HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — When Leto High school sophomore Jan Echeverria got involved with the Tampa Bay Lightning's Guide the Thunder youth program several years ago, he had no clue what hockey was about.

"My principal at the time recommended me for the program so I researched when I got the call and thought it looked kind of cool and I said, "You skate on ice, I've never skated on ice so let's give it a try," Echeverria said.

Fast forward to 2020 and Echeverria is one of the star player's on Leto's hockey team.

The team was formed last year after students who took part in the Guide the Thunder program said they wanted to continue to play hockey in high school.

"I've been coaching baseball for 22 years with my brother and so they asked, "Coach, can you do hockey?" and I thought I'd give it a shot and see," said Coach Robert Pizzio who coaches the team.

Pizzio said he and the players are learning about the game together with some help from the Lightning.

The Lightning provided the team equipment and uniforms and retired players volunteer as guest coaches. Pizzio said they've even been able to have some practice sessions on the "official ice" at Amalie Arena.

"They do everything they can to make sure we're going to be successful," Pizzio said.

Echeverria said he's learning about sportsmanship and being part of a team.

He calls the Lightning players "role models."

"Watching them play in such unison. It's almost like they can read each other's minds because everything they do is close to perfect," he said.

The Leto team is still working on its plays but Echeverria said he has dreams of possibly playing hockey in college.

"Whenever I skate, I feel like I can do anything. I feel like I'm flying."

Motivated by being part of something new, the team is taking it's shot and making history as the first generation of hockey players at their school.

Leto will begin its season in the Junior Varsity League of the Lightning High School Hockey League in November.