alumni Chris Dingman, assistant coach Martin Raymond, video coach Nigel Kirwan and assistant equipment manager Clay Roffer.  

Lacing up the skates for Team Fire will be alumni Jassen Cullimore and Stan Neckar, assistant coach Dan Lacroix, head athletic trainer Tom Mulligan and assistant equipment manager Rob Kennedy.

The event will be hosted by Lightning television play-by-play announcer Rick
Peckham and will feature enter to win contests, appearances by ThunderBug and the Lightning Girls, live in-game interviews with players, police and fire
vehicles on the West Plaza, celebrity coaches and more.  There will be a 50/50
raffle as well as donation boxes located throughout the arena with all
proceeds going to the Gold Shield Foundation.

Do you plan to go? Tell us in the comments.