Lightning, Chase Partner to Create ‘Street Lightning’

December 2nd, marked the start of a new partnership between Chase and the Tampa Bay Lightning to create a new street hockey program for kids.

Steven Stamkos, Ryan Malone, as well as Lightning executives, Chase, the Boys and Girls Club of Tampa Bay, along with more than one-hundred children were there to kick-off the program.

It is a program created to provide students in the Tampa area the chance to learn the basic elements of hockey. Not only that, but they learn how to play the game, and experience math and science concepts when playing the game. Chase and the Lightning are going to donate full sets of street hockey gear for participants to play in their free time and during school hours. They are also giving the children Street Lightning Playbooks that will include math and science concepts they apply to their own game experience. The official program will be in 2014.

The program will be launched throughout Hillsborough County Public Schools to combine the Lightning’s expertise in hockey with math and science-based drills. Drills will cover such topics as calculating game stats and scores, using distance to plan game strategy, and understanding the impact of the playing surface on scoring a goal.

According to Lightning Chief Operating Officer, Steve Griggs, it was programs like this that the Lightning and Chase had in mind when they first partnered. It is with their help that they will be able to introduce the game of hockey to children who would not have been exposed to it previously. They will be able to supplement their studies with an educational element.

Chase marketing president for Tampa, Dan Borasch, said that sports can be a great way to acquire lifelong skills and that the new partnership will help the youth experience concepts they learn in the classroom in a dynamic way. He wants to show them that science and math can be fun, and mastering them can give anyone a competitive edge in life and future careers.

The students who attended the Street Lightning presentation were from local schools, but those who are enrolled in the Hillsborough County Public Schools Out-of-School Time. The goal of the H.O.S.T program is to provide the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual growth and development that children need to be successful.