For tonights Lightning/Hurricanes game. It should be noted that Guns and Roses (more like “Axel Rose and Friends”) performed last night at the arena… Late Last night. We’re talking after midnight.

So keep this in mind (ice conditions) if you’re watching the game on TV and think the ice is crapola tonight…

Friday night opens play of the first annual Lightning College Hockey Classic at the St. Petersburg Times forum in downtown Tampa. All of this is a prelude to Tampa hosting the Frozen Four in 2012.

The ironic thing about the event (which is taking place on Friday and Saturday) is that Notre Dame is officially listed as the host college of the tournament. The University of Alabama-Huntsville is the closest hockey program to Tampa. That’s not saying there aren’t hockey programs at the universities of Florida, Florida State, South Florida, Miami and other places in the state — that is saying they aren’t NCAA sanctioned hockey programs.