TAMPA, Fla. (WWSB) – Perhaps no one is more thrilled with this week\u2019s extension of the affiliation between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the AHL\u2019s Syracuse Crunch than the President, CEO, and Governor of the Crunch himself, Howard Dolgon.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe could not be with a better NHL partner than Tampa,\u201d Dolgon said in a recent interview with ABC7.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe believe they are the gold standard of sports franchises,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a partnership that goes back fourteen years. It will now last at least four more.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are looked upon, the partnership with Tampa, really as one of the most respected in the league,\u201d Dolgon said.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot just in length of time. It\u2019s a very transparent relationship. We share everything, there\u2019s no secrets. We work closely together on all issues, both on the hockey side and on the business side,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
More than 100 players have suited up for both the Crunch and the Lightning since their affiliation began in 2012. Dolgon remembers the beginning of that partnership. There were previous affiliations with Vancouver, Columbus and Anaheim, but the team jumped at the chance to be affiliated with Tampa Bay.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen the opportunity came to partner with Julien BriseBois, who I knew from his days in Hamilton – the professionalism, the attention to detail, the cooperation – it was the best thing we\u2019ve ever done for our team,\u201d Dolgon said.<\/p>\n
The Crunch\u2019s President and CEO says that the Lightning\u2019s ability to draft top talent without having top picks, and their focus on the character of the players says a great deal about the organization.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s being able to recognize not only the talent in the player, but the intangible in the player,\u201d Dolgon added.<\/p>\n
\u201cAgain, I say a lot of guys are playing checkers. Julien is playing the masterclass of chess,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Now with the NHL adding two extra games to the regular season from 82 to 84, the game is trending up.<\/p>\n
\u201cHockey\u2019s at a great place right now,\u201d Dolgon said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI look at the Lightning as not only the best run NHL organization, but I think you\u2019d have a real difficult time finding any professional sports organization from top to bottom that\u2019s run as efficiently, as respected as much as Tampa Bay is,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
One of the highlights for the Crunch leader is to see the stars of tomorrow develop right before his eyes and get the opportunity at the next level.<\/p>\n
\u201cI watched \u2018Kooch\u2019s\u2019 first game, first home game,\u201d Dolgon said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think he had a hat trick, and I\u2019m watching him play and I\u2019m thinking he\u2019s not going to be here long. Certain guys you can tell right away, they see the game differently. Brayden Point. Vasilevskiy as a goalie,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
He recalled the joy of seeing Crunch players realize their dreams and make it to the NHL.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s nothing like it,\u201d Dolgon said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe hate to lose a good player, but that\u2019s what our league is about. Developing players, and having them play in the NHL,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
When players do make it to the Lightning, they may be out of his everyday life, but they\u2019re not out of mind. <\/p>\n
\u201cI see them when I go to Tampa,\u201d Dolgon said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt gives me so much pride, almost like a father watching their kid having success in life. And that\u2019s the great thing about hockey, is, when they\u2019re you\u2019re player, they\u2019re always your player,\u201d he added with a smile.<\/p>\n
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