Tampa Bay Alliance prepares for National Championship

The Tampa Bay 96 AAA Lightning team recently won the Bantam Tier 1 Southeastern District Championship.

The team will now compete in the 2011 USA Hockey National Championship in Hackensack, N.J. The team, which calls the Ellenton Ice and Sports Complex home, is one of 12 teams to qualify for the Bantam (14 and under) division of the National Championships. This is the first year the 96 AAA Lightning has had the chance to compete in states and districts.

Tampa Bay, representing the National division, will plate three games in the opening round of the tournament, which will be held March 30 through April 2.