In a move that caught just about everyone off guard, the Tampa Bay Lightning didn’t show up to their Stadium Series game at Raymond James Stadium dressed as pirates - they came dressed in creamsicles.
Yes, those creamsicles.
The Lightning rolled into the outdoor showdown wearing the iconic orange, red, and white uniforms made famous by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It was a bold nod to the NFL franchise that calls Raymond James home, and it turned what was already a historic night into something even more memorable.
This wasn’t just a fashion statement. It was a full-on tribute, planned and executed with help from the Bucs themselves.
From the outside, it may have looked like a lighthearted costume change. But behind the scenes?
There was real coordination involved. The Bucs’ equipment staff made a trip over to the Lightning’s home base at Benchmark International Arena to get the players properly fitted.
That meant measuring for jerseys, shoulder pads, and even testing out helmets to find the right look and fit.
And let’s just say, the fit wasn’t always perfect.
Word around the locker room was that defenseman Erik Cernak needed a linebacker helmet to accommodate his head size. Forward Gage Goncalves, meanwhile, made a quick run to Dick’s Sporting Goods to pick up a hand warmer to complete his look.
It was a fun reminder that while these guys are elite athletes, they’re not exactly built like NFL linemen. The size difference was noticeable - and even the players were in on the joke.
“It’s tough to get on, it’s tough to get off,” said center Dominic James. “It didn’t feel like we had a lot of protection on, either. The helmet was obviously big and stuff, but the rest of the body felt like we were pretty exposed.”
James wasn’t alone in that sentiment. At 6-foot-9, forward Curtis Douglas joked about his disappointment in his “calf game” when asked if he needed extra-long pants. The uniforms may have looked sharp, but they definitely emphasized just how massive NFL players really are.
The idea to wear the creamsicles didn’t come out of nowhere. Tampa Bay’s sports culture is unusually tight-knit.
Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield and tackle Tristan Wirfs are regulars at Lightning games, and there’s a mutual respect that runs deep between the city’s teams. So when the Lightning had the chance to pay homage to their NFL neighbors during a nationally televised outdoor game - the first ever played at a football stadium in Florida - they went all in.
And it worked.
The creamsicle look wasn’t just a hit with fans; it became part of the story of a night that already had plenty going for it. With 65,000 fans packing Raymond James for a hockey game under the Florida sky, the Lightning added a layer of local pride and nostalgia that elevated the whole experience.
The players now have the jerseys to keep as mementos - a tangible reminder of a game that blended hockey history, community spirit, and a little bit of NFL flair.