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Reflecting on a storied broadcast career with the Tampa Bay Lightning

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He’s the enduring voice you think about when watching the Tampa Bay Lightning on television. He’s the unflappable personality who always knows the right words, when to be serious, when to be dramatic, when to explain the situation and when to add a dash of humor.

Now, it’s time to put down the microphone, slow down a bit, count his blessings after 42 years in broadcasting and enjoy his life in Lutz.

It was Rick Peckham’s plan all along to call it quits after this past season with the Lightning, where he served as the television play-by-play announcer for 25 seasons.

Rick Peckham, left, and his Lightning broadcast partner, Brian Engblom. (Courtesy of Fox Sports Sun)

Who knew he would have this kind of exit?

The National Hockey League season was halted in March by COVID-19, then resumed in August at the Canadian virus-bubble cities of Toronto and Edmonton. Peckham’s last official call — Brayden Point’s overtime game-winner at the clinching Game 5 against Columbus in the Eastern Conference first-round series — was working off a video screen from an Amalie Arena studio.

When NBC’s national team picked up the remainder of playoff coverage and the Lightning clinched the franchise’s second Stanley Cup championship, Peckham was exchanging high-fives with his postgame-show broadcast partners at Amalie, then on the air to provide perspective. And, when Lightning players returned to Tampa for the championship celebration, it was Peckham who emceed the proceedings at Raymond James Stadium.

“All of it was truly amazing and I consider myself so fortunate to have been a part of it all,’’ said Peckham, 65.

Peckham, a graduate of Kent State University, worked minor-league hockey in Rochester, New York, then with the NHL’s Hartford Whalers before joining the Lightning in 1995-1996. Peckham and his family — wife Vickie and their two sons — settled into Calusa Trace in 1996 and have lived on a lake at Wellington Manor for the past 13 years.

Lutz feels like home.

“When we got to the Tampa Bay area, everything seemed to be growing out in this direction,’’ Peckham said. “It seemed like a convenient place to be, and it turned out to be a great decision. Everything about it suggested a great family area — kids playing in the neighborhood and riding their bikes to school — and we have loved being here.

“There has been growth, maybe too much growth in the minds of some people, but it has brought a lot of conveniences. I’m so glad we chose this area because we have made a lot of memories and now I’m looking forward to what’s to come.’’

Peckham might still be involved with some special events with the Lightning and he could play a role with the franchise’s alumni player group. For the most part, though, he’s looking forward to picking up even more rounds of golf, his beloved pastime, and maybe discovering some new hobbies.

Either way, he’s ready for a change of pace.

“When you start in minor-league hockey, you’re doing broadcasting, sales, public relations, working about 80 hours a week in season, but it’s a wonderful learning experience,’’ Peckham said. “In the NHL, there’s the constant travel. I’ve ridden a lot of buses and planes.

“You leave after the game and you’re doing a lot of unpacking at 1:30 in the morning at a hotel. In your 30s, it’s cool. In your 40s, it’s OK. By your 50s, you’re getting tired of it. In your 60s, you’re not sure if you can keep doing it. So being at home will be just fine with me. I was fortunate to see about all I needed to see and meet some great people along the way.’’

Peckham, admittedly a creature of routine who’s accustomed to a hockey schedule, said the COVID-19 shutdown opened his eyes even more to the beauty of the Lutz area.

“The funny thing is, when hockey season is roaring along, you’re so busy that sometimes you don’t realize how fortunate you are to be in Florida,’’ Peckham said. “When the game’s weren’t being played, we could get outside and the weather was just gorgeous. I took full advantage of playing golf. Other than that, we coped the best we could, and it was great that the season was able to be finished.’’

Peckham said he’ll forever be grateful for the circumstances of his final call. It was an exciting game, a dramatic overtime winner from Point, and a swirl of gratitude and emotions from others that overwhelmed him.

“It was an announcer’s dream,’’ Peckham said. “To have a game like that, a clean game-winner and an exciting finish, it could not have worked out more perfectly. There were emotions for me, sure, but overall, I tried to approach it like any other game.’’

That approach has served Peckham well for decades.

“You always tried to be honest, accurate, under control, but you always wanted to be aware of the reaction of the fans,’’ Peckham said. “The fans here really care. They’ve gone through a lot to be recognized as a hockey market. They got to win the Stanley Cup in 2004 and they’ve been so close in recent years, then they got another one.

“All of those things go into how you present the game. I’ve been fortunate to have a great situation and lots of stability. Jeff Vinik (Lightning owner) and everyone in the organization make you proud to work for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Everything has been done in a first-class manner. The way it happened for me, I couldn’t write a story and have it end any better.’’

By Joey Johnston

Published October 07, 2020

Political Agenda 09/16/2020

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Attempting to vote twice is illegal, Corley says
Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley is alerting voters that it is illegal to try to vote twice.

Corley issued a news release on the topic after recent media coverage of President Donald Trump suggesting that voters could test the integrity of the system by sending in a vote-by-mail ballot and then going to vote in person.

“While we all want to ensure the integrity of any election, voters need to be aware that per Florida law, any voter who willfully votes or attempts to vote both in person and by mail is committing a felony, and will be referred to the State Attorney’s Office for prosecution,” Corley said, in the news release.

He also said that going to an early voting site or Election Day polling place to “verify” your vote-by-mail ballot was received is neither appropriate nor necessary and will cause unnecessary delays for those who are in line to vote.

Instead, Corley says, to ensure your ballot has been received, use the ballot tracking system at PascoVotes.gov/TrackYourBallot.

Pasco voters can opt to receive email and/or text alerts when their ballot is received in his office. Voters also can check the status of their ballot at PascoVotes.gov, in person at one of the Supervisor of Elections’ offices, or by calling (800) 851-8754.

Hillsborough County adds two more early voting sites
Hillsborough County has added early voting sites at Raymond James Stadium and Amalie Arena, bringing its total number of early voting sites to 26, according to Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer’s office.

All early voting locations will be open Oct. 19 through Nov. 1, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and will have vote-by-mail drop-off tents outside.

For a list of specific locations and other voting information, visit VoteHillsborough.org.

Kathryn Starkey named ‘commissioner of the year’
The Florida Federation of Republican Women named Kathryn Starkey as the statewide “County Commissioner of the Year,” during its conference held in Tampa during the weekend of Sept. 12 and Sept. 13.

She was singled out for her success in working with state and federal entities, as well as the private sector, to bring jobs and skills training to Florida.

Published September 16, 2020

Pasco County adding two street hockey rinks

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Pasco County and the Lightning Foundation have partnered on a project that will result in two street hockey rinks in the county, including one in Wesley Chapel.

The Pasco County Commission approved the agreement at its Jan. 7 meeting.

As part of the deal, the county will spend an estimated $240,000 to build concrete pads and associated infrastructure, which will be turned into street hockey rinks, complete with flashboards, scoreboards, scorers’ tables, and penalty boxes.

The Lightning Foundation will establish street hockey programming, including league play and tournaments. And, it will donate two complete sets of street hockey gear, including 80 sticks, two cases of balls, four goal nets, four youth sets of protective goalie gear, four adult size sets of protected goal gear and 80 reversible scrimmage vests, to be kept at the rinks.

One rink will be built at the Wesley Chapel District Park, at 7727 Boyette Road, and the other at the J. Ben Harrill Recreation Complex, at 2830 Gulf Trace Blvd., in Holiday.

Both locations are large enough to accommodate the outdoor street hockey rinks.

Jay Feaster, vice president of Community Hockey Development, told commissioners the street hockey rinks fit into an overall “Build the Thunder” effort.

Feaster said that the National Hockey League, the National Hockey League Players Association and Lightning owner Jeff Vinik are involved in the program.

Over a five-year period, “we committed to donate 100,000 Lightning logo street hockey sticks and balls to children within the five contiguous county area of Amalie Arena,” Feaster said.

That commitment also included visiting 500 schools during that period and donating “500 complete sets of street hockey gear, so the schools could continue to have children playing long after we were gone.

“This is the start of that fifth year. We have thus far donated 106,000-plus Lightning logo sticks and balls to 503 schools within the five-county area.

“About three years ago, we realized that after we distributed all of those sticks and balls that we had a place that those youngsters to play,” Feaster said.

Ten outdoor street hockey rinks are planned.

“We want to proceed to actually build two of those street hockey rinks here in Pasco,” Feaster told commissioners. The rinks will be 60 feet by 120 feet, and are expected to be completed by Aug. 30.

The Lightning Foundation also will provide a public awareness campaign and promote the scheduled clinics and league play opportunities.

It also will present street hockey clinics at the rinks once per quarter using Tampa Bay Lightning alumni and street team members.

And, it will invite the rinks’ street hockey champions to participate in a Tournament of Champions sponsored by the Lightning Foundation.

The Lightning Foundation also will have the sole right to sell sponsorship rights in connection with the dashboard, scoreboard, signs, etc.

“We’re excited about it,” Feaster said.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey is enthusiastic, too.

“I just can’t tell you how excited our citizens are, and our kids, and I’m really looking forward to this,” Starkey said.

Commissioner Jack Mariano praised the Lightning’s community contributions.

“What you’ve done has really elevated the whole Tampa Bay region,” Mariano said.

Commissioner Ron Oakley marveled at the transformation regarding hockey in the region.

“I grew up in this area. We didn’t have hockey. That was a northern sport,” Oakley said.

Developing future hockey players requires early exposure to the game, Oakley said.

“That’s the way you get ‘em started, you’ve got to start young,” Oakley said.

Published January 22, 2020

Local teen attracts attention for her compassion, good works

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Sally Campbell is living proof that teenagers can make an impact in their community.

The 17-year-old’s compassion for people struggling with cancer inspired her to create “Sallybrating with a Cause,” a nonprofit that has provided arts and crafts, meals, goodie bags, live entertainment and fun activities for residents of Hope Lodge in Tampa.

Hope Lodge provides temporary free lodging for cancer patients and caregivers of those patients receiving outpatient care at nearby Moffitt Cancer Center.

Pasco High senior Sally Campbell last month received the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Community Hero award, for her nonprofit, ‘Sallybrating With A Cause.’ Sally is shown here with Lightning forward Pat Maroon, left, and Lightning CEO Steve Griggs. (Courtesy of Tampa Bay Lightning)

Besides bringing joy and good cheer to cancer patients, the Pasco High senior’s caring ways also have caught the attention of others.

Recently, Sally was named a Lightning Community Hero.

The honor included a $50,000 donation from the Tampa Bay Lightning Foundation and the Lightning Community Heroes program.

Sally is donating half of the funds to the Hope Lodge. The other half will go toward a scholarship to support her college education. She aspires to become a veterinarian.

To celebrate Sally’s community work, she and her story were displayed on Amalie Arena’s jumbotron during the first intermission of a Dec. 14 game against the Washington Capitals, in an arena filled with 19,000 fans.

The front-and-center moment was a bit overwhelming, at first, the teen said.

When she saw herself on the giant screen, she thought: ‘Oh, gosh, what do I do?’

“But, of course having everybody around me made me more comfortable,” she said.

In addition to the public recognition, she also received a behind-the-scenes tour of Lightning facilities, and met with Lightning forward Pat Maroon and Lightning CEO Steve Griggs.

“It was just really cool, and an amazing experience to have,” she said.

All that attention, however, stemmed from Sally’s sustained commitment toward helping others.

She launched her nonprofit organization in 2014, while she was still in middle school.

It was her way to honor the memory of her great-grandmother who succumbed to lung cancer,  before Sally was born.

The Dade City teen keeps her great-grandmother’s legacy alive by regularly visiting the Hope Lodge. There, Sally shares her bright smile and a willingness to interact with those who are suffering.

Several times a year, Sally hosts dinners for Hope Lodge patients and volunteers.

Sally Campbell assists cancer patients with arts and crafts at the Hope Lodge in Tampa. The 18-year-old Pasco High senior regularly visits the living treatment center — providing meals, goodie bags, fun activities and live entertainment, through her nonprofit, ‘Sallybrating With A Cause.’ (Courtesy of Sally Campbell)

She comes bearing goodie bags, and provides arts and crafts, live music and other activities.

To fund those uplifting visits, Sally organizes golf tournaments and poker runs. She also spreads awareness about her nonprofit during community festivals in Dade City.

Sally was just 12 when she began volunteering at the Hope Lodge, and ever since her very first visit, she has felt inspired to do more.

She explained that even a small gesture, such as providing a dinner, is both rewarding and motivating.

Hope Lodge patients are grateful for the attention and conversation, Sally said.

And, providing meals is a practical way to help — so patients and their caregivers don’t have to go out or worry about their next meal, after a long day of chemo and radiation.

In other words, the service helps “eliminate some of that burden” that cancer patients and caregivers may face each day, she said.

“We’ve had people tell us that we’ve been their saving graces as they’ve been going through treatments at Moffit Cancer Center next door,” Sally said. “All these people are so thankful and so appreciative of everything that we do, so it just kind of makes it like you want to go back.

“It’s really neat to see all the simple ways that you can make someone else’s day brighter,” she said.

Over the years, the teen has enlisted countless friends and family members to help her along the way.

She said she strives to set an example to her peers, to help them realize that they’re not too young to make a positive and notable impact.

It’s something her mother, Heather Campbell, has noticed over time as she chaperones her daughter’s Hope Lodge outings and other events.

“It’s like her good deeds that she does, it’s contagious. It rubs off and makes us want to get involved as well — which is not a bad thing,” Heather said.

“She inspires me, because she always gives of herself. Like a lot of kids think they just have to document volunteer hours, but she never thinks of it like that. She just goes out there and just does, just to give to others,” Heather added.

Besides her charitable work, Sally keeps plenty busy in other pursuits.

She is a multi-sport athlete at Pasco High. She ran cross-country this year and is back on the tennis team for her fourth year. She also played soccer her freshman and sophomore years.

She serves as president of the school’s chapter of the National Honor Society, she is involved in student council and the PTSA, and she shows hogs through the Dade City Future Farmers of America.

Regardless of what she’s doing, though, she understands the value of teamwork.

“It’s a lot to handle, but we get it all done,” Sally said. “That’s the good thing about having a bunch of people that are willing to help you and support you, no matter what.”

Published January 08, 2020

Cirque du Soleil Is Back on Ice

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Fusing World-Class Ice-Skating with Breathtaking Acrobatics

Cirque du Soleil on Ice is returning to Tampa with a new creation that will spin its audience into the vibrant world of Cirque du Soleil AXEL, with seven performances only, at Amalie Arena, opening Oct. 31.

This unique show highlights world-class acrobatic skating performances set in fantastical universes, combined with full-spectrum visual effects and awesome live music, seamlessly integrating popular songs with new original scores.

“The success of our first creation on ice has reinforced our ambition to further explore the extensive creative possibilities of a frozen playground,” says Daniel Fortin, vice president Creation. “With Cirque du Soleil AXEL, we are offering a truly electrifying experience to all audiences, pushing the boundaries of creativity with the unique approach that has forged the reputation of Cirque du Soleil.”

The performance tells the story of Axel, a young man, and his dynamic group of friends, whose passion for live music and graphic arts come to life in an exhilarating adventure. Axel’s journey reminds the audience that everyone’s dreams are within reach, as they discover this young artist as he falls for the fascinating Lei in a high-speed chase for love and self-realization.

The electrifying experience of Cirque du Soleil AXEL includes stunning performances blending ice-skating, acrobatics and live music that leaves its audiences astounded!

About Cirque du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil AXEL is the 48th original production of Cirque du Soleil, part of Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group, and its second on-ice experience.

Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group is a world leader in live entertainment. On top of producing world-renowned circus arts shows, the Canadian organization brings its creative approach to a large variety of entertainment forms, such as multimedia productions, immersive experiences, theme parks and special events.

It currently has 4,500 employees from nearly 70 countries. Going beyond its various creations, Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group aims to make a positive impact on people, communities and the planet with its most important tools: creativity and art. For more information about Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group, please visit CDSentertainmentgroup.com.

Performances
Oct. 31 to Nov. 3
Thurs., Oct. 31 at 7:30 p.m.
Fri., Nov. 1 at 7:30 p.m.
Sat., Nov. 2 at 11:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m., and 7:30 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 3 at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Tickets
Amalie Arena Ticket Office
401 Channelside Drive, Tampa, FL 33602
(813) 301-2500
Mon. to Fri., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Online at CirqueDuSoleil.com/AXEL

Information
CirqueDuSoleil.com/AXEL
Follow #AXELCirque and #CirqueduSoleil
Social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Partners
Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group would like to thank Hennessy Black, Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte, Realtor.com and Villa Maria, our Official Partners of Cirque du Soleil AXEL.

 

USA Women’s Hockey, fans celebrate gold in Wesley Chapel

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Just days removed from celebrating a gold medal win in the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, the USA women’s ice hockey team returned to where their remarkable journey all began — Wesley Chapel.

The U.S. women’s national ice hockey team posed for pictures on Feb. 28 at Florida Hospital Center Ice, in Wesley Chapel. The team spent more than five months training at the facility and lodging at Saddlebrook Resort. (Kevin Weiss)

It’s where the team spent more than five months getting prepared for the Winter Olympics, training at Florida Hospital Center Ice and lodging at Saddlebrook Resort. It’s also where daily practices, off-ice testing and intrasquad scrimmages were used to determine the 23 players selected for the Team USA roster back in May.

The team spent the better part of an hour on the afternoon of Feb. 28 greeting fans, posing for pictures and signing autographs at the Center Ice facility.

The surprise visit was part of a nationwide media blitz that took them to Los Angeles, Washington D.C., and New York City.

A week earlier, the team defeated Canada in a 3-2 shootout to win gold, ending a 20-year drought for the women’s hockey program.

Moments since have been nothing short of surreal for Team USA, from celebrating the victory to the fan support.

“It’s been overwhelming, exciting, just a whirlwind,” said two-time Olympian and forward Kendall Coyne. “It’s been truly an honor to bring home this gold to the United States, and to see the reaction from everybody and the support.”

“It’s been crazy,” added 19-year-old defenseman Cayla Barnes, the youngest member of Team USA. “This has been a goal of ours for so long, and it just proves you can do whatever you set your mind to.”

Two-time Olympian and forward Kendall Coyne shows off her Olympic gold medal. She is one of 23 players on the U.S. women’s national ice hockey team.

Their time spent in Wesley Chapel won’t soon be forgotten, either, from top-flight training digs and hospitality, to the warm, sunny weather.

“These facilities were awesome, the staff here was amazing, and they really helped us with everything we needed,” Barnes said. “It was great to be down here, such nice weather, and really nice to train out here in preparation for the games.”

“Hockey in Florida was new to a lot of us, but I don’t think it took long for us to realize that hockey is serious in Florida,” said Coyne. “The growth is amazing, and just to see the growth in the short six months we were here just shows how much more there can be.”

Coyne added, the gold medal victory provides a “huge opportunity” to further the sport in the United States, particularly among young girls.

The 25-year-old herself was inspired by Hall of Famer Cammi Granato and the 1998 U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey, the last team to win gold.

“With our win, I think we can get more girls playing across the United States,” Coyne said.

“If you look at our team currently, a lot of us are playing because we saw the ’98 team win a gold medal. So, knowing that feeling and knowing personally I was one of them… I saw Cammi Granato, and seeing her gold medal made me want to become one of them.”

Tampa resident Chad Courson is all smiles after posing for a picture with Team USA Women’s Hockey. He came equipped with a Team USA jacket and ‘Gold Medal edition’ box of Corn Flakes to get autographed.

Having Team USA train in Wesley Chapel was likewise beneficial to Florida Hospital Center Ice and the Tampa Bay hockey community, said Gordie Zimmerman, managing partner and developer of Florida Hospital Center Ice.

The $28 million,150,500-square-foot complex was picked as Team USA’s training ground over such hockey facilities in Boston, Chicago and others.

“It’s been terrific on every front — for the development of hockey for the girls and the boys, and just the awareness and having the girls here in the facility,” explained Zimmerman.

“I think there was a lot of pressure on them and where they train…and it turned out to be a great experience for everybody. This wave is going to continue, and you can see like with the girls’ (programs) — and that’s what it’s all about.”

As one of dozens of fans at the meet-and-greet, Wesley Chapel resident Rob Simonelli just couldn’t pass up the chance to take photos and chat it up with the newly crowned Olympic gold medalists.

He found out about the team’s surprise appearance at Center Ice through a friend who caught wind of the event.

“I had a feeling because they had been here for a couple months with their training that they’ve got to come back and take a look at the people at the rink,” said Simonelli, who plays recreational hockey at Center Ice along with his son.

“They’re really friendly, and it’s nice that they decided to come and just kind of say ‘Hey’ to the people.”

Simonelli said he watched much of the Olympic coverage on television, and even attended some of the team’s tryouts and international games at Center Ice last year.

Besides national pride, he felt some local pride, too.

“I just was excited that this was their home base. Just following them when they made this their home was kind of cool,” Simonelli said.

Another exuberant fan, Tampa resident Chad Courson, came to the event equipped with a Team USA jacket and a “Gold Medal edition” box of Corn Flakes featuring a cover picture of USA women’s gold winning hockey star Meghan Duggan.

He brought both items to get signed. He also bought about 40 other boxes of the limited-edition Corn Flakes to get signed later that night at Amalie Arena as part of another Team USA appearance.

“I met the team on previous occasions, but it’s still cool,” Courson said of the team’s stop in Wesley Chapel.

As for the team’s run in PyeongChang?

“It was amazing,” Courson said.

Published March 7, 2018

Lightning strikes again in Florida Hospital partnership

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Florida Hospital and the Tampa Bay Lightning are extending their partnership agreement through the 2015-16 hockey season.

As a presenting sponsor, Florida Hospital will receive a logo and name inclusion on all Lightning advertising campaigns and materials throughout the next two seasons. This continues the partnership that started in 2011, and includes being the official healthcare provider of the Arena Football League Tampa Bay Storm.

“We are proud to partner with the Tampa Bay Lightning, a world-class organization that is dedicated to giving back to the Tampa Bay community,” said Mike Schultz, president and chief executive of Florida Hospital West Florida Region, in a release. “We are proud to be associated with this champion organization who shares our core values of integrity, compassion, excellence and teamwork. Together, we are committed to improving the health of our community.”

During six Lightning home games this season, the team will feature a series called “Celebrate Life” that highlights special members of the community who have been positively impacted by the care received at Florida Hospital. The chain also will be the presenting sponsor of the annual Tampa Bay Lightning Fan Fest, scheduled for Amalie Arena on Sept. 27. There, fans will be able to watch a scrimmage, sled hockey, get autographs, and participate in a hockey class.

Doors open for that event at 10 a.m., and it’s free to the public.

Florida Hospital also will host two health awareness nights during the year featuring Breast Cancer Awareness Night on Nov. 1. That will be the culmination of a month-long awareness campaign encouraging women to get screened and join the Pink Army.

The Heart Health Awareness Night will be featured when the Lightning take on the Los Angeles Kings Feb. 7. The hospital also will be the associate sponsor of the Lightning’s annual Bolt Run.

Florida Hospital West Region consists of nine hospitals and 1,257 beds, including Florida Hospital at Connerton Long Term Acute Care, Florida Hospital Zephyrhills and Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel.