Tampa Bay Lightning C Steven Stamkos: 'Vincent Lecavalier Is A Great Role Model'

As the team prepares to honor former captain Vincent Lecavalier, Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos believes Vinny to be ‘a great role model.’

The Tampa Bay Lightning have a lot in store for their fans tonight. Not only are they looking for their third-straight win to kick off the season as they take on their in-state rivals, the Florida Panthers, but the organization is welcoming home one of the most beloved players of all time, former captain Vincent Lecavalier.

Over the course of his 14 seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Lecavalier made quite an impact on the ice. Despite his achievements on the ice, the place where Number Four made his real mark on the Tampa Bay community was off the ice.

Vincent Lecavalier was, and still is, dedicated to making the Tampa Bay community a better place to live. If it weren’t for Lecavalier and his dedication to the city he called home, we may never have had what is known as the Vincent Lecavalier Pediatric Cancer and Blood Disorders Center at All Children’s Hospital.

Thanks to Lecavalier’s generous $3 million donation courtesy of the Vincent Lecavalier Foundation, the center was able to be built and now hundreds of children and their families who are fighting for each and every day they can have a place where they can get the treatment they so desperately need.

Needless to say, Lecavalier’s selfless actions ring true to many people here in the Bolts Nation. One of those aforementioned people is Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos.

Before tonight’s game, Tampa Bay Lightning Beat Writer Bryan Burns had an opportunity to speak to the current Lightning captain about Vincent Lecavalier and the impact he’s had on not only the game, but the Tampa Bay community and the rest of the hockey world.

“Well, Vinny was a guy I leaned on a lot as I came into the league,” Stamkos told Burns. “He was someone who went through the exact same thing I did. So he was there in that regard and obviously a tremendous player and great leader. But, I think everyone sees that.”

Stamkos expanded his thoughts on Lecavalier to the impact he had off the ice and what that meant for him personally.

“It’s the stuff away from the rink and in the community and how much he’s entrenched himself and his family into this city which is very special,” Stamkos told Burns. “That’s something I’ve always looked up to Vinny for. He’s a great role model.”

As a longtime Lightning fan ourselves, we will have to agree with Steven Stamkos. While Vincent Lecavalier has achieved great things on the ice, including holding Lord Stanley’s Cup high above his head, it’s the things he’s accomplished outside of the rink that have left the biggest impact on us and the Tampa Bay community.

Tonight, when the Tampa Bay Lightning take the ice to do battle with their in-state rival Florida Panthers, there will be 19,000-plus Lightning fans in the stands anxiously awaiting the return of one of their favorite players of all-time. If there’s one thing we know for sure, it’s going to be an exciting night for everyone in attendance.

The Tampa Bay Lightning have a lot on the line tonight. The Lightning are one of only five remaining teams in the National Hockey League who are undefeated. Another one of those five teams is the Florida Panthers. Two teams will enter the Amalie Arena tonight. Only one will emerge undefeated.