Raw Charge has been hearing rumors about the Tampa Bay Lightning’s new ECHL affiliate for months, but when the Adirondack Thunder announced a re-up of their affiliation with the New Jersey Devils — and the Tampa Bay Lightning made no noise at all about an unofficial affiliation — we had our suspicions. Especially coupled with the fact that the Toronto Maple Leafs decided to create their own ECHL farm team in Newfoundland and discontinue their affiliation with Orlando.
And then, Raw Charge learned in the preseason schedule that the Lightning would be holding an exhibition game at Amway center on September 27 against the Florida Panthers.