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- New rink part of "Build the Thunder" initiative
- Team plans to open 10 street hockey rinks in Bay area
- More Pinellas County news
The Tampa Bay Lightning's newest street hockey rink, located inside Oldsmar Sports Park on Tampa Road, opened to the public Saturday.
Sponsored by Heritage Insurance, the rink is a joint investment between the Lightning and the City of Oldsmar.
The facility is one of 10 the Tampa Bay Lightning are putting in around the area as part of its “Build the Thunder” initiative. The Oldsmar location is the first one open in Pinellas County.
Oldsmar mayor Eric Seidel believes their location is ideal for the new rink.
"While we’re not a regional destination, we are a local one," said Seidel. "People from Palm Harbor come to Oldsmar. People from East Lake come to Oldsmar. Safety Harbor and our friends from Hillsborough County, so it’s an ideal location."
Since 2014, the Lightning have committed to putting more than 100,000 hockey sticks into the hands of young fans throughout the Bay area. Now, with a rink like this, they have a place to play.
"We want kids to understand and know the game," said Jay Feaster, VP of Lightning Community Hockey Development. "Some of them are going to fall in love with it, and we want to get them out, get them playing and be active."
The rink features a canopy as well as a scoreboard and bleachers, making it one of the most state-of-the-art rinks around. It’ll be open for all age groups at different hours.