Photo courtesy of Ana Ortiz.
Behind the scenes of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
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By Ana Ortiz
TAMPA, Fla. — Inside the Benchmark International Arena, preparation begins before the whistle sounds and the puck drops. Morning skate offers a glimpse into the routines, personalities, and mindsets that shape the locker room of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Finding their place in the league, the message remains consistent with every player; success is built on the small details.
That mindset paid off on March 12, when the Lightning defeated the Detroit Red Wings 4–1 at the Benchmark International Arena as a result of the preparation and discipline built long before game time.
For head coach Jon Cooper, the key to navigating the long National Hockey League (NHL) season is focusing on the controllable aspects of the game.
“When the streak of 28 games happened, we lost seven to nine, but we were still depositing and playing well,” Cooper said. “Sometimes the results aren’t there, but for the most part, we’ve gotten results because we’ve made the deposits.”
Cooper describes the NHL season as a grind, emphasizing that success comes from commitment to the little things: effort, discipline, and preparation.
“The secret sauce has to do with the little things in the game that we can control,” Cooper said. “If we get back to investigating those things, we’ll be okay.”
Those lessons are especially important during demanding stretches of the season. When the team has more time together, whether during practice or extended homestands, it translates on the ice.
For defenseman J.J. Moser, the journey to the NHL began with a childhood fascination.
Growing up in Biel, Switzerland, Moser remembers watching players take the ice as a kid and being captivated by the sport’s larger-than-life presence.
“Seeing the guys in their big equipment, they looked like superheroes,” Moser said.
What kept him hooked was the complexity of the game. Hockey requires a unique blend of skill, speed, physicality, and mental awareness.
Once he understood the magnitude of the NHL, the goal became clear.
“Probably when I was 11 or 12, I knew that was what I wanted,” Moser said. “When I was 15 or 16, I realized it was up to me to make it happen.”
Unlike many athletes, Moser avoids rigid pregame rituals.
“There are certain things you eat at the same time to give you familiarity,” said Moser. “But I try to stay away from superstitions. Sometimes you can’t do those things, and then you get too wrecked up about it.”
When asked which teammate might succeed as a figure skater, Moser laughed and pointed to forward Brandon Hagel. “He can dance on those edges for sure,” he said.
Defenseman Erik Cernak sees hockey as more of a career; it is a foundation for life lessons.
Since arriving in Tampa Bay, he has learned from teammates, such as Ryan McDonagh for guidance and development.
For Cernak, the discipline of professional hockey extends beyond the rink.
“Teamwork and hard work, those things apply to normal life too,” Cernak said.
If he hadn’t become a professional hockey player, he imagines a different career path.
“I don’t think I could do corporate work because I hate sitting around,” Cernak said. “I would want to be a race car driver.”
A fan of Formula One champion Max Verstappen, Cernak admires the speed and precision of racing. On ice, though, he credits Lightning star Nikita Kucherov as the team’s most impressive skater.
“His skating is just amazing,” Cernak said.
While players and coaches take the public eye, much of the work happens behind the scenes. For Stephen Buck, communications coordinator for the Lightning, game days involve consistent motion.
“There’s a lot of ‘putting out fires’ as we like to call it in PR (Public Relations),” Buck said. “It’s a lot of running around, making sure everyone had what they needed to be successful for the game, especially the media and coaches and everyone in between.”
Buck’s passion for hockey started early, and that interest eventually turned into a career.
“I had a love for the game since I was really young,” Buck said. “As I got older, it just continued to grow.”
When Buck was a senior at The University of Tampa, he had the opportunity to shadow the team during the Stanley Cup Final, an experience he still calls one of the highlights of his career.
For students hoping to work in sports, Buck encourages taking initiative.
“Reach out and connect with as many people as you can,” Buck said. “Find people in the roles you want and send them a message. You never know where it might lead.”
From the locker room to the offices, the Lightning organization operates with a shared mindset. Whether it’s refining skills on the ice or supporting the team behind the scenes, success often comes down to the smallest details.
As Cooper puts it, those details eventually pay off.
“If we keep investing in the little things,” he said, “the results will take care of themselves.”