The Zamboni finishes creating the perfect sheet of ice at Amalie Arena. 

The teams emerge from the dressing rooms. 

However, it isn't the likes of Steven Stamkos and Ben Bishop.

High school  hockey players are sharing the surface with the professionals.

“It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity," said Alonso senior Kyle Carathanasis.  He plays defense for the combined Steinbrenner team. 

"It’s a great feeling. There’s nothing like it. I mean there’s not as many fans and what not, but it’s still a great feeling to know that Steven Stamkos is skating on the same ice as you.”

“You’re playing there too," said Steinbrenner senior center, Justin Schroeder.  "Maybe you can score a few goals on the ice that the Lightning play. It feels pretty special.”

Yet, on a daily basis the general public isn't aware that this non-traditional sport even exists at the high school level in the Sunshine State.

“In school kids will be like ‘how’d you do in the football game?’ to all the football players, but then I’d say we had a hockey game," said Schroeder. "Then they say ‘Oh, we have a hockey team?’ They don’t even know.”

A lot of people think it's time to change that mentality, including the Tampa Bay Lightning.  The organization took over the Florida High School Hockey Association (FHSHA) following a 17-0 board member vote.  The Lightning High School Hockey League (LHSHL) debuted this fall.

“It was a pretty easy decision to say let these people who operate hockey 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 12 months a year take over high school hockey,” said Steinbrenner coach and former FHSHA president Dan Bubley.

“Well, I feel like a lot of kids want to get more involved now that the Lightning are running it and what not,” said Carathanasis.

The LHSHL includes 18 teams made up of over 400 players.  They have established six JV teams with the goal of ten.  The Lightning has increased the number of games per season from 16 to 22.

“It’s a lot more organized,"said Schroeder.  "We get weekly emails telling us about points and all that. Points are kept up pretty well. We have more games, so hopefully that being said it will be a better season."

“We want to grow the number of kids that are playing, and therefore the number of teams that are playing and we want to increase the number of games as well," said Jay Feaster, LHSHL president and Executive Director of Community Hockey for the Lightning.  "So, it’ll be a league where it’s good competition. It’s a full schedule, so that kids really have an opportunity to play.”

Using the Lightning's credibility and brand, the long term vision is to grow high school hockey enough to make it a sanctioned sport in Florida. 

“It grows it because it gives it notoriety," said Seminole head hockey coach Ron Knish.  "It give it a massive presense. When you’re the Tampa Bay Lightning or any professional sports organization you’re gonna have the press, you’re gonna have the TV coverage, you’re gonna have fans wearing your gear. It only helps."

“Anything we can do from a public exposure stand point is fantastic," said Bubley.  "I think with the Lightning’s involvement and certainly with Mr. Vinik’s (Lightning owner) credentials, hopefully, down the road we’ll be recognized as a regular high school sport and these student athletes deserve again, to get a letter from their school.”

“Grow the quality of the play," said Feaster.  "We want to grow the quality of the coaching. We want high school hockey to be an attractive alternative and so we want to get it to the point where it is a sports that can be recognized by the Florida High School Athletic Association.”

For more information on the LHSHL click here.