It was 20 years ago today that our Tampa Bay Lightning won their first Stanley Cup. Back then, it wasn’t called Amalie Arena. The Bolts lifted their first Cup in the St. Pete Times Forum. Of course it wouldn’t be the last time the Tampa Bay Lightning won the Cup. But it’s fun to look back and see the things going on back in 2004 to put it all in perspective.
The Tampa Bay Lightning poured champagne in the locker room after defeating the Calgary Flames in game seven of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals. Back on June 7, 2004. Hulk Hogan got the crowd fired up as Dave Andreychuk and Vincent Lecavalier led the Lightning to their first championship.
Around the world, things were changing. Technology was evolving. The internet had become a part of our daily lives. Social media wasn’t a thing quite yet. The Lightning‘s first Stanley Cup win wasn’t the big sports headline that year. Instead, a mishap at the Super Bowl is still being talked about to this day.
Here were some of the big things going on back in 2004 when the Tampa Bay Lightning won their first NHL Stanley Cup.