Lightning to host high school hockey jamboree

From a team press release:

LIGHTNING SET TO DROP PUCK ON 2011 HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY JAMBOREE

TAMPA BAY – The Tampa Bay Lightning announced today that it will host the second annual Lightning High School Hockey Jamboree on Sunday, October 30, at the St. Pete Times Forum to officially kick off the 2011-12 high school hockey season. The event will be held in conjunction with West Central Florida’s high school hockey governing body, the Florida High School Hockey Association.

A total of 20 teams from local Bay Area high schools, including those in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Sarasota and Manatee Counties, are scheduled to compete in the tournament. Games are set to begin at 8:30 a.m. and will run throughout the remainder of the day, with the final match beginning at 6:45 p.m. In all, there will be 20 games played with each match featuring a 25-minute running clock.

Admission into the event is free and open to the general public. Complimentary parking will be available in the North Lot on a first-come, first-served basis, while additional parking will be provided in the East Lot for a $5 fee. Concessions featuring food, beer, soda and water will also be available for purchase on the Plaza Level of the arena.

The Lightning High School Hockey Jamboree serves as an additional way for the entire Lightning organization to follow through with its commitment of growing the game of hockey among teenagers in Florida. In addition, it continues to show its dedication to community hockey initiatives through a more hands-on role, with the goal to improve the overall quality of the sport and to ensure the proper recognition of the game in the Tampa Bay area.