MISSISSAUGA LIGHTNING HISTORY

A LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE

Our Beginnings

The history of the Mississauga Lightning

Flashback!

Great moments in Lightning History

The Honours Lists

Milestones and Achievements of Lightning Players

Our Beginnings

The history of the Mississauga Lightning

(1996 to present)

Prior to 1996 The Mississauga Lightning Floor Hockey team existed under many different coaching staffs and even a few different names. Veterans of those days include current player Brian Lindsay and Craig Brown who were coached in the late 70’s by Mark Woods. Dave Pritchard would later coach the team, alternating each Friday practice with the Indoor Soccer program. Soon Pete Williams took on the team and dedicated itself to floor hockey only. In 1996 the coaching/managerial staff of Tim Logan, Bill Smith, Bob Lamey and Ann Labbe took over the team. In that season the team consisted of twelve players, including current players Craig Brown, Ryan Lamey, Mark Lamey, Derek Yates, Spencer Elliott, Morgan Smith, Lorenzo Turi, Jason Gow and Russell Slaney. It was at this time that the program began to take its now recognizable shape.

Playing in pick-up games with teams from Oakville and Toronto, the Lightning did very well, but that was just the beginning. For the 1999-2000 season the Lightning began to track statistics. They finished that season with 9 wins, 3 loses and 2 ties. They scored 109 goals as a unit and allowed 83. The also purchased new uniforms that have been the talk of Special Olympics teams ever since. In the 2000-2001 season the Lightning once again played 14 pick-up games this time going 11-3 with 121 goals scored and only 63 given up. The team now consisted of over twenty players and had found their personality. In the 2001-2002 season the Lightning played 25 games including 10 League games. They had an impressive 16-8-1 record, scored 175 goals and played more games then any other Special Olympics Floor Hockey team in the Province.

The 2002-2003 season has been Mississauga’s most successful yet. With more league games, more tournaments and more exhibition games then ever before, they finished with a combined 22-7 record, scoring 179 goals while giving up only 85. Impressive numbers for sure as the 2002-2003 season saw the team set team records in all categories! To top it all off the Lightning won their first ever LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP and placed 4^th at the Provincial Championships. In late June of 2003 the team was awarded as the 2003 Ontario Special Olympics Team of the Year!

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Flashback!

Great moments in Lightning History

April 15, 2000 – Fort York Tournament

After losing its first game of the day to Orillia 6-1, the Lightning bounced back with two impressive victories against Scarboro (6-1) and Toronto (3-1) to end the day and the tournament with a winning record. The following year on April 14, 2002, Mississauga was able to finally rid itself of the “first game curse” when it defeated Brampton 6-3 in the opening game of the Tournament.

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The Honours Lists

Milestones and Achievements of Lightning Players

These Honour List showcase the great achievements held by Lightning players, past and present. To get on these lists players have shown hard work and great skill.