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Sports | Lightning
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Deal between Lightning, Springfield ending
The decision ends a three-year relationship and terminates a contract with two years left.
By DAMIAN CRISTODERO
Published March 20, 2007
TAMPA - As expected, the Lightning and its AHL affiliate in Springfield, Mass., will part ways after the season, the teams announced Monday. The decision ends a three-year relationship and terminates a contract with two years left. Lightning general manager Jay Feaster declined comment about a new affiliate, though it is believed Norfolk, Va., in the last year of a deal with the Blackhawks, is a strong possibility. Feaster said Tampa Bay will not share a team: "We have not wavered in terms of the commitment we feel and the importance we feel about the minor-league development process." But Springfield was light on offensive skill and young on defense and is out of the playoffs for the fourth straight season and sixth of seven. Falcons president Bruce Landon said average attendance has fallen 2,000 to about 3,300. "Things just haven't worked out," Landon said by phone, terming the breakup "a mutual agreement. ... Sometimes change is necessary for both parties." Landon said he has "nothing but respect" for Feaster and praised coach Steve Stirling and assistant Darren Rumble, both of whom, Feaster said, will be with the new affiliate. "We weren't looking to leave," Feaster added. "At the same time, we're trying to be a good corporate partner and not hurt his business."
[Last modified March 20, 2007, 01:11:17]
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Comments on this article
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by Carl
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03/30/07 08:32 AM
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Go Lightning !!!!!!!!!! See you in 2007-08 at Scope. Meanwhile, back at the barn, there is a Calder Cup to be won....
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by Carl
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03/27/07 12:27 PM
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Dear Hope and Brian...Yes, I will also be at the Ads games next year as a season ticket holder. But, even with one of the best teams in the AHL this year, we only draw 5,000 a game. While I hope it all turns out well, I have serious concerns.
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by Bobby
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03/26/07 09:05 PM
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Hey Brian what planet are u on. Between the ECHL and the AHL (18 Years) the Admirals have had 1 year they were below 500 and they have never missed the play-offs. The ECHL Admirals won 3 championships in 11 years. Man what a bunch of losers, huh.
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by Ed
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03/26/07 06:29 PM
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It was just announced on WAVY TV 10 of Norfolk that the official announcement that the Lightning will be bringing their AHL franchise to Norfolk will be made on Thursday.
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by Chuck
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03/26/07 12:38 PM
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The Lightning should look to Estero.WE average 6000,2nd best in echl for the fla. everblades.We would love the lightning,it would be a short drive for call ups!
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by Jon
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03/25/07 07:02 PM
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Tampa owns all players in springfield thats why they are the LIGHTING affilate.
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by Fernand
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03/24/07 11:57 AM
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Can you tell me which players Tampa Bay owns in Springfield Mass.
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by hope
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03/22/07 08:41 PM
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i have been a fan of the norfolk admirals for 10 years,(sesaon ticket holders) echl and ahl, good and bad times, will do the same for tampa bay. i will remain a season ticket holder and show up to each and every game. so will any true hockey fan
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by casey
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03/22/07 03:28 PM
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i think that is a good idea to do that.
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by Brian
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03/22/07 01:54 PM
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Hampton Roads will support a losing team, we have in the past and will continue to do so. Real hockey fans know that a team that is aweful one season may be the best the next season, look at the Lighting's rise to the top...
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by Brian
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03/22/07 01:49 PM
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The Norfolk Admirals has not always been a winning team. The few elitists who say we will not support a losing team have no faith in the developmental leagues. Where is Chicago in the standings with a first place AHL team in Norfolk? Where is Tampa?
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by Brian
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03/22/07 01:46 PM
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Tampa is drafting and acquiring good players, they just need to mature. Being a GM is tougher than most people think, especially with a salary cap. If you want all the best players to stay, tell their agents to stop asking for too much money.
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by Larry
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03/22/07 06:50 AM
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Mr. Young be patient...please do not sign with this organization.
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by Jim
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03/21/07 06:38 PM
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It doesn't matter who they affiliate with if they don't draft good enough players to send there.
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by Brian
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03/21/07 01:47 PM
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affiliate with my home team would just be amazing. I am already daydreaming about my son and I getting new Admirals jerseys with the Lightning logos on them. We bred some great players for Washington(ECHL) and Chicago(AHL), now we can do it for Tampa
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by Brian
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03/21/07 01:45 PM
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I think it would be awesome for the Lightning to affiliate with Norfolk. The Admirals have over a decade of a strong following here (I live 15 minutes from Norfolk), and transitioned from ECHL to AHL wonderfully. To have my favorite NHL team
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by Cathy
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03/21/07 12:29 PM
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Scott, Reading something in print doen't make it so
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by Carl
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03/21/07 12:15 PM
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The fans in Norfolk WILL NOT support a losing team. I know as I am one of them, and have been since the '73 Red Wings AHL team was here. I hope Ken Young doesn't rush in to anything with TB as what I am reading here scares the mess out of me.
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by Jason
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03/21/07 10:11 AM
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You People are exactly right, Fire Feaster, Torts-may as well trade Vinny and Marty and get players to stock up Norfolk because they wont accept anything less-WHOO! after all they should all be judged on how many minor league championships they win.
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by Jim
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03/21/07 09:59 AM
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And you believe that Scott?I've got a good stock tip for you!Most Gm's would've gotten O'Brien for a #2,he gave away Alexeev for a guy who's not playing and now with 8 games left we're auditioning a new Goalie.Yeah-He's the BOMB!!!!
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by Jim
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03/21/07 09:06 AM
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The arena in Norfolk would be a ghost town with this team . This town will not support a loser in any league . Give us a chance to win or go somewhere else . Ken Young has to know this .
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by Scott
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03/20/07 07:44 PM
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Cathy, maybe you didn't read that Feaster was named the number 2 gm in all of sports this year.
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by Coach Bill
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03/20/07 04:56 PM
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Back off a bit,folks. We ARE a contending team(right?), and a relatively young team(right?). Let this story play out. Our younger players are growing( Tarnasky,Janik,O'Brien).I think we should give Feaster a little more time. We're close!
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by RJ
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03/20/07 04:56 PM
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Feaster didn't want his legacy to be "the guy who traded Vinny". Instead he could end up "the guy who killed hockey in Tampa". Way to manage the franchise. 16 to 20K in the seats each night and still losing money. A rotten minor team. KC Bolts?
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by Jeff
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03/20/07 02:53 PM
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It wasn't long ago the stories of Bruce Landon saving Hockey in Springfield. Maybe a talented team might have helped. Instead they got Mitch Fritz with 20 second shifts ans some other useless guys that could barely make an ECHL roster
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by Cathy
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03/20/07 01:19 PM
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TBL need a new GM maybe someone who knows hockey
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by BOB
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03/20/07 12:49 PM
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IF IN FACT NORFOLK GETS THE LIGHTNING FRANCHISE,WE DO HOPE THEY PUT BETTER QUALITY PLAYERS HERE THAN IN SPRINGFIELD.WE ARE ACCUSTOMED TO HAVING A WINNING TEAM HERE AND THE FANS WONT ACCEPT ANYTHING LESS
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by feaster
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03/20/07 12:19 PM
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baby jones came aroung the corner one day ran in to feaster he said oh feaster you almost scared the pants off of me.feaster looked at jones and said boo boo boo boo.
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by jayson feaster
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03/20/07 12:14 PM
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sorry fans it never was about winning, it's about developing players for the NHL, who cares about fans my focus is in tampa my job is to make players not fans so get over it suck it up if you want to be a fan be a tampa fan we're a winning team.
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by dick
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03/20/07 12:01 PM
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dont worry fans feaster will get his medicine back when his top players are gone who will he have then a bunch of so called talented players that are strugling in the ahl and can't even win he also wont get anywere with stirlng.
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by tara
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03/20/07 11:54 AM
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i think feaster and johny boy have to go they care less about springy and the fans. you poor fans youl never have a winning team with them around. good choice landen you should of gotten rid of feaster and his gong show long ago.
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by sam
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03/20/07 11:48 AM
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i think feaster has to hit the road he's not a hockey man i mean look at his baby (jones) the kids not fit for junior a leaque he can't even skate his head bobs around like he's just lerning to skate what a joke.where is he at feaster's place now ?
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by Sonny
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03/20/07 11:39 AM
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Since the Marc Denis for Freddie Modin trade, Jay Feaster has been on a downward spiral. He should now be called Jay "Fooster".
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by Jay
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03/20/07 10:33 AM
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As a Lightning and Falcons fan I am not happy with this. If the Lightning would stock the NHL club with quality players they would not have to rob the Falcons of what little talent they have. This would allow the young players to develop. No depth.
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by Kelly
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03/20/07 08:51 AM
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When are the Lightning going to wake up and see that Feaster is running this team into the ground?
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