Welcome & introduce yourself

[Mike]

Was not aware of this thread.

Where were you born? Tampa, FL
Current hometown: Brandon, FL
Ever live anywhere else?: Riverview, Gainesville (college)
Nationality/ethnicity: White (mostly English/German, possibly other)
Job: High School Instructor

Favorite hockey team: Lightning
Why do you like them? I was 10 during the inaugural season, which got me hooked on watching and playing the sport. They were the hometown team.
Favorite hockey team as a kid (if different):I was partial to the Red Wings during the 90's because my Dad is originally from Detroit and my introduction and growing fascination with hockey coincided with the resurgence of the 'Wings franchise.
Least favorite: Flyers (Tampa fan should be naturally inclined to "hate" Philly teams but that the Lightning's first foray into the playoffs ended at the hands of Eric Lindros and the Flyers, then Gratton-gate and, of course, the 2004 ECF all serve to seal the deal)
Favorite active player on your favorite team: I have to pick one? St. Louis (Stamkos, Lecavalier and Hedman close behind)
Favorite active player on another team: Shea Weber
All time favorite player if different:
Favorite teams in other sports: Bucs, Rays, Gators, USF Bulls
Favorite TV show:The Walking Dead, Breaking Bad, Deadwood, Modern Family
Favorite beer or alcoholic beverage of choice: Grimbergen, Stella Artois, PBR (not joking!), Maker's Mark

[Alex]

PBR (not joking!)

Hipster!

[BurnTHalO]

This seems fun, and I never did this.

Where were you born? Toledo, OH
Current hometown: Toledo, OH
Ever live anywhere else?: St. Pete, FL
Nationality/ethnicity: White (mostly Scottish)
Job: Senior Project Scientist

Favorite hockey team: Lightning
Why do you like them? Long story. I was a big fan of the Wings when they were all tough guys. Once they lost them, I still liked some of the Russians, but started to not really follow them. Got to school down in the area, and went to my first pro hockey game (went to lots of minor league games in Toledo/Cleveland). Instead of buying tickets, some guy just walked up to us and handed us a couple of extras. So was loving it. And went to a few more games. One game ended up being the one where Roy came out of the box to get back at McCarthy and then went after the Rangers bench. While not as tough as the old school guys, it reminded me of it. Stupid? Sure, but Lightning became my team after that and stayed that way.
Favorite hockey team as a kid (if different): Red Wings, Kings
Least favorite: I hate everything Boston, Rangers, Pens
Favorite active player on your favorite team: Good question. I miss the tough guys, but I would say Malone or Stamkos.
Favorite active player on another team: Datsyuk
All time favorite player if different: Probert/Grimson
Favorite teams in other sports: Lions/Browns, Ohio State, Wisconsin. Don't really like baseball or basketball, but I would say maybe the Indians and Cavs (I'm hoping Orlando can put something together with the way Dwight acted too).
Favorite TV show: Modern Family, Top Chef, Kitchen Nightmares
Favorite beer or alcoholic beverage of choice: Jack Daniels, Great Lakes Christmas Ale, Delerium Tremas, any other whiskey/coke.

[Gudas Priest]

Where were you born? Danvers, MA
Current hometown: Port Townsend, WA
Ever live anywhere else?: Pittsburgh, PA, Milford, MI, Tampa, FL, Newburgh, NY, Seattle, WA
Nationality/ethnicity: Irish, Scottish, Danish, Portugese, Italian
Job: Landscaper, part-time Musician

Favorite hockey team: Tampa Bay Lightning. Also: Syracuse Crunch, Everett Silvertips
Why do you like them? Lived in Tampa many years ago but moved away before Bolts arrived. Love the character and ability of guys like Vinny (wah!), Marty, and Stammers. And absolutely love the direction the organization has taken--it's a class outfit with a fabulous pool of talent. And character.
Favorite hockey team as a kid (if different): Bruins & Penguins
Least favorite: Flyers
Favorite active player on your favorite team: Martin St. Louis. Runners-up: Radko Gudas, Tyler Johnson, Ondrej Palat, Alex Killorn. Oh, and Stammers!!
Favorite active player on another team: Vinny (wah!)
All time favorite player if different: Back in the day I would have said Orr, but nowadays I think it's Marty
Favorite teams in other sports: There are other sports...?

Favorite video/other games: Darts. Real, steel-tip darts--I hate those awful, obnoxious machines. (And I'm not really into the "01" games; I prefer a more complex variation of Cricket that, 'round here, we call "Mouse").
Favorite music: Anything good! Particularly Americana, vintage & alt. Country, Bluesy Jazz, Jazzy Blues, Rock, Folk that's not too cheesy (which eliminates a sizable volume of my own work!)
Favorite movies: Independent & foreign films. Not big on the bulk of Hollywood offerings.
Favorite TV show: HNIC, NHL Live
Favorite beer or alcoholic beverage of choice: My local Port Townsend IPA! Also red wine & tequila. Not all together, of course--unless I want to paint the bathroom...
Have any interesting hobbies? Playing hockey, playing music, gardening, cooking, eating, drinking, traveling, hiking, reading, just chilling with good peeps. And of course watching hockey, talking hockey, dreaming hockey, reading hockey...
Anything else to share? I like the hockey.

[astro]

Favorite hockey team: Tampa Bay Lightning. Also: Syracuse Crunch, Everett Silvertips

Booooo!!!!!

[nutznboltz]

I don't think I ever filled this out

Where were you born? Huntington, NY
Current hometown: New Port Richey, FL
Ever live anywhere else?: East Northport, NY, Canarsie, NY, Kissimmee, FL, Fort Myers, FL, (College in Niagara Falls, NY)
Nationality/ethnicity: UN (Irish, English, Danish, French, German)
Job: Anti Money Laundering Operations Analyst, Banking

Favorite hockey team: Tampa Bay Lightning
Why do you like them? Have rooted for the Lightning since their inception having moved to Fla 10 years prior.
Favorite hockey team as a kid (if different): NY Islanders
Least favorite: Rangers
Favorite active player on your favorite team: Martin St. Louis (now). It was Vinny until he was salary dumped
Favorite active player on another team: Vinny
All time favorite player if different: Mike Bossy
Favorite teams in other sports: Bucs, Rays, Magic

Favorite video/other games: Pong (lol, I am old)
Favorite music: Classic Rock, but I enjoy today's alternative music too
Favorite movies: Field of Dreams, Godfather I
Favorite TV show: The Office
Favorite beer or alcoholic beverage of choice: Don't drink like I used to. Will relax with a glass of Chardonnay or have a Yuengling or two or three when at a sports bar
Have any interesting hobbies? Enjoy playing all different kinds of fantasy sports (yeah my life is pretty boring)
Anything else to share? Widowed with 2 great kids that have turned into fine adults

[MUDSHARK]

Holy Cow! I grew up in Huntington although I was born in Port Jefferson. small world.

[nutznboltz]

Holy Cow! I grew up in Huntington although I was born in Port Jefferson. small world.

I was born in Huntington Hospital, and went to High School at Holy Family in South Huntington on Wolf Hill Road (now called St. Anthony's). Yes, small world after all

[Barlow01]

I was born in Huntington Hospital, and went to High School at Holy Family in South Huntington on Wolf Hill Road (now called St. Anthony's). Yes, small world after all

Let me add to small world. I also was born in Port Jeff...and went to Holy Trinity HS so played against St. Anthony's plenty. Grew up in Uniondale, former home of the once proud Isles. Live in Tampa now.

[Nick of Time]

Hey Everyone, just saw this thread, just so everyone knows a little about me, figured I would make a post here...

Where were you born? Yonkers NY
Current hometown: White Plains NY
Ever live anywhere else?: Have a seasonal house by Sarasota FL
Nationality/ethnicity: Italian
Job: Executive Agent, my company insures Ryan Callahan.

Favorite hockey team: Tampa Bay Lightning, NY Rangers (if you know me already and know my story we made amends, lol)
Why do you like them? Started to follow Tampa since the Callahan trade, And also because have a house less than an hour away from Amalie. Feel in love with the area down there. As per Rangers, its NYC nuff said.
Favorite hockey team as a kid (if different): Just Rangers.
Least favorite: Hate Pittsburgh
Favorite active player on your favorite team: Callahan, Stepan
Favorite active player on another team: Kesler and Backes
All time favorite player if different: dont have a hockey one but other sports.. Derek Jeter, Dan Marino
Favorite teams in other sports: Yankees, Miami Dolphins

Favorite video/other games: Final Fantasy, Zelda, Metal Gear Solid
Favorite music: So many to list but big U2, Bon Jovi, Def Leppard fan, and as of late Foo Fighters, The Killers, Matchbox Twenty
Favorite movies: Zootopia (my cousin worked on film), Fifth Element, Die Hard, Galaxy Quest, Big Hero 6, and Wreck it Ralph.
Favorite TV show: Family Guy, 24, Designated Survivor, Stargate series, and many more.
Favorite beer or alcoholic beverage of choice: Been on an imperial stout kick for some reason
Have any interesting hobbies? Play guitar, and write music.

Anything else to share? Yeah i love theme parks.

Anyway nice to meet everyone here.

[Bolthed]

For those of us who don't know you, can you explain how you can root for two teams in the same conference? And are you one of those jerks who changes into a Rags jersey when they visit, and then talk shit to your "fellow Lightning fans"?

[Hoek]

Job: Executive Agent, my company insures Ryan Callahan.

Now that part I didn't know! Adds another level to the Callahan thing, lol.

[Nick of Time]

For those of us who don't know you, can you explain how you can root for two teams in the same conference? And are you one of those jerks who changes into a Rags jersey when they visit, and then talk shit to your "fellow Lightning fans"?

No not one of those jerks, Tampa is first and will always be first, would never of joined this forum if I felt otherwise. Living right outside of NYC its hard not to root for the local team as well, and also like some of players on that team. Let's just say was happy with the outcome of the 2015 ECF. Lol.

[Nick of Time]

Now that part I didn't know! Adds another level to the Callahan thing, lol.

Cally is a great guy, but he won't play forever. Like I said would not have joined a Bolts prospect forum if I did not put Tampa first. It's been great following not only Tampa but the Crunch now.

[BurnTHalO]

Boy Nick, we seem to have similar interests (minus all the NY teams, but I don't have a hatred for them either like I do Pitt/Boston). That Cally connection is really interesting. I have such a tough time with him. On one hand, I have been on the way overpaid/never should have signed band wagon since the beginning. That said, all I have ever seen is what a great person he really is (including a game in Columbus where while they were warming up he skated over big smiles to waive at my 3 year old). If a guy is going to get overpaid, I'm glad it's a guy like him. Great read on your background, thanks.