Tampa Bay Lightning equipment staff gets team through marathon preseason trip seamlessly

ATLANTA — The Lightning equipment staff waited all week for Saturday.

It was not a day off. Final setup for today's preseason finale with the Thrashers had to be done.

But compared with the previous five days, in which the team played four games in four cities and scrimmaged in a fifth, each in a different time zone, Saturday, with not even a practice scheduled, was like a vacation.

"It's nice," equipment manager Ray Thill said in the locker room at Philips Arena filled with rock 'n' roll instead of players.

"There's nobody around, and we can accomplish what we need to accomplish and take the rest of the day off."

What the three-man staff has accomplished during Tampa Bay's traveling training camp show has been so seamless, it is as notable as what the players have done on the ice:

Imagine moving equipment bags for 42 players (enough for two teams), about 380 sticks (an average nine per player, Thill said), socks, underwear, jerseys (all of which had to be washed daily), skates that have to be sharpened, and setting it all up in a different arena every day so players can walk into a strange locker room and feel at home.

Add the headaches caused by crossing in and out of Canada four times (customs officials love to look through everything), and the results become greater.

"We have the easy job," left wing Alex Tanguay said. "We come to the rink, everything is ready. All we have to do is focus on playing. Those guys pamper us in every way possible. Somebody that wouldn't appreciate what they're doing would be totally out of line because what they do is outstanding."

Would Tanguay want the job?

"No," he said, laughing. "No, thanks."

For Thill, 36, in his 10th season as Tampa Bay's equipment manager, and assistants Rob Kennedy, 36, and Clay Roffer, 26, it is the ultimate compliment.

"Yeah, we are proud amongst ourselves that we pulled it off," Kennedy said of the trip of nearly 7,000 miles. "They throw curveballs at us or make changes at the last minute, we still find a way to get it done."

"We say we're the best curveball hitters in the league," Roffer said, "because you never know what to expect."

The trip has been without some of the challenges faced during last season's European adventure, such as when the equipment staff, and equipment, were lost in the Czech countryside with truck drivers who did not speak English.

Still, there were moments.

Friday began at 7 a.m. at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, where the staff packed up from Thursday's game with the Oilers. But before the cargo could be put on a plane to Norfolk, Va., every equipment bag and trunk was inspected by United States customs officials.

"A few of our trunks were so packed, it took 15 minutes to close them when we were at the rink," Kennedy said. "Then they call us and say we have to come back (to the customs office) because they couldn't close the trunks. 'We can't do it ourselves.' No kidding."

The team landed in Norfolk at 4 p.m. for a 7 p.m. scrimmage with the Lightning's AHL affiliate, after which the equipment was repacked and put on a plane for Atlanta, where the staff worked until 2:30 a.m. Saturday setting up the locker room at Philips Arena.

"They've been unbelievable," coach Rick Tocchet said. "Great guys, never complain. They're never negative in negative situations. That's why they're good at what they do."

The game with the Thrashers will be the fifth in seven nights for the Lightning. Count the scrimmage and it is six games.

"It's funny. I feel okay now," Thill said, "but I know when we get back (to Tampa), I'll probably just crash."

He has been waiting all week.

WRIGHT SIGNS: The Lightning signed prospect James Wright to a three-year entry-level contract. The team has up to nine regular-season games to decide whether to send the 19-year-old wing back to juniors. If he is returned to Vancouver of the Western Hockey League, the contract begins next season.

"I had the mind-set this is a tryout camp," Wright said. "I was just going to do my best to show them I can play at this level."

CUTS: The Lightning cut 10 players to reduce its training camp roster to 29. Reassigned to camp in Norfolk were goaltenders Riku Helenius, Dustin Tokarski and Jaroslav Janus; defensemen Vladimir Mihalik and Ty Wishart; and forwards Blair Jones, Martins Karsums, Juraj Simek, Paul Szczechura and Dana Tyrell.

Around the league

Penguins: Sidney Crosby didn't practice for a second consecutive day because of a sore groin, and it appeared unlikely he would play in a preseason game in Detroit today. Crosby was on the ice Saturday and planned to skate again today, but coach Dan Bylsma said there was no reason to push the star center for a game that doesn't count. Crosby was injured against the Blue Jackets on Thursday.

Information from Times wires was used in this report. Damian Cristodero can be reached at cristodero@sptimes.com.