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Remembering the Tampa Bay Lightning’s last Stanley Cup tour

Then-St. Petersburg Times archive photos show what victory felt like across Tampa Bay, Canada and Europe after the Lightning won.
 
Martin Cibak with the Stanley Cup in his hometown of Leppovsky Mekulas, Slovakia on Sunday, July 25, 2004.
Martin Cibak with the Stanley Cup in his hometown of Leppovsky Mekulas, Slovakia on Sunday, July 25, 2004. [ SHADD, DIRK | St. Petersburg Times ]
Published Sept. 30, 2020|Updated Oct. 1, 2020

Thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, success for the Tampa Bay Lightning feels a little different in 2020. While a socially distant boat parade and rally happen today for fans, it’s unclear if the team will be able to embark on a traditional cup tour. So, let’s take a look back at what the victory was like for the players the last time the Lightning triumphed.

On the night of June 7, 2004, the Lightning won the Stanley Cup with a 2-1 victory over the Calgary Flames in Game 7 at the then-St. Pete Times Forum. Times Lightning photographer Dirk Shadd recalled the confetti-saturated moment immediately following victory.

Related: Electric! What we remember about the night the Lightning won the Stanley Cup

“Champagne was everywhere," he said. “I remember licking the back of my champagne-soaked camera in between frames. As the players drank from the Cup, I felt as if if did, too. That was just the beginning of a Cup-crazy summer.”

Shadd followed the Stanley Cup tour that summer as 25 players took turns spending 24 hours with the trophy. He traversed the Tampa Bay region, Canada, the Czech Republic and more.

“Kuby was the first player I contacted to ask about visiting during his Cup day," he said. "‘You come to Czech Republic, Kuby take care of you,’ he said. That was the only invite needed.”

Here are some of the shots he took.

Pavel Kubina brought the cup to Ostrava, Czech Republic, on Saturday, July 24, 2004. Kubina took to the stage during a public celebration at the Futurum, a mall in Ostrava. [ SHADD, DIRK | St. Petersburg Times ]
Brad Richards took the cup to Murray Harbour in PEI Canada on Aug. 2, 2004. [ SHADD, DIRK | St. Petersburg Times ]
Nolan Pratt stands in the Gulf of Mexico at Clearwater Beach on Aug. 3, 2004. [ SHADD, DIRK | St. Petersburg Times ]
The Cup in Pisek, a small town in the Czech Republic where Lightning defenseman Stan Neckar lived. Neckar spent time during the afternoon under the oldest bridge in the country, built in the 13th century. "For me it's very special because I've always wanted to bring the cup back to my home town," Neckar said. "It's like a dream come true." [ SHADD, DIRK | St. Petersburg Times ]
Pavel Kubina with the Cup in and around his hometown of Ostrava and Janovice, Czech Republic on July 24, 2004. [ SHADD, DIRK | St. Petersburg Times ]

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Ella Neckar with the cup in his hometown of Pisek, Czech Republic on Friday, July 23, 2004. [ SHADD, DIRK | St. Petersburg Times ]
Brad Richards in Murray Harbour in PEI Canada on Aug. 3, 2004. For a town of 356, the turnout was 12,000 for the big parade. "That never happened before, never will again, I don't think,'' he said. [ SHADD, DIRK | St. Petersburg Times ]
Stan Neckar with the cup in his hometown of Pisek, Czech Republic on July 23, 2004. [ SHADD, DIRK | St. Petersburg Times ]
Nolan Pratt's dogs eat vanilla ice cream from the Stanley Cup in New Tampa on Aug. 29, 2004. [ SHADD, DIRK | St. Petersburg Times ]
Nolan Pratt at his home in the Cheval neighborhood of Lutz, Florida on Aug. 29, 2004. Nolan walked the Cup across the street for a party at the neighbor's. The guests include Brad Johnson, Joe Jurevicius, Ruslan Fedotenko and Cup keeper Walt Neubrand. [ SHADD, DIRK | St. Petersburg Times ]
Nolan Pratt and wife Deborah Pratt golfing with family and friends at the Tournament of Players Club of Tampa Bay in New Tampa on Aug. 30, 2004. [ SHADD, DIRK | St. Petersburg Times ]
Brad Richards holds the Cup in Murray Harbour in PEI Canada on Aug. 2, 2004. [ SHADD, DIRK | St. Petersburg Times ]
Keeper of the Cup, Mike Bolt with the Hockey Hall of Fame, lets an airline employee get a glance at the cup while packing it up for the flight from Prague to Sweden after visiting with Pavel Kubina on July 26, 2004. [ SHADD, DIRK | St. Petersburg Times ]
Martin St. Louis with the cup on the campus of UVM at Burlington, Vermont on July 29, 2004. [ SHADD, DIRK | St. Petersburg Times ]