Some say the Tampa Bay Lightning were born in 1990, when NHL commissioner John Ziegler awarded the franchise to Tampa Bay as the league’s 23rd team. Others say they were born when the puck dropped on opening night in 1992. For me, the Lightning have simply always existed — because I have been a fan my entire life.

My name is Justen. I’m 35 years old, and the Tampa Bay Lightning are in my DNA.

My dad grew up in New England and moved to central Florida as a young adult. He became a Lightning fan the moment he crossed paths with his childhood hero, Phil Esposito, at an early team practice — and from that point on, being a Bolts fan was a family affair. Every year from the inaugural season through 2000, he bought the team’s annual yearbook. Those yearbooks became my textbooks. Once I was old enough to read, I studied them like I was working toward a degree. Once I was old enough to drive, I was hauling myself and my friends to games, practices, and fan events every chance I got.

By the time I was 16, I was reading Damian Cristodero in the St. Pete Times, Erik Erlendsson in the Tampa Tribune, and Jon Jordan on HockeyBuzz. A lot has changed since then — beat writers have come and gone — but Erlendsson is still out there doing the work over at The Lightning Insider, and my obsession with this franchise has never slowed down.

That’s exactly why I started The Lightning Ledger.

I’ve always felt that the media coverage surrounding this team hasn’t matched what the franchise deserves — especially when it comes to its history. There are stories, players, and moments from the early years that newer fans have never heard, and I want to change that. My plan is to write long-form deep dives into franchise history alongside current roster analysis and opinion pieces on what’s happening with the team and organization right now.

Whether you’ve been a fan since Expo Hall or you just started watching during the back-to-back Cup runs, there’s something here for you. Subscribe and come along for the ride.