TAMPA, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Lightning hosted a youth goalie camp on Wednesday afternoon in Tampa, and a special guest arrived at the ice rink.
Andrei Vasilevskiy, nicknamed the Big Cat, was the big star for the campers who got the chance to take a picture and get an autograph from the Bolts star. The kids tapped their sticks on the ice as the goalie they idolized had entered the building.
The Vezina Trophy winner has played 12 seasons in the NHL, all of them with the Lightning. He was in goal for Tampa Bay’s two Stanley Cup titles.
Vasilevskiy talked to the media at the camp and said he loves opportunities like this to connect with kids and watch how youth hockey is growing in this community.
“For sure, especially here in Florida where obviously we’re not like a huge hockey state, you know what I mean, like kids-wise. So it’s really nice to see that development program is really like taking like a huge step forward,” Vasilevskiy said.
The Lightning return to the ice on September 20th for their first preseason game against the Buffalo Sabres.
Big Cat is in the building!!
Andrei Vasilevskiy is making a guest appearance at the Tampa Bay Lightning Youth Goalie Camp! #GoBolts
This year’s Vezina Trophy winner taking pictures and signing autographs before the camp ramps up. @BN9 @SpecSports360 pic.twitter.com/Ykz4xDxOqJ
— Michael Epps (@MichaelEppsTV) August 5, 2026