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It’s always sweater weather for Tampa Bay Lightning fans

A multitude of moments, reasons and seasons go into sporting the perfect jersey.
 
The Lightning's Steven Stamkos signs a fan's jersey.
The Lightning's Steven Stamkos signs a fan's jersey. [ DIRK SHADD | Tampa Bay Times ]
Published Oct. 1, 2019|Updated Oct. 1, 2019

Jerseys reign supreme in hockey. The Tampa Bay Sports Store in Amalie Arena has all kinds of Lightning gear, but it’s all about that sweater.

Fans wear their jerseys even if their team isn’t playing. And those jerseys are an investment. They can run anywhere from $120 (no name) to $225 (authentic replica). Some people have one, maybe a couple, but there are fans with upwards of 40 jerseys.

We decided to ask a few why they gravitated toward a particular jersey.

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Kelsey Baker, Brandon

Baker took a trip to Canada this summer as a graduation gift. She chose her Brayden Point Team Canada jersey as a souvenir from the Hockey Hall of Fame. She has a Point Lightning jersey, as well as Ryan McDonagh and Tyler Johnson, but this one has memories of her trip tied into it.

Linda Schrader, Venice

Schrader’s Valtteri Filppula jersey is her one and only, and it doesn’t bother her at all that he isn’t on the team anymore. She always admired Filippula, who played for the Lightning from 2013 to 2017, as a player. He reminds her of her father’s favorite Red Wing, the great Stan Mikita.

Larry Cernak, Palm Harbor

When Erik Cernak made the Lightning’s lineup last year, Larry seized the opportunity to have a jersey from his favorite team with his own last name. Multiple generations ago, his family came from the same part of Slovakia where Cernak is from.

Linda Ragone, Sarasota

Ragone was a fan of Luke Witkowski before he played for the Lightning. She’s a college hockey fan and liked the defenseman when he was at Western Michigan. When he landed on the Lightning, she ordered a custom jersey. Ragone now has multiple Witkowski jerseys, a Vincent Lecavalier and Anthony Cirelli. She rotates through but estimates she’ll wear Witkowski 98 percent of the time now that he’s back on the team.

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Abbi Wilkins, Sarasota

When Wilkins ordered her custom Mathieu Joseph jersey, the employee at the store said it was only the second they had produced. Wilkins found Joseph on Twitter before he was on the Lightning, so she pounced on the jersey when he made the team. She also has a J.T. Brown jersey signed by different players, but wears the Joseph one more. now.

Rachel Biton, St. Petersburg

Biton’s mother Jana is from Frydek-Mistek, Czech Republic, the same hometown as Ondrej Palat. So when she started attending Eckerd, Biton became a fan of Palát. Her aunt, who still lives in the Czech Republic, went to the World Championships in Slovakia this summer to get Biton her Czech Palat jersey.

Joe Hills, Tampa

Hills wanted to send a message with his jersey, rather than rep a player. He and his son, Joey, go all the way back with the Lightning and “there wouldn’t be any of this without (Phil Esposito).” So, he customized a blue jersey on which the nameplate reads “THANKS ESPO” without a number.

Brittany Rimes, Valrico

Rimes received the Brayden Point Hockey Fights Cancer jersey from her boyfriend, Alex Perez, as a Christmas present. The jersey holds special significance because Rimes’ mother is a breast cancer survivor, and Point is Rimes’ favorite player.

Cody Reighard, Wesley Chapel

Reighard purchased his Ben Bishop jersey several years ago when Bishop was the starting goalie in Tampa Bay. He was disappointed to see Bishop traded to Dallas, but now he has his eyes set on a Andrei Vasilevskiy jersey for his next purchase. “You don’t normally see guys that can make saves like that,” Reighard said.

Betsy Wilkinson, Madeira Beach

Wilkinson’s husband, Barry, purchased the jersey for her nearly 20 years ago when Martin St. Louis joined the team. She said St. Louis was one of her favorite players because “he’s short and I’m short.” Wilkinson and her husband have been season ticket holders since Amalie Arena opened as the Ice Palace in 1996. The couple went to all the home games of the 2004 Stanley Cup, and Wilkinson got a commemorative patch sewn on her jersey.

Ben Pickard, St. Petersburg

Pickard’s father got the white Nikolai Khabibulin jersey when Pickard was in preschool. When Pickard wanted a jersey of his own, his dad passed this one on to him.

Joe Lilly, Wesley Chapel

Lilly wanted one of the black alternate jerseys but decided to go for something different. He bought a fake Nikita Kucherov jersey in black with gold lettering. Lilly wanted Kucherov because he’s been Lilly’s favorite player since the 2012 World Juniors Championship.

Jessie Mason, Hernando

Mason dropped some pretty clear hints with her fiancé, Sean Bush, so he knew a Manon Rhéaume jersey would be a win as a Christmas present. “She’s the first female to play in the NHL and she played for this team,” Mason said. “So I’m really proud of that.” Rhéaume made preseason appearances in net for the Lighting in 1992 and 1993.