Score
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Post by Score on Jan 2, 2007 12:20:40 GMT -3
Charlottetown and the province are negotiating to bring the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning to town for next season's training camp.
Charlottetown Mayor Clifford Lee confirmed an offer is on the table but wouldn't discuss details.
"The city is in discussions with the Tampa Bay organization with a view to having them host their training camp here in the city of Charlottetown," said Lee.
"Those discussions are ongoing and as of right now no decision has been made by the organization."
Jay Preble, public relations director for the Lightning, told CBC News an Island team of provincial and city officials was in Tampa last month making the pitch, and that the team was quite impressed with the presentation.
Preble said "financial considerations" are still being worked out, but the team is interested in coming to the Island. If a deal can be worked out, the Lightning would be here for about a week at the beginning of camp.
The CBC has also learned Tampa Bay star forward Brad Richards, a native of Murray Harbour, P.E.I., is lobbying to get the deal done, and that the idea was hatched at his celebrity golf tournament last summer.
No one is saying how much it will cost to lure the NHL team here, but the province and the city would have to foot some of the bill.
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Score
Draft Pick
Go Rocket!
Posts: 2,079
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Post by Score on Jan 5, 2007 12:12:02 GMT -3
Lightning camp on P.E.I. would be a thrill: Richards By Don Morrison The Guardian
The final decision rests with the Tampa Bay management but for Brad Richards, having a portion of the Lightning’s 2007 training camp on Prince Edward Island would be exciting.
Like everyone else though, the Murray Harbour native is waiting to see what transpires over the next little while.
A proposal by a Charlottetown group was made to the National Hockey League team Nov. 28, but as yet the Tampa Bay organization has not decided whether it would move a week of their camp to the Island.
The Tampa centre has hosted a number of Lightning teammates at his annual charity golf tournament in Roseneath and it was during the 2006 event when the subject of having the team hold the initial part of its camp in the province was raised.
“Members of the Lightning that have been to P.E.I. for the golf tournament really liked it there and think it could work,’’ said Richards in an interview from Minnesota, where the Lightning played the Wild Thursday night.
A committee of Dr. Mike Molyneaux, Dave (Eli) MacEachern, Mark Derry and Angus Birt are handling the local planning.
“I don’t think there is any problems with how it’s going to be received or how it is going to be run,’’ said the Lightning forward. “I’m pretty confident of all that. It’s first class.’’
Richards said he has no doubt the camp would be a huge hit.
“It would be exciting for a lot of the kids on P.E.I. who have followed the Lightning since we won the Cup. There are a lot of Lightning fans. It’s NHL players and that’s always a big thing.’’
In 2004, Richards brought the Stanley Cup and the Conn Smythe Trophy he was presented as the most valuable player in the playoffs, to his hometown, an event which attracted thousands.
“I’ve always tried to include P.E.I., with the Cup and different things like that,’’ said Richards. “Having the training camp there, although it’s not my (decision), would be exciting for me.”
Lightning general manager Jay Feaster, in an interview with The Tampa Tribune, said the next step in the process was for him to sit down and talk with team president
Ron Campbell to come up with a proposal to make the effort “cost neutral’’ for the team.
Richards is hoping it becomes a reality.
“I know there would be a lot of kids and hockey fans that would love a chance to go see that,” the NHL star said.
“When I was growing up that was a big thing when NHL teams came in.’’
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