Back to Prince Edward Island?

Not sure this made the web site this morning, but I thought it was mildly interesting enough to include it here. You recall, of course, that the Lightning almost decided to spend part of next season's training camp in Prince Edward Island -- Charlottetown, the be exact, the capital city.

With would-be owner Doug MacLean from the PEI city of Summerside (and don't forget brad Richards from Murray Harbour) , going north in the future might not be so out of the question, which led to this little item:

Basil Stewart, mayor of Summerside, said he already invited would-be Lightning owner and Summerside native Doug MacLean to hold training camp in his hometown. “We’re looking forward to the Lightning coming here,’’ Stewart said. “We have a new arena here. It’s probably the nicest facility east of Montreal.’’

The Panthers trained in Summerside in 1996 with MacLean as coach. The Blue Jackets trained there in 2002 with MacLean as president and general manager. “This time I won’t have to ask the owner,’’ MacLean joked. “I didn’t make any promises.”

Comments

[Mike in Bangkok]

Training camp is one of the times that I am in the States, so obviously I would vote for keeping it in Florida, but I do understand that they probably have access to more teams for preseason games.

Now that I can watch them with my morning coffee in Bangkok, I can live with the emigration to PEI.

[Nan]

Well, it might be nice for the players and for the people on P.E.I, however it would not be so nice for the fans here and it wouldn't it be more costly? or does P.E.I. pick up the tab?

Maybe MacLean should contemplate getting at least one preseason game the following year against Montreal, Ottawa or Toronto and then sending the guys to P.E.I after or before one of those games. There is no question that the majority of their training camp should be in Brandon or at the Forum as the fans here are the ones paying their salaries.

personally training camp is so short anyways there are very few days those of us here in tampa can make it with work concerns, etc... so maybe making a longer camp, and having the first leg in PEI wouldnt be so bad as long as us tampa fans get our worth. Don't forget we all pay tickets to see them play at SPTF, so shouldn't we get to see them for free at training camp and get some autographs? That's what being a hardcore bolts fan is all about!

[Tony]

Having sent 2 days at each of the last 2 years training camps I hoe they do not go North for purely selfish reasons.

I have really enjoyed attending the camps and seeing the players so close.

But based on Doug's track record they will be there next year.

[keith]

I don't care if they take training camp to the moon, as long as come middle of October they are ready to play at SPTF.

[Mike13]

That would stink for those of us who love the fact that they practice in Brandon, about 10 minutes from my house.

[Tim A]

Better summer time weather, better ice conditions, less injuries...