Tampa Bay Lightning players and fans ignore COVID-19 guidelines by chugging beer from the Stanley Cup at championship boat parade
After protecting themselves from the coronavirus pandemic inside the NHL's two Canadian bubbles over the last few months, the league champion Tampa Bay Lightning ignored social distancing guidelines at their celebratory boat parade on Wednesday by allowing fans to drink beer directly from the Stanley Cup.
'You'll be seeing a lot more of that as the days and weeks go by,' one of the Fox Sports announcers said as the network aired footage of forwards Alex Killorn and Nikita Kucherov pouring beer into the mouths of maskless fans on Wednesday night.
Players were also seen drinking directly from the Cup, which was customary before the ongoing coronavirus pandemic that has claimed the lives of over 200,000 Americans.
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Tampa Bay Lightning' Victor Hedman pours a drink from the Stanley Cup into the mouth of Steven Stamkos during the celebratory championship boating parade on Wednesday
The fans also got into the act, removing their masks to take a sip from the Stanley Cup
Not only players get to drink from the Cup pic.twitter.com/NYcOk5wLoV
— Diana C. Nearhos (@dianacnearhos) September 30, 2020
Not only players get to drink from the Cup pic.twitter.com/NYcOk5wLoV
Members of the Tampa Bay Lightning make their way down the Hillsborough River as they are greeted by fans during Wednesday's boat parade
In a statement, the team did not directly address the players and fans' behavior at the parade, but did explain some of the precautions that were taken on Wednesday.
'The Lightning has been proud to share the 2020 Stanley Cup win with our fans in Tampa Bay over the past two days,' the statement began. 'We have been overwhelmed by the support displayed across our community for our players and for the sacrifices they made to win the Cup at such a difficult time.
'To honor our team and the Stanley Cup’s first trip back to Tampa Bay in 16 years, we worked diligently with the City of Tampa, Hillsborough County and others to create socially distant, outdoors celebrations, spread out over two miles on the Tampa Riverwalk and at a less than 20% of capacity at Raymond James Stadium.'
Some social media users clearly disapproved of the players' antics.
'The entire @TBLightning team tested positive for COVID after drinking out of the same cup all day,' joked one fan on Twitter.
Another Twitter user called the players' behavior 'selfish and reckless.'
'You may have won the cup, but your behavior here takes away all the hard work and good will that the bubble created in protecting the public,' he wrote.
The boat parade featured Killorn on a jet-ski with Steven Stamkos riding on the back as they held up the Stanley Cup and did laps around the boats in the Hillsborough River.
The parade was followed by a public trophy celebration at the stadium with a capped attendance of 16,000 people.
'We're excited to share this with Tampa,' Killorn said. 'I know they weren't here throughout the series and in the bubble, but this is our time to enjoy it with them because (the fans) are a big part of this team.'
Tampa Bay Lightning's Alex Killorn spreads his arms wide at the front of a boat on Wednesday
Some Lightning fan did wear masks to Wednesday's parade and the following rally
Rally-goers also socially distanced themselves following Wednesday's boat parade
Killorn later thanked Governor Ron Desantis for 'opening the bars just in time for the boys.'
DeSantis recently lifted all restrictions on restaurants and other businesses in Florida, and banned local fines against people who refuse to wear masks.
However, it's not as if the virus has subsided in Florida.
Florida Governor Ron Desantis recently lifted all restrictions on restaurants and other businesses in Florida, and banned local fines against people who refuse to wear masks. Florida added 3,266 coronavirus cases Tuesday to push the statewide total to 704,568 infected. With 106 new virus fatalities reported statewide, 14,143 Florida residents are now dead
Florida added 3,266 coronavirus cases Tuesday to push the statewide total to 704,568 infected. With 106 new virus fatalities reported statewide, 14,143 Florida residents are now dead.
Disparities between counties is still present. Miami-Dade County reported Tuesday that nearly 7 percent of its COVID-19 tests returned positive results, after registering lows of about 3 and 4 percent. Local officials did not immediately explain the rising rate of positivity.
Among the highlights of the celebration was a video package of the Lightning's playoff run and a congratulatory video message from ESPN broadcaster and Lightning season-ticket holder Dick Vitale.
The players returned to Tampa on Tuesday after being in the NHL's 'bubble' in Toronto and Edmonton for the past 65 days. They were greeted at the airport by their families and held a private on-ice ceremony for friends and family.
Lightning owner Jeff Vinik said that the circumstances in which the Lightning won the Stanley Cup make it an even more impressive feat than winning in a normal year.
'This was not only a hockey Stanley Cup,' Vinik said. 'This was a mental Stanley Cup to get through that period of time. Kudos to them and kudos to their families for being so supportive. That's a long time away from home and I don't think any of us can appreciate how tough that was.'
Tampa Bay Lightning veteran Steven Stamkos positions himself at the front of his boat