Lightning win brightens up Paisley Pirates’ dispiriting year
Paisley Pirates may not have been able to take to the ice this year as a result of the global pandemic, but it didn’t stop the club from celebrating as the Tampa Bay Lightning won ice hockey’s biggest honour - the Stanley Cup.
The Florida- based outfit recently defeated Dallas Stars 2-0 in a best of seven series to take an unassailable 4-2 lead.
And Pirates’ operations manager Jackie Turley explained why the Paisley side have a soft spot for Tampa Bay after a visit there in better times.
She told Express Sport : “Our management team went over to Florida four years ago on holiday after winning the Scottish Cup.
“We were able to take in a Lightning game while we were there.
“We happened to mention we were over from Paisley in Scotland and the club made us feel like ice hockey royalty.
“We were introduced to the crowd, we got a ride round the rink in the Zamboni (an ice cutting machine), and we even got the Pirates name up on one of their big screens.
“They really went out of their way to give us a good time. They gave us a few souvenirs and we in turn presented them with a Paisley Pirates jersey which is displayed on one of their walls.
“It really was an unforgettable experience and since then we’ve kept a close eye on their fortunes, all the way through this season from the regular games to the biggest of them all, the best of seven games in the Stanley Cup.”
While Pirates are off-ice this season for the first time in almost 30 years, only the second time in the team’s illustrious 74-year history.
While Covid-19 has put paid to their immediate plans, Turley is looking forward to replicating the Lightning’s success on Scottish rinks one day.
She added: “They didn’t escape the effects of the pandemic either, in the sense that the last 130 games in their season overall took place on bio bubbles in Canada.
“That means that they’ve been away from their homes, friends and family for nearly three months but I don’t think they’ll be too bothered about that right now.
“We’re absolutely delighted for their club and we’ve sent them a message congratulating them on their wonderful success from all their many friends in general, and those at the Paisley Pirates in particular.”