TAMPA BAY - The Tampa Bay Lightning have launched the new "#BeardTheThunder" program and are encouraging fans to join the Bolts by growing their playoff beards for the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs while also pledging money to the players' favorite charities. The playoff beard is one of hockey's most famous and visible traditions, in which players and staff put their razors away during the postseason.

BeardTheThunder is a fun way to raise money for designated non-profits throughout Tampa Bay. A number of Lightning players have chosen organizations to "pledge their beards" to and are asking fans to join them by letting their facial hair go, or by wearing fake ones if they aren't able. The goal of #BeardTheThunder is not only the financial support, but also to raise awareness for the great work that these non-profits do every day.
Visit
www.TampaBayLightning.com/BeardTheThunder
to donate or to learn more about the designated charities. Fans can also text "tblbeards" to 52182 to make a donation. All dollars raised will be evenly distributed among the seventeen charities selected by the players.
Fans are encouraged to post their best beard photos, pledges and keep the conversation going on their social media platforms using #BeardTheThunder. Randomly selected fans will be awarded an item signed by the player they've made a donation to when using #BeardTheThunder.
Players/Non-profits:
| Callahan - The Ryan Callahan Foundation | Kucherov - The Ryan Callahan Foundation |

| --- | --- | | Cernak- The Ryan Callahan Foundation | Martel - The Ryan Callahan Foundation | | Cirelli- The Ryan Callahan Foundation | McDonagh - Shriners Hospitals for Children | | Coburn - The Spring of Tampa Bay | Miller - First Tee of Tampa Bay | | Domingue - The Children's Cancer Center | Palat - Metropolitan Ministries | | Erne - The Ryan Callahan Foundation | Paquette - Build the Thunder Community Hockey | | Girardi - Center for Autism & Related Disabilities at USF | Point - Special Olympics | | Gourde- Make-A-Wish South Florida | Rutta - The Ryan Callahan Foundation | | Hedman - Humane Society of Tampa Bay | Sergachev - The Ryan Callahan Foundation | | Johnson - Armed Forces Families Foundation | Stamkos - Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay | | Joseph - Fulfill Your Destiny | Stralman - Cystic Fibrosis Foundation | | Killorn - Hillsborough Education Foundation | Vasilevskiy - Big Cat Rescue |